Arise Shine

Beholding His Glory Psalm 63:1-2 (NIV) – “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.” David’s words in Psalm 63 express the deep hunger of a heart that longs for God above all else. This psalm was written in the wilderness of Judah, a place of dryness and desolation, yet David's focus was not on his physical surroundings but on the presence of God. His soul was not merely surviving—he was seeking, thirsting, and longing for the glory of the Lord. David's pursuit of God was not temporary; it was sincere and urgent. He compares his desire for God to the desperation of a man in a dry and weary land. This is the kind of hunger Jesus spoke of when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Many believers today live in spiritual drought, not because God is absent, but because they have lost their hunger for Him. They settle for temporary satisfaction, filling their souls with distractions rather than the presence of God. Yet, those who truly seek Him will be satisfied with His presence in a way that nothing else can provide. David recalls the times when he beheld God’s power and glory in the sanctuary. Though physically in a wilderness, his heart remembered what it was like to be in the presence of the Lord. This remembrance fuels his longing for more of God. Paul echoes this longing when he writes, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). True transformation happens when we behold Him—not just seeking what He can do but delighting in who He is. David didn’t wait for circumstances to change before worshiping. Even in a dry and weary place, his lips praised God (Psalm 63:3-4). Worship in the wilderness is a declaration of faith—it declares that God is still worthy, that His presence is still satisfying, and that His glory is worth seeking above all else. Friends, no matter what wilderness season you may find yourself in, remember that God’s presence is not confined to a location or a feeling. He reveals Himself to those who seek Him. When you set your heart to behold His glory, even the driest places can become a sanctuary. Maybe you’ve been spiritually dry, longing for something more, maybe you’ve settled for lesser things instead of seeking God with your whole being, if so the way in which you can hunger after God in a deeper way is do as David did, and earnestly seek Him, and you will find Him. And when you behold His glory, you will never be the same. God Bless, Tyrone