Since I've been thinking a lot about thinking less of myself this verse came to mind:
"He (God) must become greater; I must become less.”
John 3:30
It's so easy to get caught up in self. I absolutely love C. S. Lewis's quote:
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less,”
Often translated:
"Don't think of yourself MORE, don't think of yourself LESS, just don't think of yourself AT ALL."
There are many verses about pride and boasting.
1 Corinthians 1:31 comes to mind AND it's instructional. “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” I love that! Turn from self promoting thoughts and boasts, to the Lord. Boast about what he HAS done or IS doing or just WHO he is!
As the storms of life come, because they will come, the Christ follower will, as time goes on, learn to rely on God for their strength, courage and ability to move forward. The one who doesn't know the Lord will lean on their own understanding and boast in their own abilities. And to some of us it looks like it works. You may know someone that looks like they've got it made in the shade. Life has been good, no traumatic events, money is abundant.....and we may wonder why this life of faith is what we choose.
Last night I had the blessed opportunity to run into a beautiful, 93 years young, woman. She has faced the death of her husband and two of her children. Absolutely horrific. How is she still standing? Because of her grit and determination or because Christ has sustained her? I actually don't know....that's not true.....I DO know.... Christ HAS sustained her....but I don't know if she knows. I'm pretty sure she does..... I'm merely using this as an example. What I do know is that if God grants me 93+ years I want to know that this life, a life where I've suffered tragedy is not all there is. It's not the end of my story. I want that ultimate family reunion!!
As I began to search and study God revealed so much more to me. He is such a faithful God.
This beautiful passage in Jeremiah really spoke to me.
"This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: THAT THEY HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING TO KNOW ME, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 9:23-24
THAT THEY HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING TO KNOW ME
Twenty years ago I had a daycare mom who was looking for care for one of her children. She told me she had asked a woman and the woman said, "I'll pray about it." I remember my response like it was yesterday, "I just don't get that, I said. How does that help?" The mom responded, "Me either."
As I look back now I SO get it and my response would have been SO different today. I love that that woman boldly said it AND boldly stood firm on her need to do it. She understood the need to know her God.
"Understand to know" is explained in one commentary three ways:
• “There is a nuance of practical good sense in the Hebrew here for understand, while to ‘know’ God means life itself, even to eternity.” (Kidner)
•The false things men take glory in – wisdom, might, riches, fame – are not only misguided, they are lower. The greatest glory, the highest aspirations, the greatest exultation are fulfilled in God and our true understanding and knowledge of Him. (EWC)
•God says, “Direct your desire to glory in something in the right place – toward Me.” We can take true glory, even the greatest glory in the understanding and knowledge of God. (EWC)
This earthly life is really, really hard. If you are a believer one's eyes are opened and so incredibly sensitive to so much. Sometimes the most faithful have such tracgic lives. Their testimonies are often incredible. Knowing God has saved their life. They simply cannot hold back their boasting in the Lord and his magnificent provision.
As I sit here this morning I ask myself these questions:
•What if I'm given 30 more years to know God?
•What if I wake up every morning and ask God to reveal himself that I may KNOW him?
•What if, regardless of my circumstances, I could REST in who he is BECAUSE I KNOW HIM?
•What if my goal each day was to boast about HIM?
•What if the daily silence is filled with his glory? His provision?
Begs the question, how would my life be different? I can't look into the future but their are a few things I know for sure:
•I WILL find rest for my soul.
"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him."
Psalms 62:5
•I WILL have all that I need.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
•He WILL complete in me what he started.
".....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6
•He will NEVER leave me or forsakes me.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
•My name is written on the palm of his hand.
"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."
Isaiah 49:16
Life's circumstances are hard. They are right in your face. Often it's hard to look around them. I take a great deal of comfort in knowing that God wastes nothing. He doesn't waste our pain and sorrow, nor our joys and triumphs. He teaches us who HE is. But we can also, regardless of our circumstances, rest in him by knowing who he is, by understanding who he is. By, daily, seeking him....not just when hard times come or they linger. Some hardships may never resolve in this lifetime.....we can be paralyzed by them or we can aspire to understand to know God in them.
I'm so grateful, that in the solitude of my life, God says, "Come, KNOW me." I've said it before and I believe it and feel it today.....knowing Him is my greatest joy.....
ND
Have a beautiful day.
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