Scripture
Psalm 84 (NIV)
 
For the director of music. According to gittith.
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
 
1  How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young-
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.
 
5  Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.
 
8  Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.
10  Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.
 
12  Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Meditation
Better and Blessed! - Michelle Tattersall
 
What a beautiful psalm to address the messes we sometimes have in our lives and how to keep Christ at our side during those times. For whatever the circumstances you face, if you focus your heart's desire to be in God's presence, it will be the BEST EVER BLESSING! The psalmist states, you will pass through the hardships and God will be with you and transform them. Isaiah 40:31, "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Messes will happen in our lives. How we interpret them and move within them will determine our blessings.
 
I have 57 years of experiencing some awesome times and some extremely hard times. During the good times, I shout thanksgiving and praises to my God. During the hard times, I was only able to whisper...why me? Now, I am learning that when I am in the "Valley of Baka" to shout thanksgivings and praises to God. I know I am not alone and I will be restored. One of my favorite verses is Habakkuk 3:17 -19, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes me feel like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights."
 
I had a dry season in my marriage several years back and it was painful and heartbreaking. I called it my "sad season". I truly did not think my marriage would survive. Dave and I were a breath away from divorcing. Through prayer, counseling, and support teams, we fumbled on and did survive. This year, we will celebrate our 37th anniversary. Our marriage and love is strong and firm. I could not have gone through that mess without being in God's presence. The healing and restoration I received is Divine. I am better to have had that "sad season" in my life and am so blessed.

Reflection
Listen to Matt Redman-Better is One Day on YouTube.
Are you better and blessed?
Prayer
Lord, You are the strength of my life. When I am weak and weary, let me turn to You for the power I need. Amen.
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