Sitting in the Sanctuary After Hours

 “But it is good for me to draw near to God” – Psalm 73:28a
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 Once a week, or maybe more, Christians from around the world gather together in the house of God for fellowship and worship, and then everyone departs to their various places. The sound of voices singing and reading together in harmony is heard no more. The doors are closed, with nothing left inside but the sound of silence.
 
Asaph, the psalmist was confused about some things he had been noticing, and wanted some answers. He could have just sought the Lord wherever he was, but instead, he went to the sanctuary alone to find answers. In doing so, he was able to gain some insight on those complicated things.
 
But, this was not all. He not only walked out of the sanctuary with answers, he also walked out with a testimony of how good and profitable it is to draw closer to a Compassionate and Merciful God, even during times of confusing and complicated things.
 
Other Things We Can Seek the Lord for
 
Seeking for provision, protection and direction in life are not the only things you can go to God for. You can seek the Lord for answers or an explanation when life becomes complicated, and you don’t understand. You can seek the Lord’s help for a heart to obey His word. You can seek the Lord’s help when doubt wants to creep in and cause you to distrust His promises.
 
Benefits of Drawing Near to God
 
Drawing near to God can bring an understanding to situations you are in, things that are going on around you, even some things about yourself. Drawing nearer to God opens our eyes to seeing things as they really are, not as they appear to be. Drawing near to God can help us to have a better understanding of what He is doing in present circumstances. Drawing near to God keeps His light shining in our lives. When you have been with God, others know it by the Glow around you, on you and in you.
 
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” – Acts 4:13
 
Drawing nearer to God is a privilege of which we did not have before, but now through the precious blood of Jesus we have been brought near to a Loving, Compassionate and Merciful God.
 
“But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” – Ephesians 2:13
 
Just as it is a privilege to have been called into the covenant of grace, it should be a privilege and the desire of every converted soul in Christ, to spend time getting closer to the author and finisher of our faith, even if it means going to the sanctuary alone after hours.
 
Conclusion
 
It’s just something about sitting alone in the sanctuary with God. It is an indescribable experience. No noise, no disturbance, no distraction and no rush. Nothing but silence, peace and the presence of God, so that you can really think about some things. Sometimes that’s what we need to do – to get away from it all so we can really think about some things.  
 
If you need a place to think and sort things out, go to the sanctuary; the house of God. Going to the house of God after hours to sit alone with God is a peaceful, relaxing and comforting experience.
 
There are desires for many things in life, but do you have a desire to be close to God?
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SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES
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• Acts 4:13
• Ephesians 2:1
  

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Copyright © 2017 Gale Wilcox. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages quoted are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.