selah

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 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, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
~Psalm 84:1-7

This is one of my most favorite Psalms. The segments grip my heart with such identification.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

I know the deep yearning to be in God's presence - my heart and flesh crying out to and for Him...

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, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

The imagery of even a swallow being given a place of refuge, a place of safety for her and her young, right there near the altar...oh, the way that touches me as a mother, knowing that I can come, with my kids, tear streaked faces, grubby little hands and all - right up to the Heavenly Father and He will always have a place of hiding for me, a place very near to Him...

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah

'Selah' - I love the word itself...it's like breathing out all anxiety and worry and peace flooding in in its stead...

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

There is blessing for me, in my weakness, because then I find my strength in Him and Him alone. And He's all about the journey...not whether I've arrived, reached my goals, checked off my to-do list...He says I will be blessed for having my heart "set on pilgrimage" - determined within to keep walking, pursuing Him daily, staying on the journey...

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

And on my journey there have been, and will continue to be, valleys of weeping...but He says my tears will become as springs and pools...they will not be for naught...but will become lifegiving refreshment, and I will be changed, made stronger through each experience, one by one, til I stand face to face with my King and my God.

Selah...