My Heart Leaped for Joy

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” — Psalm 122:1

How often have you been in church, and the worship leader, pastor, or the person presiding over the service opened with Psalm 122:1?

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord?”

Listen, David said,

I was glad.

I was happy.

I was joyful.

I was pleased, and I was cheerful to enter the house of the Lord.

When you reflect upon David’s expression of joy, you understand that he must have known there was something grand about entering the house of worship. Having the opportunity to be in a community with like-minded people brought excitement to his spirit.

In David’s opinion, one can imagine that it was a privilege to enter the sanctuary’s doors and experience God on a different level — a level of one-on-one intimacy and, simultaneously, a dimension of cooperate worship that pleased the Father’s heart.

David’s experience of oneness — within the walls of the sanctuary — provided a place of habitation for God, bringing into reality the phrase, based on Psalm 22:3, “God inhabits the praises of His people.”

God does some of His best work in an atmosphere of unity. As a result, creative miracles, breakthroughs, and healings have shown up in this space. Feelings of love, joy, and peace have passed through the doors. And friendships, brotherhood, and kindred spirits have developed in the room.

One could almost liken the house of the Lord to a vacation home. For it’s the one place, we can go and leave the world’s cares on the front steps. That is if you choose to.

Our spiritual and mental well-being is a choice between life and death and light and darkness. We can choose life and light in the person of Christ or experience death and darkness living without Him.

1 Peter 5:7, NLT, says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

When we invoke the presence of God through worship, our encounters usher us into an untouchable dimension in Him. Like the Psalmist, we can say, “He is my refuge and my fortress.” (Psalm 91:2)

God’s house is our sanctuary, haven, and our place of safety. No wonder David couldn’t wait to enter in.

So, I ask you, in your current situation, are you seeking fellowship?

Are you seeking refuge?

Are you longing for encouragement?

What about a community of believers who build you up and affirm you?

Or are you desiring the experience of pure worship?

If so, I encourage you to take on David’s attitude of gladness and be glad when the call comes to enter the Lord’s house and worship.

Join me next week for Coffee on The Couch.