"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. . . . I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of 'sacrifice' when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us."
-David Livingstone
It's been on my mind recently, throughout this week and occasionally in the past month, that I seek praise far too often. Ever at all is too often, and I am certain I do it more than once daily.
As I was walking yesterday (or possibly the day before) I overheard just a snippet of conversation from one of my friends. He was quoting a verse from the Bible about boasting in what we can do. That was all I heard, but it made me think. Obviously it didn't make me think long enough, however, because today I began to do the same thing. Again.
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
-2 Corinthians 10:17-18
How on earth can I claim to follow God, say that I have given Him everything, expect to be used by Him, when I am so caught up in making sure that I get the recognition for things that I have done? Honestly, that is purely arrogant of me. I could not breathe if it were not for my God. Have you ever thought of that? He is so vital to your life, so entwined in your existence that if we were to remove Him our lives would simply cease to exist.
Excuse me while I scold myself...
Seriously.
I was challenged with a question while reading Crazy Love (Francis Chan) today. It's a quote from God Is the Gospel (John Piper).
"The critical question for our generation--and for every generation--is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?"
To be honest, my first thought was no. No way, ever. And I still hold to that. But I don't know that I had ever actually considered that before. I have no desire to ever be in any place, no matter how wonderful, without my God being right there beside me. I would rather be here with all the troubles of this world than be without Him.
If I claim that He has that importance to me, then why do I still continue to try to take the glory that He deserves? Why do I make a big deal of the pain I am in hoping someone will notice and give me sympathy or encouraging compliments about how well I am doing in spite of my "suffering"? When I do little things and continually drop subtle hints so that someone will notice them or when I repeat the things I have done that might be worthy of praise again and again until they are recognized I am only taking the glory and the attention from God. I am taking my own attention from Him and the attention I am forcing others to give to me.
The ironic thing about all this is that whenever I do get someone to notice what I have done, however seemingly significant (though terribly insignificant in the grander scheme of things) it is, I don't feel good about it at all. I feel dirty and as if I had stolen something. And didn't I? I stole God's glory.
In reality, "I never made a sacrifice."
I never made a sacrifice except that I robbed myself of the heavenly reward I might have received if I had not said a word.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
-Matthew 6:1-4
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
What Strength?
I had a unique experience today. Long story short, I forgot my debit card and ended up being $7 short in cash on the groceries Mom needed for dinner. I could have figured it out, left some there and come back for it or something, but there was no way I could just get what I needed then and there.
I started trying to figure out what I needed to leave, or rather, what I could leave. Then my friend asked what was going on, how much money I needed, and offered to help pay. My first instinct? Turn him down, of course. I didn't need his help. I could go home and come back again. It wasn't that big a deal, really. But let him pay for it? No way.
He insisted, and I gave in. Thanking him, I allowed him to help me.
As we were leaving the parking lot I said, "That's really hard for me." We didn't say much more about it, but that it is hard for anyone. As we were nearing home I said something more.
"You don't realize how much you think you can do things on your own until you actually accept [receive/need] the help of another."
I thought I knew I couldn't do it on my own until I accepted his help. Then I realized that, though in this case I could have managed (No, I can't let that go. I could have done it.), I really can't do it all alone. I didn't know that was something I struggled with.
If you know me, you probably know that I can handle a lot. In fact, I probably "handle" more than I actually should be able to. It's a weakness if you think about it. Your own strength can be a terrible weakness. My strength is a terrible weakness. I say that I rely on God for my strength, but in reality, do I rely on him for my strength? Or do I simply rely on him to pick me up and carry me once I have fallen apart from "handling" more than I actually can handle?
Today, I realized that I generally operate on the latter mentality. I actually can not do anything on my own, though I try so hard. And each time I struggle, I just struggle through. Maybe it's time to start asking for or even simply allowing help--from those around me, and most importantly from the God who made me.
I started trying to figure out what I needed to leave, or rather, what I could leave. Then my friend asked what was going on, how much money I needed, and offered to help pay. My first instinct? Turn him down, of course. I didn't need his help. I could go home and come back again. It wasn't that big a deal, really. But let him pay for it? No way.
He insisted, and I gave in. Thanking him, I allowed him to help me.
As we were leaving the parking lot I said, "That's really hard for me." We didn't say much more about it, but that it is hard for anyone. As we were nearing home I said something more.
"You don't realize how much you think you can do things on your own until you actually accept [receive/need] the help of another."
I thought I knew I couldn't do it on my own until I accepted his help. Then I realized that, though in this case I could have managed (No, I can't let that go. I could have done it.), I really can't do it all alone. I didn't know that was something I struggled with.
If you know me, you probably know that I can handle a lot. In fact, I probably "handle" more than I actually should be able to. It's a weakness if you think about it. Your own strength can be a terrible weakness. My strength is a terrible weakness. I say that I rely on God for my strength, but in reality, do I rely on him for my strength? Or do I simply rely on him to pick me up and carry me once I have fallen apart from "handling" more than I actually can handle?
Today, I realized that I generally operate on the latter mentality. I actually can not do anything on my own, though I try so hard. And each time I struggle, I just struggle through. Maybe it's time to start asking for or even simply allowing help--from those around me, and most importantly from the God who made me.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
More Than Conquerors
Just a few moments ago I was sitting here on my bed crying and praying the lyrics of a song that has often been on my heart recently. It goes like this:
Do you know how that is? I'm guessing most of you probably do. That feeling... That hopelessness... When you finally come to the end of everything you can do and realize that all we have left is Jesus.
Look at this again.
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
This can be true, through Jesus. But it can't be true while we are holding on to life by our own strength. Today my strength gave out. I broke down. God wins. He always does, doesn't he?
Back to business though.... This verse came to mind.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. . . . 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:18, 31-39
We, my friends, are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Through Him, and only through Him, we can do all things.
I’m Tired I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes
To keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
My prayers are wearing thin
Yeah, I’m worn
Even before the day begins
Yeah, I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
So, heaven come and flood my eyes
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn
Though I’m worn
Yeah I’m worn
-Worn-Tenth Avenue North
Do you know how that is? I'm guessing most of you probably do. That feeling... That hopelessness... When you finally come to the end of everything you can do and realize that all we have left is Jesus.
Look at this again.
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
This can be true, through Jesus. But it can't be true while we are holding on to life by our own strength. Today my strength gave out. I broke down. God wins. He always does, doesn't he?
Back to business though.... This verse came to mind.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. . . . 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:18, 31-39
We, my friends, are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Through Him, and only through Him, we can do all things.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Worried?
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
-Psalm 37:1-8
Fret not thyself, for it tendeth only to evil doing.
-Psalm 37:8
There are days when I find my greatest revelation in the world around me--the sunsets, the flowers, the birds, the strength of my mother--and there are other days when I find the lessons I need to learn in the time I spend reading what God has written to me.
Today was a bit of both.
Have you ever thought about worrying enough to realize that we wouldn't worry at all if we put all our effort into seeking God's plan for our lives? If we were out to realize God's plans, rather than our own, the things we go through and look forward to wouldn't be of our own will but of God's. And we would know this because our one effort is to glorify God and live for Him.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
Verse one of Psalm 37 commands us not to worry because of the evil that is going on around us. As Oswald Chambers writes, don't calculate without God. Don't calculate with evil in view. In other words, don't calculate with the rainy day in view.
When we make plans and we get ready for life--when we prepare ourselves--we can not do it worrying about anything. We need to calculate our lives and our future paths as though there is no evil to work around.
We are called to love--are we not? Love . . . taketh no account of evil (1 Corinthians 13:5b). As Christians, as followers of Christ, that is our command. Love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).
When we are acting in love, we are not taking into account the evil in this world. When we do not take into account the evil in this world, we take into account only God's plan. When we are only calculating with God in view, we have no reason to worry.
Do not fret. Do not worry. Do not be envious of those who do wrong.
Calculate with God in view.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Verse four states that if we take delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts.
Now, this is something I don't have scripture to back up, but it is something I believe nonetheless. When we make God our center, I believe He makes the desires of our hearts line up with what He has in store for our lives. He makes His plans and His will our desire--if we delight ourselves in Him.
In Him. Not if we delight ourselves in our own plans, but if we delight ourselves in Him. Not if we find our delight in what people think of us, our plans for the future, the situations we are in, or the places we plan to be.
It comes back to do not worry. If we are taking our delight in the Lord we are not making our plans more important than His. If we make our lives less important than His plans we will put our delight in Him. With our delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts, and He will fulfill those desires. We will not be consumed in worry.
Be still and wait. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. Do not fret. These things lead only to evil (Psalm 37:7-8).
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
-Psalm 37:1-8
Fret not thyself, for it tendeth only to evil doing.
-Psalm 37:8
There are days when I find my greatest revelation in the world around me--the sunsets, the flowers, the birds, the strength of my mother--and there are other days when I find the lessons I need to learn in the time I spend reading what God has written to me.
Today was a bit of both.
Have you ever thought about worrying enough to realize that we wouldn't worry at all if we put all our effort into seeking God's plan for our lives? If we were out to realize God's plans, rather than our own, the things we go through and look forward to wouldn't be of our own will but of God's. And we would know this because our one effort is to glorify God and live for Him.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
Verse one of Psalm 37 commands us not to worry because of the evil that is going on around us. As Oswald Chambers writes, don't calculate without God. Don't calculate with evil in view. In other words, don't calculate with the rainy day in view.
When we make plans and we get ready for life--when we prepare ourselves--we can not do it worrying about anything. We need to calculate our lives and our future paths as though there is no evil to work around.
We are called to love--are we not? Love . . . taketh no account of evil (1 Corinthians 13:5b). As Christians, as followers of Christ, that is our command. Love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).
When we are acting in love, we are not taking into account the evil in this world. When we do not take into account the evil in this world, we take into account only God's plan. When we are only calculating with God in view, we have no reason to worry.
Do not fret. Do not worry. Do not be envious of those who do wrong.
Calculate with God in view.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Verse four states that if we take delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts.
Now, this is something I don't have scripture to back up, but it is something I believe nonetheless. When we make God our center, I believe He makes the desires of our hearts line up with what He has in store for our lives. He makes His plans and His will our desire--if we delight ourselves in Him.
In Him. Not if we delight ourselves in our own plans, but if we delight ourselves in Him. Not if we find our delight in what people think of us, our plans for the future, the situations we are in, or the places we plan to be.
It comes back to do not worry. If we are taking our delight in the Lord we are not making our plans more important than His. If we make our lives less important than His plans we will put our delight in Him. With our delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts, and He will fulfill those desires. We will not be consumed in worry.
Be still and wait. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. Do not fret. These things lead only to evil (Psalm 37:7-8).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)