In Your Courts
Lyrics
In Your Courts
Verse 1
How lovely is Your dwelling place
Where my soul longs to remain
My heart and flesh cry out to You, Lord
Drawn by mercy, not by shame
You are the home my spirit seeks
The refuge in my pain
Every breath pulls me toward You
You call me, You know my name
Chorus
Better is one day in Your courts
Than a thousand anywhere else
I’d rather stand at Your door
Than chase the world for myself
You’re my sun, You’re my shield
Every good thing flows from You
There’s nothing I’d rather do
Than live life close to You
Verse 2
Happy are those who trust in You
Whose hearts are set on Your face
You are the strength that carries us
Through every weary place
Even when the valley’s dry
You cover me with grace
From strength to strength we walk with You
Till we behold Your face.
Bridge
I’d rather stand in Your courts
Than spend a lifetime chasing less
You’re my covering, my reward
You’re my yes, and my rest
Hear my prayer, Lord of Hosts
Draw me into Your embrace
Oh Lord, How lovely,
Is Your dwelling place
Scripture Focus
Psalm 84:1-2 – “How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord of Armies.
I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.”
Reflection
In Your Courts was written from a place of longing to remain near the presence of God. It reflects the truth that closeness to Him is not something we earn through striving, but something we are drawn into by mercy. God calls us by name and invites us to dwell with Him, not in shame, but in grace.
The chorus centers on the confession that one day in God’s presence outweighs every other pursuit. Standing at His door is better than chasing fulfillment, recognition, or comfort in the world. He is both sun and shield, our source of life and our protector, and every good thing flows from Him, not from what we chase apart from Him.
Verse two reminds us that trusting God does not remove us from dry valleys, but it carries us through them. Even in weariness, God strengthens His people, leading them from strength to strength until they behold His face. The journey of faith is not about escaping hardship, but about walking closely with God through it.
The bridge becomes a prayer of surrender and devotion. It rejects lesser pursuits and affirms God as our covering, reward, rest, and “yes.” To dwell in His courts is not merely a future hope, but a present posture…choosing nearness over noise and presence over performance.
Closing Scripture & Prayer
“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else;
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.”
— Psalm 84:10 (CSB)Lord of Hosts, draw our hearts toward Your dwelling place. Teach us to value Your presence above every lesser pursuit. In dry seasons, be our strength. In weary moments, be our rest. Let us walk closely with You, from strength to strength, until we behold Your face. You are our sun and shield, and there is nothing better than life lived near You. Amen.
