As we prepare our hearts + minds to gather together under the banner of a Holy God, we wanted to take a journey alongside each of you. This time together will consist of a daily devotional each weekday over the next 3 weeks to tether our hearts together around Psalm 84 + it's importance for what we want to accomplish on March 24 + 25.

It is our prayer that this focus toward the Scriptures in each of us will help us gather on one accord, with a heart of expectancy + a time of refreshing in the presence of God.

We're grateful you've decided to attend + pray as you commit these upcoming days to reflection with a time of prayer.

Love,
The Grove Team

Psalm 84 was written by the Sons of Korah who in the time of this Psalm served as the Levites of the temple. They would have written a significant number of the Psalms and been most apt to ensuring a very specific kind of care over the tabernacle {or temple of God}. We often see their writing in Psalms coming from a place of deep affection for them around the presence of God.

It is with their opening statement here in verse one that we see this affection established. We need to remember that in the Old Testament, the temple was the only place to experience God's presence. We as believers know that Jesus would ultimately die and send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us; but prior to that the holiness of God's spirit was found only in the temple.

So as we hear the cry of their hearts in preparation for our time together we don't merely desire the "tabernacle or building" we can freely understand that as you come to worship with us that YOU are now the dwelling place. And if you've made Jesus your personal Savior then you aren't coming to a building but to a continued atmosphere covered with the prayers of today.

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Father, as we prepare for an atmosphere to meet with you at The Grove Conference, would you help us to have an affection for your dwelling place? Would you show us today and everyday how to remember that your presence with us, the Holy Spirit, is a place of beauty and holiness? Teach us to desire your dwelling place in small ways. In Jesus's name, Amen!

What does it mean for your soul to yearn? Which part of you is your soul? The soul defined is representative of your mind, emotions, and will. It is the very workmanship of God the Father and His unique thumbprint over each and every one of us. Our soul is the very thing that makes Becky different from Sarah & Sarah different from Kelly.

Now understanding our soul defined, we can hear the longing in the Psalmist's voice; the deep desire to be in the presence of God, with the people of God. What a holy and beautiful desire to cry out to the Father with such an honest need! Let's practice such a cry of the soul today.

God, we pray today for a soul that yearns for the continued worship of You both in intimacy of a one-on-one relationship and in the strength of community. Would you give us opportunities to experience that as we head into the Conference together? Touch our hearts, Father that we might cry out to You and You alone. In Jesus's Name, Amen!

Birds are a common and popular illustration in the word of God, with the sparrow being more notable among them. Unfortunately, during this time of this Psalm, the sparrow isn't a bird of popularity. It's more-so an illustration of little value and even annoyance. This Scripture highlights the symbolism of inclusion to make a statement about who can make a place in His presence. Even the most insignificant and lowest among us has a spot in the presence of the Almighty. What an invitation today! No matter the season or the distance or disconnect we might feel, the Father continues to provide an open invitation to worship at His feet.

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God, could you help us see ourselves as this sparrow, with a full invitation into time spent with You? Thank you for reminding us through Your Word that we are not outside of Your sight or scope–that You've not seen us as something insignificant–but that You alone have extended this invitation into Your courts to worship in Your presence. Help us feel an encouragement around this invitation as we prepare for our time together at the Grove Conference. We've been invited. In Jesus's name, Amen!

To abide or to dwell just simply means to remain. Scripture says those who remain in the presence of the Lord are blessed because they continue to praise Him. See, there is a connection to our remaining in Jesus and in His Word. It's an opportunity to set our perspective–our gaze on Jesus. Remaining in Him helps us know more about who He is and assists in blocking out all the external noise. Eyes that are fixed on God are blessed because their perspective remains the same... He is Holy!

God, this is a picture of what we want in every aspect of our lives. Help us remain in You through it all. Through the diagnosis, through the divorce, through the wayward child, through the broken promises. Show us how to dwell in You that we might be called "Blessed". In Jesus's name, Amen!

The idea of a "pilgrimage" is a challenging consideration for our modern minds. But according to the Scripture the Sons of Korah (see Day One on who wrote this Psalm!) would have been writing from a perspective of a wanderer; a person looking for "home". Remember: the Israelites were in search of the Promised Land and the place that God set aside for them. Since this is pre-Christ, there would have been a desire to constantly be in search of more–more of God's presence, provision, and promise. In this Scripture, the writer is saying that the pilgrim is in search and other pilgrims to come alongside in that quest, but strength is provided to those whose heart is set in search of God Himself. They are writing from a place of encouragement of being together for the locating of this desire.

God, stir a desire in our hearts to, without fail, be in search of You. Send women along our path that share this same vision and desire. Help our communities individually and the Grove community collectively be a people who are blessed to be on the pilgrimage to glory because our strength is found only in You. In Jesus's name, Amen!

As we live in and out of different seasons, we can begin to see God in different facets. As we see the changing of times and even seasons in weather patterns, we can see how His hand over our lives through different times creates springs in dry places, refreshment where there is drought, and shade where there is extreme heat. It is only the people of God that can move through these seasons with consistency of Hope because of the strength given by Almighty God.

Almighty God, as we move in and out of seasons, would You instruct us on how to set the tone with You? Would You, by the power of Your Spirit, hone and shape a faithfulness in us to navigate all things alongside Your hand? In and out of valleys, mountaintops and deserts, help us to pass through this pilgrimage in the company of community being led by You. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Our entire heartbeat is centered around this idea of going strength to strength. This idea that this life on earth is an opportunity to move from season to season, situation to situation, victory to victory until we finally stand before God in the end. Our faith gives us the fortitude not to run this race and ultimately fatigue but to find that along the journey we are only growing deeper in relationship with God and stronger in our convictions toward seeking His face.

Heavenly Father, we want to grow in You from Glory to Glory. Let this life here on earth be an evolution into who You are molding us to become. We want to grow from strength to strength in You God, keep us on the journey. in Jesus Name, Amen!

Have you ever cried out to God for something and needed Him so bad, that as you cried out you remembered what He'd already done to increase your faith? The Psalmist isn't reminding God of who He is but reminding their own soul of His faithfulness. He calls Him the Lord Almighty and the God of Jacob then petitions Him to hear his desire. God listens to those who call on His name.

God, we believe that you hear us when we call. We pray that we never forget who You are and the things You've done. We pray that the miracles from yesterday are never lost on us and that the miracles of tomorrow are only a request away. Help us to do this by the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen!

This scripture is purely historical to illustrate timing. One of the best joys in studying the word is learning how the original author communicated in order for us to see the Word of God as the big overarching story that it is. This text is refering to God, as a literal shield or defense for Israel, where the psalmist asked God to help Israel against her enemies. While then shifiting the prayers to the King over Israel at the time - could have been either David or Solomon - which we now know as a reference to Jesus (as the Messiah) prophetically. Find joy in studying the word of God to learn more about the people of God and their response to Him, there is always great parallel to modern day needs.

Thank you Jesus for time in Your word today. For an opportunity to study Your word and walk more closely with You. We're blessed to have spent a moment in time with You laboring over the things You've done. And the way You cared for us with the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus. As we read the Old Testament of so many honorable men and women believed in You against all odds without the promise of Jesus. It gives us such great gratitude to read their heart knowing it's been fulfilled. We're humbled and grateful today. In Jesus Name, Amen!

The Grove is a monthly women's gathering that is based in the bedrock of Passion City Church. At Passion City Church we don't call our men + women who serve volunteers but instead we choose the intentional language of DoorHolder. The Sons of Korah return to their more poetic cries of adoration to begin their thoughts by establishing that just one day here in your presence is better than any where else. And that it is better to be a volunteer or DoorHolder than to dwell in the luxury or comfort of the world. The Psalmist lays the decision solely at our feet, where do you want to have invested Your time?

God, our hearts are bursting at the imagery of Psalm 84:10. For we know it is far greater to walk alongside You and to be in Your presence than to be any place else. Help that settle in our heart and mind that it might be reflected in all we do. That our greatest investments in our days, weeks, months, years and lives mirrors evident time spent with You. This is the desire of our hearts. In Jesus Name, Amen!

The Lord provides blessing and protection to those in His favor, He will not withhold blessings from those who obey Him. This idea of blessing those who obey Him would have been strictly related to the time before Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world. Since that has already been settled on calvary then we can read this scripture knowing that we are blessed because we simply believe in the power of what the cross accomplished. Allowing us to receieve the blessing and protection because we've been placed in His favor.

Hallelujah! God thank you for granting us Your favor and blessing because of Your son Jesus. We believe by faith that blessing and protection have been extended to me because of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. What gratitude we have in our hearts today for knowing this is our inheritance in You. In Jesus Name, Amen!

We trust in You and You alone. Lead on Jesus!

We are trusting You God for this gathering of women. You call them blessed Lord so would You visit those who trust in You in these days ahead. Would you open the eyes of our heart for all You want to show us. We come into this time of worship open handed + surrendered to the God of Psalm 84 expecting to meet with You! We ask all this and more in Jesus name, Amen!

LADIES-

We pray that your hearts have been saturated in the truth of Psalm 84; that this time has been a posturing of your heart to an Almighty God who is prepaing to meet with you. As we move into the last week before we gather would you continue to find time to steal away in keeping the custom of reflection and prayer. There is nothing more rewarding than sitting in the presence of the King of Kings to feel restored, renewed and refreshed. Our prayer is that you would arrive with your heart overflowing with all three.

We can't wait to see you next Friday for the Grove Conference!

Love,
The Grove Team