Making Room

Making Room to Experience God
Following Jesus from the Edges —
Devotionals on Holiness
October 30,2026
Pastor Calvin Cook

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god— Psalm 24:3–4, NIV

I never realized until last night’s Bible study how deeply the words of David in Psalm 24 speak to our desire to experience God more fully and pursue a life of holiness.

Sometimes we read a familiar Scripture, but then something causes us to pause. We hear it differently. We begin to recognize that God’s Word is speaking directly into our own lives.

David asks who may stand in God’s holy place. His answer brings our attention to clean hands and a pure heart.

As I consider those words, I find myself asking: Am I allowing God to shape both what I do and what I carry within me?

Our hands represent our work, what we do, our actions, and how we treat others. Our hearts hold desires, motives, attitudes, and thoughts that other people may never see. Here is my revelation —God cares about all of it.
I can appear to be doing the right things while carrying resentment. I can speak about trusting God while quietly insisting on having my own way. I can desire a deeper experience of His presence while hesitating to surrender something He has brought to my attention.

That is a humbling thought.

Yet this passage invites me to come honestly before God. Through Jesus Christ, we receive forgiveness and cleansing. By the Holy Spirit, we receive grace to turn from sin and grow in love. Our pursuit of holiness begins with our need for Him and continues through our willingness to let Him work within us and through us. God’s agenda not mine!

Another Scripture came to mind as I reflected on this:
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct my paths.” — Proverbs 3:6

Those words have been key words, life words and breath prayers all my life. They are written on my heart. Until this morning, I never realized how these words help me respond to the words in Psalm 24.

In all thy ways.

That reaches into more of my life than the time I set aside for prayer or worship. It includes my conversations, my business decisions, my relationships, my private thoughts, and how I respond when things do not go as I hoped.

To acknowledge God in all my ways means bringing those parts of my life before Him with a willingness to listen and obey.

Lord, how would You have me respond? What needs to change within me?

Where am I holding back?

Experiencing God more fully involves opening our lives to His searching, cleansing love. As we receive His grace, we learn to walk more closely with Him.

Today, I want to carry this simple prayer: Lord, give me clean hands, a pure heart, and a willingness to acknowledge You in every part of my life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking through Your Word. Through Jesus, forgive and cleanse me. Examine my actions and the motives of my heart. By Your Holy Spirit, help me surrender what keeps me from walking closely with You. Teach me to acknowledge You in all my ways and trust You to direct my path. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Praying with you and for you as we pursue holiness together.