Dark, Dank Closets or A Huge Pavilion, it's our choice:)

Psalm 31:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

The Lord’s goodness is great and He has prepared and stored it up for all who fear Him. He has so much prepared and stored up for us today, we just need to tap into all of it, as we trust Him in the presence of men.

He evens hides us in the secret place of His presence. Yes, that is where we should long to be – hidden in His presence, yet awake and alive in this world among people. We get His goodness in the presence of the sons/daughters of men! How glorious and powerful He is to do that for us! While we are in the presence of men, He is able to preserve us secretly in the secret place of HIS presence from the plots of men all the while keeping us safe in HIS secret pavilion from the strife of tongues that would lash out at us. This verse confirms that we are spirit beings living in physical bodies, for how else can we be in HIS secret pavilion yet living in our earthly shells/bodies? Though there may be physical assaults on us, toward us, and at us, there is a secret place pavilion He would like to keep us in from the strife of tongues-insults, injuries, harsh words, but it is our choice, our decision to go there and stay there.

We can know where we are being kept at all times by simply taking an assessment of where we are in any given area of our lives – emotional, financial, physical, mental, spiritual, relational and in our character. If we are consumed by or with men’s words and assaults toward us, then we can be sure we are not living, resting, dwelling in His secret pavilion. We can do self-checks throughout the day to make sure we stay in the secret pavilion while living in these mortal bodies. Choosing to thank HIM for keeping us and giving us a secret place to rest in also helps us to stay in the pavilion He designed for u.

He gives us a pavilion, not a teeny, tiny, little, dark closet.

Pavilion:

1. a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits, etc., as in a park or fair.

2. any of a number of separate or attached buildings forming a hospital or the like.

3. Architecture. a projecting element of a façade, used especially at the center or at each end and usually treated so as to suggest a tower.

4. a tent, especially a large and elaborate one.

5. a small, ornamental building in a garden.

He gives us a place with lots of space to move about, decorate with praise, illuminate with our words, thoughts, and actions. We can fill this pavilion with songs of joy, boasts in His goodness, revival, instruction, play and more as well as the ability to show others the way to their pavilion – their personal space/time with Him or even allowing our pavilion to invade their dark closets.

Dark, Dank Closets or A Huge Pavilion, it's our choice:)

Psalm 31:23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. 24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

My prayer: I will and do love You Father. I will be of good courage and will trust You to strengthen my heart for my hope is in You and You alone. Should I put my hope in anything else but You guide me back to Your ways and Your thoughts for they are higher than any I could ever muster up. Amen.