Will You Leave Your Tent?

By: Mrs. Ashley Hines Piner

Exodus 33:8-10 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.

When this scripture was shared during the Sunday service, I couldn’t move past the phrase, “they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.” My thoughts kept circling around how the presence of God was right there, yet they stayed at the entrance of their own tents to worship. I cannot imagine having the mighty presence of God so near and not running toward it with all my might, falling on my face to worship. It was during this moment that I realized I don’t always leave my own tent. 

At the start of the new year, the term authentic worship was on my heart, and I felt compelled to explore it further. I have been a believer since I was about 10 years old. Throughout my life, I have attended church every week, served, prayed, read the Bible, and done my best to “do the right things.” I have grown in faith and deepened my relationship with God—or so I thought. But have I ever truly left my tent and pursued God solely for the purpose of praising Him for all that He is?

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."Are we seeking God with all our hearts, desiring to know Him intimately? True worship has nothing to do with rituals. We can attend church, read devotions, and go through all the motions, but are we falling at the feet of Jesus to truly praise and worship Him?

Because of Jesus’ death, the veil between us and God is gone. We no longer need a sacrifice—Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. We no longer need a mediator to approach the Lord on our behalf; we can seek Him with all our hearts and go directly to Him. We have access to the Holy of Holies! All we have to do is leave our tents.

Psalm 27:4  One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Wherever God is, that is where I want to be! I want to thank Him for His graciousness, sovereignty, wisdom, holiness, and goodness. I want to run towards Him with reverence, appreciation, and love. I want to be transformed by the Holy Spirit! Let us not be like the  Israelites worshiping at the entrance of our tents; let us run in desperation to worship in the presence of the Lord. Let him envelop us with his love and mercy, as we gaze upon His beauty.  

I love how God works! His timing is perfect. He lays things on our hearts, like exploring authentic worship for me. He meets us during our time of prayer and fasting. He speaks to us through studying His Word, the Bible, and through messages that He has put on the hearts of others called to share The Gospel. God aligns it all and allows the Holy Spirit to guide us. It is my earnest prayer that we all listen for the still, quiet voice and follow where the Lord guides us.  What is God revealing to you? 

APPLICATION: Ask the Lord to help you search your heart for things in life that keep you from stepping out of transactional and into transformational interactions with God. Seek intimacy with the Lord by devoting time and effort to step away from the entrance of your own tents and run whole heartedly towards His presence.  

PRAYER: Lord, we long to worship You authentically. Please show us the areas in our lives that hinder us from continually seeking Your presence, and help us to overcome these obstacles so that we can place You in the center of our lives. You are the only thing we need. Thank You for Your love and faithfulness. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.