Mon., 10/1/12 Devotion (Ps. 84:10)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 84. After extolling the beauty of the church; and noting his hunger and thirst for God, the psalmist penned these words, in v. 10:

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

One hour of blessed communion of the soul with the God of heaven, makes years of mundaneness of life and affliction of heart all worth while. The vital union of the saint with Christ--particularly in the church's Sunday worship services--is so wonderful, that it tends to "obliterate" all memories of suffering and grief.

What are we struggling with today? Let us not despair, and let us not give up. Instead, let us seek the Lord. When He meets us in His "courts," our hearts will be abundantly comforted, blessed, and strengthened.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ is in the ship of His church; do not fear sinking. The church's anchor is cast in heaven. Do we not think that God loves His church, and takes as much care of it as we can?"
--Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]