As dawn is breaking this morning, I’ve been listening to the elk bugle in the meadow below the campground.
First it started with just one bull calling for a mate and now more voices have joined the chorus. As I sit here, hearing them call I am aware that my heart is also crying out. These are a few words from my morning journaling:
“As the elk cry for their mate, I think of my own heart’s cry – to know You more, spending more time aware of Your presence & Your love!”
“Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. 2 I call to You from the end of the earth when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a safe place for me, a tower of strength where I am safe from those who fight against me. 4 Let me live in Your tent forever. Let me be safe under the covering of Your wings.” Psalm 61:1-4 NLV
King David wrote so many times of his heart’s cry. He desired to always be aware of the Father’s presence – of His protection and love.
“ For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.” Psalm 23:6 NLV
“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10 NLV
The writer of Hebrews expressed the same desire and he wanted us to know that access to the Father was always available to us.
“ Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV
I used to forget that I had an open door to the Father’s presence. I would struggle, get frustrated and sometimes be overwhelmed with worry but now, with years of the Father’s faithfulness and loving-kindness, I am quick to come into His presence. It is here I find help and peace.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. 18 I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. 19 I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NLV
I pray that for us also. I pray that we will be filled with the knowledge (experiential knowledge) of Christ’s love. That we grow deeper in our understanding of the depth of His love and that we are filled with the fullness of God.
When my heart cries out, I will run to the Father’s presence. He is all I need!