Psalm 84 - Pilgrimage

My physical body was telling me to stay on the couch yesterday but my spiritual body was telling me to go and minister.  I use to have a hard time differentiating which voice was the Lord's and which was the enemy.  Key words..."use to"...woo hoo!  I have learned that when I am living in His Presence there is no question as to when He is speaking to me.  Yesterday was one of those times when I knew what I needed to do and I did it.  I praise His Holy Name for the direction He gives to me.  I also praise Him for the strength He gave me.

Had I not listened I would have missed out on an opportunity to be Jesus to one in the hospital.  I would have missed out fulfilling my call.  I would have missed out in the aspect of knowing Jesus made a difference through me.  

Her IV was blown...she was afraid of another stick...she was fearful of the pain she would go through and she wept and screamed in agony as they probed for a good place to place it.  I prayed during the first three times but things were pretty tough.  The Lord told me to sing so I asked her what hymn she would like to hear.  "Amazing Grace" was her answer.  So I started singing and she relaxed.  A couple times I saw her lips moving as she was singing along too.  Within what seemed like seconds the IV was in with very little trauma.  I praised the Lord and told her, "See they just needed to get the right person in here."  The nurse practitioner responded, "No, it was the peaceful spirit that was here that did it."  Woo hoo!  I love, love, love when the medical personnel acknowledge God.

Before I left her room I prayed again.  This time I prayed for the antibiotic to clear her infection and for her to be able to walk again so she could go home.  I told her that we would be praying for her in these ways.  The smile that I dearly love was back on her face.  She was given hope and peace from my visit.  Woo hoo!  

Psalm 84 reads...

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,^[e] 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.

Verse five speaks to me.  "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage."  According to the dictionary the word pilgrimage means:  "A pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person'sbeliefs and faith, although sometimes it can be a metaphorical journey into someone's own beliefs."  My strength is in the Lord as I am on this pilgrimage with Him.  I know I couldn't do what I do if I didn't have His Strength.  I also know I wouldn't be on this pilgrimage if I hadn't found His Presence.

Dear Jesus,
I praise You for the opportunity I had to be You yesterday.  I praise You for the strength You gave me...physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  I praise You for this pilgrimage we are on together.  Lord, You know the plans for this day that is ahead.  I pray for You to reveal them to me as they need revealed.  Open doors that need opened and close doors that need closed.  Thank You for being My Pilgrimage Maker!  Amen.