Several years ago, a dear friend Elizabeth and I, assisted my sister Japhia as she gave leadership to a children's choir. "His Little Kids" was a precious group of 4- and 5-year-olds who would weekly gather to sing together while their mommies and daddies attended a discipleship group at the church. These youngers were also being discipled through truths in song.
I was always amazed at how much these children could retain! And so quickly! Incorporated into these 90 minutes, approximately 25 little ones would make a craft that coordinated with the theme of the evening, participate in an activity that reinforced the teaching, enjoy a time of prayer, and learn some scripture memorization. Ninety minutes is a long time for this age group, so to keep their attention the evening kept moving!
One of the Bible passages my sister chose for these children to learn was Psalm 100. She added motions to each phrase to aid in memory, as well as to visually depict the truth being taught. When it came to the sentence, "Come before His presence with singing", my sister wanted to convey the delight and desire of approaching the Lord with enthusiasm. She wanted them to understand the excitement of being able to be in God's presence. In order to best display this eagerness of coming to the Lord, she had the children running in place as they recited these words. It was adorable to watch their little legs racing while staying in one spot. Their arms would be pumping and their feet pounding the ground as they ran with fury and hurry!
Each Sunday she would ask for volunteers who wanted to help lead this part of the evening. There were always multiple hands raised in response. I'll never forget the night that one precious child led Psalm 100. In loud voice and with crystal clear diction this is what they said: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. RUN into His presence with singing." Honestly, it was the most adorable slip of the tongue, but it caused all three leaders to pause.
How do we enter God's presence? Do we reluctantly pick up God's Word to spend time with Him? Is it a struggle to find minutes in our schedule to intentionally come before Him? Do we gladly and zealously reach for our Bibles, anticipating what and how He will speak to us every time we open the scriptures? Are we bored or is God adored as our hungry and thirsty hearts yearn for His nearness and filling? Do we have a deep longing to know Him intimately? Is He so completely the passion of our soul that we will do whatever it takes to read His Word and sit awhile with Him?
Today I encourage you to evaluate your response to your Heavenly Father's invitation to spend time with Him. Your reluctance or excitement indicate your true inclination and desperation. Maybe we need to confess our lack of desire and ask the Lord to renew our passion. Lord, fill our inner being with gladness, joy and singing. It's possible that some of us may need to lace up our running shoes as an act of our fervour to be with Him. Let's run into His presence today because we just can't wait to praise and magnify our Lord!
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