Your Heart, His Temple: A Reflection on Psalm 5:7
Have you ever felt the longing for a deep desire to connect with something bigger than yourself? A yearning to be in a sacred space where you can pour out your heart and find ? For many of us, that longing is a call to prayer, a whisper from the Spirit drawing us into God’s presence. Today, let's dive into Psalm 5:7, a verse that beautifully illuminates this experience through prayer:
“Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.”
The Temple is Physical; Yet, Spiritual
At first glance, this verse might evoke images of grand cathedrals or ornate synagogues – physical structures where people would gather to worship. And indeed, in the time this psalm was written, it likely referred to the Tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem. But exploring how this verse transcends from the physical buildings to a more personal and spiritual reality speaks to a deeper truth about prayer and our relationship with God in this verse.
"Because of your unfailing love..."
The psalmist doesn't start by bragging about their righteousness or worthiness. Instead, they ground their ability to approach God in His unfailing love. This is paramount for our prayer lives. We don’t come to God because we’ve earned the right; we come because He loves us unconditionally. It’s not our achievements that grant us access to Him, but it is simply a result of His boundless grace. This realization should free us from fear and self-condemnation, allowing us to come boldly into His presence, just as we are. I feel as though many have trouble envisioning a prayer life where they do not have to first bury who they are down into the dirt before approaching God. The reality is this, because of His unfailing love, He offers us a seat at the table and invites us into relationship despite our flaws and despite our efforts.
When we approach prayer from this place of God's unfailing love, it transforms the very nature of our communication with Him. It's no longer a rigid ritual, but a joyful conversation with a loving Father.
"...I can enter your house..."
Now, this is where it gets profound. While the psalmist was referring to the earthly Temple, the New Testament reveals a new concept – revolutionary: WE are now the dwelling place of God. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
This changes everything! We are no longer limited to physical buildings to encounter God. We carry His presence within us. Every moment, in every place, we have access to the “house of God.” This is a powerful truth for our prayer lives. It means that whether you're in your car, at your desk, in your kitchen, walking through a park, in church, or at the beach, you can enter into the sacred space of God’s presence through prayer. This is the beauty of a constant, abiding prayer life. Here is the catch though… Notice the word I just used in the previous sentence; “you can enter.” This is a conscious state of mind that we must come into if we are to experience a transformative prayer life. In the same way a man or woman entered into the physical Temple, we must also enter into the Temple of the Lord in our prayer life with Him – intentionally and intimately. I’ll explain this a bit more in the next section.
"...I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe."
The psalmist doesn’t just enter the house of God casually; they come to worship with "deepest awe." This isn't a performance or a show before an assembly of people; it’s an acknowledgment of God's majesty, His power, His holiness, and His love. True worship in prayer involves:
Reverence: Recognizing that we are in the presence of the Almighty God. We are not at a distance, far away, or miles away. He is close, near, and with us.
Gratitude: Expressing thankfulness for His unfailing love and countless blessings. He deserves the best from our thankful heart. He wants an offering of praise and one of those ways is through thanksgiving.
Humility: Acknowledging our dependence on Him and surrendering our will to His. Nothing is accomplished apart from His presence. We do not move unless He moves, we do not stop unless He stops. Period. This should be a daily principle to live by.
Focus: Setting aside distractions and intentionally turning our hearts toward Him. Without focus, being in His presence is pointless. If we cannot focus on Him, we are telling God that other things are more important and more worthy of our attention. Focusing on Him should be our primary goal in prayer.
When we approach prayer in this manner, our hearts are truly open to experience His presence and be transformed by His grace. We come not just to ask, but to encounter the Living God. It is possible, and it can be a consistent practice, experience, and encounter with the One True God.
A Constant Prayer Life
The beauty of understanding that we are God’s Temple is that it creates the potential for the continuous prayer life. It's no longer about fitting prayer into our schedule; it's about living in communion with God. Throughout the day, we can:
Speak to Him: Have ongoing conversations with God, sharing our thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
Listen to Him: Quiet our minds and create space to hear His still, small voice.
Worship Him: Acknowledge His glory and greatness, praising Him for who He is and what He does.
Receive His Guidance: Ask for His wisdom and direction in every choice and decision.
Experience the Temple from Within
Psalm 5:7 reminds us that we can approach God with confidence because of His unfailing love. This verse also invites us to understand that we are His dwelling place. Our hearts are meant to be His temple, a place where He constantly abides. Let us embrace this truth and cultivate a continuous prayer life, worshiping Him in deepest awe and experiencing the fullness of His presence in every single moment of every single day. Let us go forth, knowing that the house of God is not just a place we visit, but a place we carry within us, a place of constant communion with our loving Father through the beautiful gift of prayer.