This pandemic is wearing us down. I know it. My lifestyle has been abruptly altered. If you haven’t been touched by COVID or know anyone who has, you just want to get back to your normal life. I realize that it is frustrating when you cannot go back to a normal life, but we still have to deal with the virus. It is still here. Today our world is in a strange place. Our normal life has been interrupted because of the pandemic. COVID-19 placed us in a strange place. Our normal lifestyle is unsettled. Our jobs (if you are still working), our schools, our public places, restaurants, shopping, and even our church services are affected. Along with the COVID pandemic is social unrest across our country. I personally know of many who are stressed out, discouraged, depressed and oppressed because of COVID, not to mention all of the social and political issues evolving around it. Where is the church in the midst of this storm? We are driving though a desert. We are not in the church setting, sitting in your favorite seat or pew. We are not face to face with praise and worship. You are not in the presence of your pastor or minister. I know many people who in time past thrived on the Sunday services. It was a time for fellowship and good times with family and friends. And, as we know, there was the Sunday dinner where we all went out to a nice restaurant. The Sunday service: It is all about Church and then good fellowship with family and friends afterwards. Many Christians who were thriving in activities at their local church no longer have it. Many who enjoyed the presence of the Lord in an anointed service with Praise and Worship no longer have it. Church on social media is just not the same. This is a time when an intimate walk with Christ on a personal level is essential.
With that I will introduce the theme of this blog. It is about our walk with God. I am incorporating inspiring words from the Songs of Ascents in the Psalms. The Songs of Ascents is an ancient Hebrew songbook called the shiray hammaloth, extract for the Great Hallel (Psalms 120-136). The shiray hammaloth, which includes Psalms 120 – 134, will be employed here as an inspirational Word from God in the next 14 blogs. These songs were song on journeys to Jerusalem three times a year for Jewish festivals and worship; once in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. The songs were sung to boost the morale of Hebrew travelers on their journey to Jerusalem. The messages in these songs are useful to inspire us today on a spiritual journey.Church today is like driving through a desert land. Look around while you are traveling. You are moving but there is virtually no scenery to behold, only proverbial sand.
“Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar” (Psalms 120:5, NIV).
Meshek represents a strange place. Living in tents of Kedar represents one who has temporary unstable living and not established. The church is in a strange place. Worship is in a temporary setting. My dear brother and sister, our walk with God is our sanctuary. We must go into His presence. Usher in his Presence no matter where you are; in your prayer closet, in your home, in your car, or anywhere and anytime you can find time to be alone with God. In the presence of God is peace and sanctity needed to endure these crazy times. Intimate time with Christ is where we are to be. To be in the presence of God is a state of mind.
