Lately, I've been wanting to hear what David (the kid-shepherd-turned-king in the Bible) has to say about life and God. He was called a man after God's own heart by God Himself! (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). That is my greatest desire... To be a woman after God's own heart. So I figure I can learn a few things from him. Obviously, he was still human, made mistakes, and chose to follow his selfish desires rather than always choosing the "right things" according to God's character... just like me. The one thing I love about our humanness is that it gives God so much more room to work and show His glory, power, and grace. It makes our need for Him obvious.
Anyways, I've been clinging onto this verse from Psalm 86- "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name." Another version says "Teach me Your ways and I will walk in Your truth, unite my heart that I may fear only You."
The more I talk about God's way with other people, and the more I think about it alongside of who I know God to be, the more I realize something. Every person in the world wants to know why they're alive, what their purpose is, what God's way is for them. But as Christians, we all already know what is- to love God and to share His love for everyone on earth by loving them with His love. So what we are looking for is the "mode of transportation." The way we are going to be His vessel to share His amazing love.
I think that this is the part where we get confused. This mode of transportation looks different for everyone, because of the different gifts and passions He has blessed us with. I think we can all agree with that. There are literally countless ways all of these gifts can be used to glorify Him. But what if you have more than one gift? Or what if you are passionate about more than one thing? How do I know what "the right way" God has planned for me?
This is where I think we sometimes miss the point. God's way is a lifestyle, not necessarily one specific path. His way is a way of love. It's a way of grace. It's a path of kindness, of grace, mercy, joy, and forgiveness.
What I'm thinking, is that if you are on the path of these things of Him, then you are on "the right path." If you are following the way of God, you will be walking in His truths.
So you may come to a fork in the road and have to make a choice. Sometimes it's obvious that one way is filled with darkness, and that the other is filled with His light. But sometimes, both paths are the way of God. And really, I'm not quite sure what to do when we get to that point.
Sometimes, I think we worry too much about what the will of God is for our lives. But if we are walking in His truth, we are doing the will of God! As we learn what His way is and what His truths look like, our desires change to match His. And those desires are of restoration, love, and forgiveness.
His will for us is to know Him. And not just know of Him, or about Him, but to know Him.
He has shown you, o man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
I've been thinking about that A TON recently, as I am ending my time here in Jicotea and off to start a new chapter. Ahh but which chapter to choose? Every option that I have seems to be one of God, a way filled with light and lots of opportunity to learn about and serve Him. So I'm a little stuck. But meditating on this verse has brought a lot of peace in a time of turmoil. I know that God will gently guide and direct me in the way He wants me to go- His way. And I will continue to follow and fear Him and live His way, no matter where I end up or what I end up doing.
Lord, continue to teach me Your ways, so I may walk in Your truth.
Fearing God has always confused me. He tells us to fear Him and then to not be afraid. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! But today I think I am beginning to understand what it means on a new level. Fearing God means to understand, realize, and accept that He has full authority over your life.
To want to please Him and live as He desires.
To be in awe of Him and who He is.
Basically, having Him as your one and only God.
I'm not sure how to say what I'm trying to say... it is something deep that I feel and am excited to keep exploring.
The thing in life that I dislike the most is probably to disappoint people. That and to make people angry or annoyed. But I realized that trying to always please people has become a god in my life. Something that I fear sometimes more than God. Something that I need to change.
I love how David worded this in his prayer to God. So many times my heart is divided between wanting to fear God and wanting to fear the world, or people of the world. To please Him and to please the world. But that is not possible.
God, unite my heart that I may fear only You.
It is so exciting for me to see how much I still have to learn about God's way. About what it means to fear Him. Of course, I will never know everything, but knowing that there is so much to our amazing God makes every day of following Him an adventure.
Here is a song of Psalm 86
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjsBiwT4Ovs
Friday, December 6, 2013
Give Me Jesus
These are bold words. Radial words. Words that should completely change your life.
Because Jesus is bold. Jesus is radical. And Jesus completely changes your life.
I think it's safe to say that we tend to forget who Jesus really is.
I do, at least.
If we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, doesn't that mean we need to be like Him? Jesus is not selfish... why am I? I subconsciencly put myself at the front of my mind, like a filter, seeing if doing this, or helping with that, or loving this person will give me something in return. I need to get out of myself. This is a mindset that I have adopted as my own, but we are called to have a transformed mind (Romans 12:2). And Jesus does that.
It all comes back to pride. "I deserve to be happy, or have fun, or have a break, or relax...." these lies are what feed into our selfishness. We don't deserve any of that. We are made of dirt. We are a vessel for Him. Literally the only good in me is Him (Psalm 16:2). He is the author, the Creator, the giver of life. And He is good.
How amazing, that He chooses me, you, all of us, because of our weakness, to show His incredible love, power, and grace to the world.
I pray that He will empty me of myself, so I can be continually filled with Him. Break me down, so He can build me back up. Make my weaknesses evident, so His light and strength can shine brightly through the cracks of my heart. Because that is why I am here.
Jesus is real. He is here.
So you can have all this world, just give me Jesus.
Because Jesus is bold. Jesus is radical. And Jesus completely changes your life.
I think it's safe to say that we tend to forget who Jesus really is.
I do, at least.
If we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, doesn't that mean we need to be like Him? Jesus is not selfish... why am I? I subconsciencly put myself at the front of my mind, like a filter, seeing if doing this, or helping with that, or loving this person will give me something in return. I need to get out of myself. This is a mindset that I have adopted as my own, but we are called to have a transformed mind (Romans 12:2). And Jesus does that.
It all comes back to pride. "I deserve to be happy, or have fun, or have a break, or relax...." these lies are what feed into our selfishness. We don't deserve any of that. We are made of dirt. We are a vessel for Him. Literally the only good in me is Him (Psalm 16:2). He is the author, the Creator, the giver of life. And He is good.
How amazing, that He chooses me, you, all of us, because of our weakness, to show His incredible love, power, and grace to the world.
I pray that He will empty me of myself, so I can be continually filled with Him. Break me down, so He can build me back up. Make my weaknesses evident, so His light and strength can shine brightly through the cracks of my heart. Because that is why I am here.
Jesus is real. He is here.
So you can have all this world, just give me Jesus.
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