I love how the Lord allows us to worship in a variety of ways, for a myriad of things. I have understood that for many years now, but it is so cool how the Lord has reminded me of it this past week.
I’ve had bronchitis for the past week or so, and it has been quite unpleasant. I’ve been coughing a lot, my lungs ache, my body aches, I’m physically weak/exhausted, and it is difficult to breathe. Yet I can still say with confidence that God is so good.
First, God has taken care of me better than anyone else can. He knows that I refuse to rest, so He has cleared my schedule for me and forced me to rest on more than one occasion. I had 3 things rearranged/cancelled in my schedule this week, which allowed me to get more sleep (hallelujah!). Additionally, He’s given me various encouragements throughout the week- just silly little things He knows I’ll appreciate. He is SO SO good to me. Our God is so amazingly thoughtful and creative. I just love and adore Him so much!
Also, He has taught me a great deal about the attitude of my worship. Seeking His face in daily life has allowed me to see how intentional and thoughtful God is. As I’ve seen His hand moving in my daily life, it has led to me to worship so many times. As I see His intentionality and how immensely personal God is, it leads to His throne room in praise.
Additionally, worship songs have been particularly impactful in new ways this week. First- it is SO difficult for me to sing right now. Not only do I not have a voice, but it also takes a lot of energy to sing; it makes it harder to breathe, and it quite exerting. I know that sounds stupid, and it’s quite humbling to admit- but that’s just the way it is. As I was singing in worship this week, different phrases really impacted me in new ways. One song in particular begins “You’re every breath I breathe in, You’re every breath I breathe out; You’re every breath in me, God; every moment in Your hands.” That verse hit me so hard! Here I was laboring for breath, and God was in every breath. As much as I’ve hated being sick, God has been in that. In every moment, in every labored breath- He is there, and more importantly- He is to be glorified- despite my circumstances, my attitude, my situations, my mood, or my health. I am to worship Him with the entirety of my being.
And that includes being thankful for every breath, even if it is hard. That means worshiping despite circumstances, illness, attitude, whatever. That means seeking to see how the Lord is encouraging me each day, watching with anticipation to see His intentionality and thoughtfulness.
I’m so thankful for a personal God who can be worshipped in so many ways, for a God who seeks to encourage us and invite us to worship- even if it is just through breathing joyfully.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Free from power, but not presence....
Last night, we learned about harmatology (the study of sin) in class at Downline. AWESOME lesson- so convicting, yet encouraging. As we learn about God and sin, we begin to truly see how offensive sin is in the sight of God.
One thing Jamie said really hit home for me; he said that “We are free from the power of sin, but we aren’t free from the presence of it.” That’s heavy! As I’ve explained in earlier posts, I’m really trying to take this month examine what provisions for the flesh I am making on a daily basis; how am I allowing sin’s presence in my life? I am striving to live a life as free from the presence of sin as possible! John Bryson said it well- “It is easier to avoid the temptation than to resist the temptation.”
What does that look like in my life?
What are things that bring out the sin, what points out the sin in me, and what fights the sin in me?
I need more activities and thoughts that wage war on sin, less activities that offer its presence. We can see this process in Scripture- in Judges, we see the Israelites progress from living among sin, to taking part in sin, to serving sin. That’s a progression I have no desire to be a part of. That means I must wage war well. I must learn Truth in order to recognize lies. Scripture is the only offensive weapon mentioned in the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). I see two huge applications from that:
1) My defense is SUPER important. I must first defend against attacks from the devil. Many battles will involve “standing firm” and “do not be moved.” By the grace of God, He may enable me to take the offensive, but I am only able to have success over the enemy through the power of God.
2) I can only fight the Enemy with the Word of God. Satan is the father of lies, so I must fight him with Truth. God is the opposite of everything Satan is, but Satan will masquerade as an angel of light. That means it is of utmost importance that I recognize the True Light; if I can’t identify the real deal, how will I recognize a fake?
Needless to say, I have a lot of things to think over. This month of spiritual cleansing has already rearranged a whole bunch of things in my life, and exposed a lot of sinful motives in my heart. However, it is also training me in righteousness in ways I never would have anticipated. God is so gracious, and it is such a privilege to be disciplined by Him. I pray He would continue to shape me and enable me to see the things in my life that I need to change in order to be transformed more into His likeness.
One thing Jamie said really hit home for me; he said that “We are free from the power of sin, but we aren’t free from the presence of it.” That’s heavy! As I’ve explained in earlier posts, I’m really trying to take this month examine what provisions for the flesh I am making on a daily basis; how am I allowing sin’s presence in my life? I am striving to live a life as free from the presence of sin as possible! John Bryson said it well- “It is easier to avoid the temptation than to resist the temptation.”
What does that look like in my life?
What are things that bring out the sin, what points out the sin in me, and what fights the sin in me?
I need more activities and thoughts that wage war on sin, less activities that offer its presence. We can see this process in Scripture- in Judges, we see the Israelites progress from living among sin, to taking part in sin, to serving sin. That’s a progression I have no desire to be a part of. That means I must wage war well. I must learn Truth in order to recognize lies. Scripture is the only offensive weapon mentioned in the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). I see two huge applications from that:
1) My defense is SUPER important. I must first defend against attacks from the devil. Many battles will involve “standing firm” and “do not be moved.” By the grace of God, He may enable me to take the offensive, but I am only able to have success over the enemy through the power of God.
2) I can only fight the Enemy with the Word of God. Satan is the father of lies, so I must fight him with Truth. God is the opposite of everything Satan is, but Satan will masquerade as an angel of light. That means it is of utmost importance that I recognize the True Light; if I can’t identify the real deal, how will I recognize a fake?
Needless to say, I have a lot of things to think over. This month of spiritual cleansing has already rearranged a whole bunch of things in my life, and exposed a lot of sinful motives in my heart. However, it is also training me in righteousness in ways I never would have anticipated. God is so gracious, and it is such a privilege to be disciplined by Him. I pray He would continue to shape me and enable me to see the things in my life that I need to change in order to be transformed more into His likeness.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Week One
Well, it has officially been one week of my “spiritual cleansing” month.
This is so much harder than I imagined it would be. But also exponentially better than I could have fathomed.
The Lord has been gracious enough to reveal certain needs with in me; some are sources of comfort that need to be purged, but most are comforts that simply need to be monitored and redeemed. For instance, keeping a check on my conversation and being cautious to avoid behaviors that I simply do to get attention- my pride needs to be purged. There’s no room for that in a child of God. That is sin; it is working for the glory of self, not the glory of God. Stealing glory from God is not a fruit of the Spirit, it is a fruit of the enemy.
However, make-up and coffee are things I think I can use in a redeemed way. They are not an idol in my life, they don’t harm my witness, and they are neutral items that can be used for good or evil. That means I must use them with caution. But I do think that they can be used by godly people, for the glory of God. I am still avoiding them for this month, simply for the sake of redeeming my use of them. I depended on them far more than I realized. It’s not that I feel ugly without make up, but I do want to put it on. To be honest, I want to put it on REALLY bad- just because it makes me feel prettier. I don’t find my identity in it, but I can be supplementing my identity with it- which is still sin. I must take this month to redeem my motives before I can properly redeem the use of these items.
God has proved to be so faithful throughout this month, and far more patient than I deserve. He has been gracious in exposing my sinful heart, the root sin of my behaviors, and enabling me by His Spirit to resist those sinful desires (most of the time). I’m sure that I still have huge blind spots, but the Lord has been faithful to give me what I can handle. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on this journey of cleansing through November, and let me know if I can encourage you in any way!
This is so much harder than I imagined it would be. But also exponentially better than I could have fathomed.
The Lord has been gracious enough to reveal certain needs with in me; some are sources of comfort that need to be purged, but most are comforts that simply need to be monitored and redeemed. For instance, keeping a check on my conversation and being cautious to avoid behaviors that I simply do to get attention- my pride needs to be purged. There’s no room for that in a child of God. That is sin; it is working for the glory of self, not the glory of God. Stealing glory from God is not a fruit of the Spirit, it is a fruit of the enemy.
However, make-up and coffee are things I think I can use in a redeemed way. They are not an idol in my life, they don’t harm my witness, and they are neutral items that can be used for good or evil. That means I must use them with caution. But I do think that they can be used by godly people, for the glory of God. I am still avoiding them for this month, simply for the sake of redeeming my use of them. I depended on them far more than I realized. It’s not that I feel ugly without make up, but I do want to put it on. To be honest, I want to put it on REALLY bad- just because it makes me feel prettier. I don’t find my identity in it, but I can be supplementing my identity with it- which is still sin. I must take this month to redeem my motives before I can properly redeem the use of these items.
God has proved to be so faithful throughout this month, and far more patient than I deserve. He has been gracious in exposing my sinful heart, the root sin of my behaviors, and enabling me by His Spirit to resist those sinful desires (most of the time). I’m sure that I still have huge blind spots, but the Lord has been faithful to give me what I can handle. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on this journey of cleansing through November, and let me know if I can encourage you in any way!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Not quite No Shave November...
I’m sure you’ve heard of the metabolism cleanses and other similar diets. For these diets, you restrict your food intake very severely so that you have absolutely no preservatives in your diet. It is supposed to cleanse your system. Fasting does something similar- it purges all the toxins from your body, which is healthy to do on occasion.
The month of November, I am trying to do a spiritual cleanse. And I’m telling you because I need accountability (and I’d love to invite you to join me if you want)!
I am seeking to use the month of November to be intentionally putting to death any provisions for the flesh, leading me to learn to depend wholly and fully on the Lord. Similar to a metabolism cleanse, I am trying to remove any fake preservatives from my life, which means that I can only depend on the Lord.
And the Lord has already worked in ways I NEVER expected.
It all started when I decided to do “No Make-up November.” I’ve never felt like make-up has been an idol for me, but I do feel more confident and pretty when I wear it. I don’t feel particularly insecure when I’m not wearing it though. However, the Lord convicted me that if I truly wanted to see if it was an idol in my life, the easiest way was to completely remove it from my life for a period and see if it was an issue.
After deciding that toward the end of October, the Lord continued to challenge me. I have so many sources I use for comfort! When I have an I-feel-fat day, I turn on certain music; when I’m stressed I do certain activities or talk to certain people; when I feel insecure, I’ll wear certain clothes or seek attention from certain people- it’s pathetic, really. I’m turning to creation and not the Creator. The Lord has truly challenged me to check my motives in my actions. I want to seek to abide in Him and love Him more intentionally. I must learn what things stir my affection for Christ, versus which things take away from my dependence and admiration of Him.
Additionally, He has convicted me to be more intentional with people around me, as well as my relationship with Him. As much as I seek to encourage other people, am I truly seeking after opportunities to be a blessing and encouragement to the Lord? What does He say He delights in? Do I rejoice in that? In my interactions with people, am I seeking to stir their affections for me, or for Christ?
Needless to say, November is going to be a challenging month for me. If I am hesitant about doing something (my motives in it, if it may be a provision for the flesh, if it is less than beneficial)- I’m going to try to cut it out. If there’s doubt, cut it out. And it’s already SO DIFFICULT! But SO SO SO rewarding. They say it takes 28 days to form a habit, so hopefully this will help me to habitually question my motives and examine my heart.
The month of November, I am trying to do a spiritual cleanse. And I’m telling you because I need accountability (and I’d love to invite you to join me if you want)!
I am seeking to use the month of November to be intentionally putting to death any provisions for the flesh, leading me to learn to depend wholly and fully on the Lord. Similar to a metabolism cleanse, I am trying to remove any fake preservatives from my life, which means that I can only depend on the Lord.
And the Lord has already worked in ways I NEVER expected.
It all started when I decided to do “No Make-up November.” I’ve never felt like make-up has been an idol for me, but I do feel more confident and pretty when I wear it. I don’t feel particularly insecure when I’m not wearing it though. However, the Lord convicted me that if I truly wanted to see if it was an idol in my life, the easiest way was to completely remove it from my life for a period and see if it was an issue.
After deciding that toward the end of October, the Lord continued to challenge me. I have so many sources I use for comfort! When I have an I-feel-fat day, I turn on certain music; when I’m stressed I do certain activities or talk to certain people; when I feel insecure, I’ll wear certain clothes or seek attention from certain people- it’s pathetic, really. I’m turning to creation and not the Creator. The Lord has truly challenged me to check my motives in my actions. I want to seek to abide in Him and love Him more intentionally. I must learn what things stir my affection for Christ, versus which things take away from my dependence and admiration of Him.
Additionally, He has convicted me to be more intentional with people around me, as well as my relationship with Him. As much as I seek to encourage other people, am I truly seeking after opportunities to be a blessing and encouragement to the Lord? What does He say He delights in? Do I rejoice in that? In my interactions with people, am I seeking to stir their affections for me, or for Christ?
Needless to say, November is going to be a challenging month for me. If I am hesitant about doing something (my motives in it, if it may be a provision for the flesh, if it is less than beneficial)- I’m going to try to cut it out. If there’s doubt, cut it out. And it’s already SO DIFFICULT! But SO SO SO rewarding. They say it takes 28 days to form a habit, so hopefully this will help me to habitually question my motives and examine my heart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)