Aligned for Blessing
Psalms 84:1-12 The psalmist expresses great blessing over the people whose hearts are aligned to God’s house, who exchange their weakness for His strength and those who fully trust in God.
A life characterized by blessing:
Blessing comes to those whose hearts are aligned with the house of God
- Psalms 84:4 “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah.”
- David’s love for the house of God is a theme throughout the Psalms
- Those who dwell don’t just attend church; their heart dwells in the house of God
- God loves His house; we love His house
- Don’t let people who don’t love the house of God or who love it less than you, define the house of God for you
- The house of God is a house of worship; we’re here to worship God. His presence is the main thing.
- Your praise level ties directly to your heart’s connection to the house of God
- Praising God is the ultimate reality adjustment
- House-of-God-dwellers love church as a vital aspect of their lives
Blessing comes to those who exchange their weakness for His strength
- Psalms 84:5-7 “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion.”
- The first thing to know about a valley is that it is just a place between two mountaintops; valleys are temporary
- Don’t set up house there; valleys are not God’s ultimate will for you
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
- In the valley, learn how to exchange your weakness for His strength
- When we encounter our own weakness, we can trade it for His strength
- The valley was never intended for your demise, it was meant for your development
Blessing comes to those who fully trust in God
- Psalms 84:11-12 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives graces and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
- Actively trust God to be the God of your life in your words, heart, actions, conversations
- God is a sun, he gives light; you may not know what to do right now, but you will
- God is a shield, he protects; he rebukes the devourer for you
- You may have to battle through some of the issues but you can depend on God to protect you
- No good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly
- Psalms 23:6 “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”