December 4 -- "Beat a Path to His Presence"

  Today’s Reading: Psalm 105

"Beat a Path to His Presence"

The Hebrew root word for "seek" in this verse means “to beat a path to; to tread or trample with the feet.” The expression "beating a path" originates from the literal act of walking through a field of vegetation or undergrowth to create a visible trail. In a physical sense, people would repeatedly "beat" or trample down grass, shrubs, or other obstacles, gradually forming a well-worn path.

Here, the Psalmist urges us to beat such a path to the LORD and His presence. As followers of Christ, we should form a well-worn path to the Lord. This is an oft-repeated exhortation in Scripture:

• “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
• “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10).
• “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land” (Zephanaiah 2:3).
• “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:25).
• “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).
• “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
• “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).
• “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Beating a path to the Lord is not easy and is not something that happens by itself. We must make a focused and determined effort if we are going to enter His holy presence. We must beat a path to His door by repeated approaches. In reality, this is not something that comes "naturally" to us. In fact, the Bible tells us (referring to unregenerate man) that there is “no one who seeks after God” (Romans 3:11). Our natural person doesn’t genuinely seek after God, nor do we have the power to do so. But for the follower of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the strength and ability to continually pursue the presence of God.

Does your path to the Lord and His presence look like a beaten path that has been trampled down by repeated visits? Or, are there weeds, and bushes, and thorns growing up because the path doesn’t get used very often? Take a moment right now to “seek the Lord and His strength” then make it your daily pursuit to “seek His presence continually” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Make your path to His presence well-worn!