Summer In The Psalms - Psalm 84

2. PSALM 84:1-4
How lovely is Your
dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,
even faints,
for the courts
of the Lord;
my heart and
my flesh cry out
for the living God.
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.
Blessed are those who
dwell in Your house;
they are
ever praising You.

3. PSALM 84:5-9
Blessed are those whose
strength is
in You, whose hearts
are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the
Valley of Baka,
they make it a place
of springs; the autumn
rains also cover it
with pools.
They go from strength
to strength,
till each appears before
God in Zion.
Hear my prayer,
Lord God Almighty;
listen to me,
God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,
O God; look with favor
on Your anointed one.

4. PSALM 84:10-
12Better 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.
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.
Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who
trusts in You.

5. WHAT IS “BLESSING?”
The projection of God’s goodness
into our lives…

6. WHAT IS “BLESSING?”
The projection of God’s goodness
into our lives…
HOW DOES GOD BLESS?
Often through the means of grace
we know as “spiritual disciplines”
or “soul-training exercises” or
“spiritual training practices” where
we can receive what He’s giving…

7. SPIRITUAL TRAINING
Arranging our life around those
practices that enable/empower
us to do what we cannot do now
by our own direct effort.
The goal = being enabled or
empowered to do the right thing,
at the right time, in the right spirit
(CHARACTER + COMPETENCY)

8. WHAT BLOCKS IT?
Typically…sin, either in our
own lives, or in the lives of others

9. WHAT BLOCKS IT?
Typically…sin, either in our
own lives, or in the lives of others
HOW DO WE WIN?
Typically…through indirect effort,
where we establish new practices
that form new habits & put us in
to position to receive the grace
God wants to pour out

10. JOHN ORTBERG
“Habits eat willpower
for breakfast.”

11. SINS &
STRATEGIESSINS of COMMISSION
Things we DO, but shouldn’t,
because our spiritual “not-doing” muscle is
weak…

12. SINS &
STRATEGIESSINS of COMMISSION
Things we DO, but shouldn’t,
because our spiritual “not-doing” muscle is
weak…
SINS of OMISSION
Things we DON’T do, but should,
because our spiritual “doing”
muscle is weak

13. SINS &
STRATEGIESSTRATEGY of
ABSTINENCE
Things we voluntarily choose
NOT TO DO, to strengthen our
spiritual “not-doing” muscle

14. SINS &
STRATEGIESSTRATEGY of
ABSTINENCE
Things we voluntarily choose
NOT TO DO, to strengthen our
spiritual “not-doing” muscle
STRATEGY of
ENGAGEMENT
Things we voluntarily choose
TO DO, to strengthen our
spiritual “doing” muscle

15. SINS &
STRATEGIESSINS of COMMISSION
- Gluttony
- Pornography
- Drunkenness
- Gossip

16. SINS &
STRATEGIESSINS of COMMISSION
- Gluttony
- Pornography
- Drunkenness
- Gossip
STRATEGIES of
ABSTINENCE
- Fasting
- Silence
- Solitude
To strengthen our “not doing” muscle

17. SINS &
STRATEGIESSINS of OMISSION
- Lack of gratitude
- Not helping when you could
- Refusing to be generous

18. SINS &
STRATEGIESSINS of OMISSION
- Lack of gratitude
- Not helping when you could
- Refusing to be generous
STRATEGIES of
ENGAGEMENT
- Worship
- Serving
- Giving
To strengthen our “doing” muscle

19. PSALM 84:1-4
How lovely is Your
dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,
even faints,
for the courts
of the Lord;
my heart and
my flesh cry out
for the living God.
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.
Blessed are those
who dwell in Your
house; they are
ever praising You.

20. PSALM 84:5-9
Blessed are those
whose strength is
in You, whose
hearts
are set on
pilgrimage.
As they pass through the
Valley of Baka,
they make it a place
of springs; the autumn
rains also cover it
with pools.
They go from strength
to strength,
till each appears before
God in Zion.
Hear my prayer,
Lord God Almighty;
listen to me,
God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,
O God; look with favor
on Your anointed one.

21. PSALM 84:10-
12Better 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.
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.
Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one
who trusts in You.