**Please take a look the previous posts in this brief series for the New Year prior to reading any further.

As I’ve spent time soaking in God’s presence — immerse in the exploration of His glory, an interesting cycle bears itself.  One moment I sit at His throne in communion by thought and deed — soaking — then the next moment I step out of the reality of God’s authority over every part of my life.  The reality of who He is in relation to my minute by minute mundane routine in which moments before I completely soaked in, dries away as I step out of the bath of His glory and into the false reality of self-centered living.

Maybe you can relate to this cycle:

Drying…Anxiety kicks in as I wait for answers to questions in which I expect to be revealed on my own timetable.

Soaking…Remembering just WHO it is that controls this timetable and the realization that my timing is not always most efficient or effective.

Drying…Ugly thoughts of judgement upon others bubble up seemingly out of nowhere only to leave me with the sludge of guilt that says I have no business thinking I’m any better than they are.

Soaking…The perfect turnaround of thought back to the characteristics of Jesus reflected in that very person who, only moments before, unknowling sat in the judgement seat of my mind.

Drying…Letting the designated time slot scheduled for the study of God’s word slip by due to frivilous distractions.

Soaking…The knowledge that He wants all of my moments through out the day and especially those set aside to mold and mend my heart through the diligent study of the Bible.

Drying…Harsh words spoken to a loved one — words that would not otherwise be uttered to anyone but those who won’t walk away, leave or spew back.

Soaking…Digging into the underlying reason for the hard heart and sharp tounge and allowing God to transform my words into those that build up and renew my loved ones.

Let us not live in the false reality that the drying process tends to pull us into.  Instead, let us continue to minute by minute of every day soak in the reality that Jesus is King of Kings and LORD of Lords over our work, our checkbook, our relationships, our thoughts, our actions, our school, our eating habits, our everything.  He wants and desires us to immerse in the reality that His power, grace and love reign over our life in its entirety.

Don’t let yourself feel as if you have failed if you are, indeed, like me drifing in and out of the drying/soaking/drying cycle. It is easy to slip out of the His soaking glory and allow the drying set in.  But, Jesus will always allow us back into His glorious presence to take in all that He is and all that He gives. Let the words of this Psalm be your inspiration to continue to soak and immerse and commune with your Glorious God.

Psalm 84:1-4

How lovely is your dwelling place,
LORD Almighty!
² My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.