My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2

     When God created man, He breathed into him the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7) This breath took Adam from being flesh made from dust to being a living soul. The soul is the part of life which is deep inside a person, and as long as the heart is beating the soul remains. When the breath of life leaves the body, the soul leaves the body, and life in the flesh as we know it, dies. Understand, we were created on purpose and for a purpose. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 ESV  The heart and soul are synonymous when describing life. The soul makes up the mind, will, and emotions of a person whereas the heart is what keeps the life-flowing blood moving through our body. Through out the Bible these two parts of who we are, are often used to describe life, both physical and spiritual. Last Sunday, when defining Christianity, I used a passage from Mark’s gospel as spoken by Jesus, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 ESV  Obviously this covers the whole make-up of a person when loving God, but today I want to give thought on two specific parts …..the soul and heart.

THE SOUL:
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord;….. Psalm 84:2a ESV
     This Psalm describes someone desiring to be in God’s presence more than anything else. It’s a life that desires with “an overwhelming want” to be where God is. This is someone who wants more than simply being acquainted with God; he wants to KNOW Him, to be with Him, to be touched by Him, to walk with Him…….. This happens from deep within the person who is seeking after the things of God. The more they taste and see that the Lord is good, the greater their appetite grows for more of Him. (Psalm 35:8) This is a person who seeks God not because He is hiding, but because He desires to experience more of his presence in his life. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 ESV  This is how you [l]ove the Lord your God with all your SOUL…. Mark 12:30a ESV

THE HEART:
My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2
     Heart and flesh show the more visible aspects of what is in the soul. The heart here can represent both the inner life of the soul and the outer life of the flesh for it is tied to both. The inner, because it reflects the soul’s desires, and the outer, for it proclaims it with song, praising God. A person can perform/sing with an outer expression, but that might be all that it is… a performance …. but for the soul that is longing for Him, it is more than a performance. It is a burning desire for God to know you love and worship Him. I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before gods I sing your praise; Psalm 138:1 ESV  This is one who wants to bring God much glory….. I give thanks to you,O Lord my God, WITH MY WHOLE HEART, and I WILL GLORIFY YOUR NAME FOREVER. Psalm 86:12 ESV

     Love is taught the same way hate is taught…. by actions. It is important, as Christians, that we express our love for God with our speech, actions, and walk. Anyone can call themselves a Christian, sing, or talk a good talk, but to do these three with joy is to desire, long, faint for the presence of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in your life. Otherwise you are just religious, and religion without God is burdensome. Desire to live in His presence, and you will experience the Joy that will make you want to sing of your love for Him…. forever.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David