Psalm 84:10-11

Psalm 84:10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

I cannot express just how comforting those words are and just how challenging they are. The Lord is so good and so amazing. His presence and favor are the most pleasure-giving things ever in existence. So good is being just in the vicinity of God that the psalmist says that one day in His courts is better, more satisfying and more gratifying than a thousand days spent anywhere else. I especially like the way the psalmist says that he would rather stand at the threshold (not even inside) of the house of God than dwell (fully inhabit) in the tents of wickedness. The smallest encounter of God's dwelling place is infinitely better than an extended encounter with an unrighteous man's abode. I really want to live keeping this picture in mind. Often I can get caught in thinking of where I want to travel to, go to medical school, or visit and just set my heart so firmly on places on this earth. I don't think that in comparison I think nearly as much about heaven. And I don't mean thinking about heaven in the terms of being the most amazing place ever because of what I may get there but in terms of how unbelievably blissful, amazing, mind-blowing, and soul-satisfying it will be to be in the presence of the Almighty God. I simply cannot imagine what it will be like to be able to gaze on my Savior. Just thinking about it makes everything of this world fade in comparison. The problem, however, is that I don't possibly think about it enough and end up letting this world entangle and capture my affections that ought to be set on Christ.
Verse 11 holds even more encouragement. I love the comparison of God to a sun and a shield. God is radiant and life-giving. He is also strong and life-preserving. Furthermore, as the verse continues, the psalmist says that the Lord gives grace and glory. There is so much packed into those words. God gives the free gift of grace, which alone shows so much of His character and love. But God also gives glory. This is a concept that seems a little more complicated and I haven't fully thought that one through. The last part of the verse is extremely comforting to know and that is that God withholds no good thing from those whom He loves. So whether it may appear to us as being a blessing or a curse, God has ordained it for our ultimate good. What an unbelievably amazing God we serve!
[Oh and kind of as a post script, random thought that I thought I'd add, sometimes when I contemplate what God has done for us and what the Bible tells us is going to happen, I feel like it is all a fairy tale, too good to be true. And then I remind myself that this isn't a fairy tale and God really does love me and wants a relationship with me. At those moments I think I feel like I have it better than any fairy tale princess.)