"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"
Psalms 8:3-4
•Do you feel rather insignificant in the whole scheme of things?
•Do you ever think about the meaning of life.
•Do you ever wonder if you're seen?
•Do you pin your value and worth on your circumstances of this world?
Insignificant - too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.
How "beautifully" that definition flows into the lies that Satan wants us to believe about ourselves.....and our God.
When those lies creep in I go (I'd like to say immediately...but sometimes....errrr....often I wallow in my own understanding first) to TRUTH....the Word of God...living and active, sharper than a two edged sword! Two reasons I know (could someone please tell my heart) that this should be my first stop:
#1 - Satan is THE author of lies, period! (John 8:44 talks about this - "When he (Satan) lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he (Satan) is a liar and the father of lies.”
#2 - Jesus IS the Way, the TRUTH and the life, period! (John 14:6)
Two, diametrically opposed views.
Satan is crafty (clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods). You can swear on everything you hold dear that you will not be tricked....and you have the best intentions and motivation....but do you have and use THE best weapon with which to fight?
I would venture to say 90% of who I think I am, how I speak about myself, how I think I look, how I think others view me, my accomplishments, lack of accomplishments, quality of my work, if I'm loved, how much or little I'm liked....you get the picture.....comes from the father of lies. The other 10%? Meh....I can counter with many reasons they simply aren't accurate or true (which, by the way, is also from the father of lies). But what does God say? What weapon am I using to counter these lies with truth.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."Romans 12:2
HIS will....not mine.....
The undoing of conformity is REALLY.HARD.WORK.
"The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives."Proverbs 18:7
I am THAT fool, backed by the all-too-willing father of lies and the ensnarement of those lies . Painful........
But praise be to an amazingly, gracious God who WILL speak truth into the darkness using the very circumstances He places you in to show you your warped thinking.
I spoke at church last week and with that harrowing (acutely distressing) experience I learned a very valuable lesson. In preparation, I prayed.....a LOT! I asked God, through his Holy Spirit, that is living IN me, to give me the words of my mouth and the strength and courage to speak them. But here's the incredibly amazing part. In the end, I got in my car, took a very deep breath, closed my eyes and said, "God, were you pleased?" THAT is what matters above all else! Satan will/did sneak in and tell me I didn't do a good job and .....you should have said this......you should have left that part out.....WHY on earth did you say THAT.... awfully chatty......too long....... borrrring.....WAIT!!!!! STOP!!!! Was GOD pleased? Was I obedient to his calling? Was I pleasing in HIS sight? Did I speak truth to the best of my ability? Did I do my BEST? If the answers are yes, then everything else DOES.NOT.MATTER, period!
What this slow learner is beginning to learn is that pleasing God is above and far beyond anything I can do in the horizontal. I'm not going to be everyone's cup of tea. I'm not going to please everyone. And that's not actually why I was born.
As I sit in the quietness of my house this morning, the only sound, the ticking clock on the wall in my office, I feel God's presence. How precious and delightful that HE is mindful of ME! And, I of Him, even more so because it IS quiet.....and because I AM still. Sweet communion. I must never forget (though I confess, I do) that my soul purpose in this life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. THAT my friends, can be done whether I'm speaking to a group, doing ministry for my church or reading his Word in my jammies and journaling my thoughts to the tune of a ticking clock.
I am not insignificant!
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you."Isaiah 54:10
From where does my peace come? From the circumstances of this world or from the promise that His peace is with me forever?
"Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever."Psalms 136:26
From the peace that comes with truly knowing God's love for me is unending?
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"1 John 3:1
"I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
John 15:13b
From knowing he loves me like a father loves his child AND he loves me as a friend?
"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalms 73:26
That he knows my heart?
YES! ALL OF THE ABOVE!!
YES! Even when my heart fails....and it does....and it will.....God is my strength and my portion......FOR-E-VER......100%, no additives needed.
Life isn't passing me by. I'm not insignificant, unworthy, unseen, lacking value....I'm "just" looking horizontal.
For when I look vertical....heavenward.....I know...
" ....he satisfies the thirsty (Me) and fills the hungry (Me) with good things."
Psalms 107:9
HE satisfies me! Earthly striving, MY striving to do better, be better in the eyes of the world and others will never satisfy me.....but God....
It's nearly Noon....five hours have passed and yes, I'm still in my jammies.....and honestly, I am exactly where God wants me to be.....so quiet......so still.....so present......
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7
❤️
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