Psalm 84:1-2 – “How lovely, O Lord, is your dwelling place. My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
Last week I got the urge. I looked around our home and thought, “We need some fall decorations around here.” Rather than hopping in the car and dashing to Hobby Lobby, I thought I would rummage in my storage closet and attic and see what treasures I might be able to use. Sure enough, I pulled out several things that I repurposed in new ways to bring some beauty to different rooms of our house. It was FUN! Especially because I sensed the Lord giving me ideas on what I could do with what I had. In the end, regardless of whether or not the finished results were Better Homes and Garden caliber, they were pleasing to my eye.
The next morning in my quiet time, I “happened” to read the verses above in Psalm 84. Although I have read that Psalm hundreds of times (even put a tune to it long ago!) it literally stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t get past verse one. “How lovely is your dwelling place????” “Wow!” I thought. “God’s house is lovely too!!! God loves beauty because HE is beautiful and the originator of beauty!” He understands my longings for lovely things, because he has placed them in my heart to be shared and appreciated with him.
I was reminded of creation and how God is always “decorating” throughout the year: the fresh greens of spring and the flowers that alternate in bloom times throughout the growing season of summer, the warm red, orange, and yellow hues of fall, the sparkling white snow blanketing the barren branches of winter. God designed them all to please our eyes AND His (remember Genesis 1- “God saw all he had made, and it was very good!”). And I haven’t even seen Heaven yet! Revelation 21 gives us a sneak preview on the beauty that will be found there!
As I am inspired by his beautiful creation, there is another even greater result: I am drawn deeper with my heart and flesh to cry out for the Living God … to connect with Him, THE Beautiful One!
So, ladies, celebrate your love and appreciation for beauty, not only because it originates with Him, our beautiful Creator, but also because it inspires us to reach out with desire for Him, the one who truly satisfies our longings.