I know it too, Misty Edwards. "There is way more here than what meets the eye". There is also way more in us than what meets the eye. Perhaps you received an update that I posted something new or maybe you simply stumbled upon this. Doesn't matter when it was written or when you read it; what matters is the timing God uses it to speak revelation to your thirsty spirit. My topic today is worship.
We do not fathom on a daily basis the incredible glory God holds. That statement alone doesn't even come close to expressing what He has shown me during times of worship about Himself. We think it's still about us. And furthermore, still... we think it's still all about us.
During a worship set at our latest 45 worship event at our church, God's Spirit spoke several things through me. One thing I can't forget. (And readers of this blog, if you attempt to read this and it comes across as condemnation, then you have missed the heart of God.) God probed me to declare these questions aloud, "Child, how much will you risk for me? How far will you go? Will you stop where you're at? Will you allow yourself to be satisfied with what you have tasted so far? How far will you go? What are you willing to risk for me? I laid my Son on the line." The questions continued as I sang them out: "Child, will you not take me at my Word? Will you not approach my throne boldly and confidently (Ephesians 3:12)? I want you to. Did I not say if you believed, that you would see the glory of God? (John 11:40). Child, I am here for the taking. You can come to me freely. Ask me. How much are you willing to risk for my namesake? Child, how far will you go?"
Chew on that. Let the Spirit of Almighty God speak with you. Then you can come back and finish reading this.
I confessed to a friend lately that I finally felt like I was approaching a season of being on the mountain top with the Lord. You know? Enjoying the view of what you just walked through in the valley back and below. That was about a month ago I said that. I had gone through several recoveries of some injuries, difficult financial/work season, etc. Then, all at once, it felt like I was thrown under a bus and kicked back into the valley. Work was demanding my attention beyond full time capacity, finals approached, my friend's father was dying, I kept getting bad news in phone calls, the list goes on. I thought "this will pass". Then, on the way home from a final, I get into a car accident a few days before a long planned and awaited vacation to the Grand Canyon. I'm told no doctor could see me before I leave, yet I'm stuck with a broken hand. The day before I leave I also get a phone call that my best friend's father passes away. When you know who you are in Christ and you live like it, the enemy is on your case. Thanks be to God for the blood of the Lamb that covers us!
I'm skipping around a bit, so stick with me-it will come together. So my topic is worship, remember? Here's the first question for you: Who/what do you worship? We all worship something or someone. So where is your time spent? Bigger indicator- where is your heart made glad? In comparison, our problems appear bigger or smaller.. I have a friend who puts into perspective our daily struggles when he states: "first world problems" to my complaint of dropping my food on the floor or similar silly complaints of how awful my hair looks because I haven't taken a shower in 3 days. You may think, "Those are legitimate complaints". Okay. I'd like for you to foolishly say that in front of a child who hasn't eaten nor bathed for days and had it not been for the stranger who dropped their fruit on the floor, they still would not eat for a week. Okay. Glad we are back on the same page-my food on the floor is trivial. YET, don't miss this point. Even our littlest problem is seen and cared for by God. Sometimes, we need a new perspective, yes, but that does not discount the nature of a loving Father. For me, hearing I might not have full mobility in my left hand again because I have to get a metal plate and screws inserted, was discouraging. Here's the thing: if I get real with you I'd say it's not even the fact that I'd lose the ability to play sports as well as before or it's not even the thought that I can't play piano for the Lord even though that would break my heart-the kicker was thinking I could no longer pick up orphaned children with two hands or that I was struggling to tie my kindergartners shoe when they asked me for help. Somewhere in the midst of mourning over these things, I find out the owner of the vehicle who caused the accident is uninsured and the person driving the vehicle has no license and is homeless. Talk about a bad day. I'm not sure if it's worse for me or the other guys. HOWEVER, in the midst of ALL OF THIS, my point is I choose to worship. The choice to worship, however, is not enough. It was my choice to gladly worship the TRUE KING OF KINGS that has kept me in a place of peace. I could have worshipped the earth for only drizzling on us while waiting for the ambulance; or I could have worshipped the doctor who so accurately performed hand surgery; or I could worship my insurance representative for being so kind. That will bring flattery which is not always bad. Or worship to these things could even worse, bring deception and a false sense of security. The choice of whom we worship has got to be defined. And I challenge you, if you are serious about walking with Jesus-keep worshipping HIM when the trials come. He is the Way, Truth & Life.
Once you figure out the true One worth worshipping, my second provocation to you is this: How do you worship? Is your worship sacrificial? This comes back to the original words God spoke to me at the worship set. How far are you willing to go? How much will you risk for God? If you're not in a place of laying EVERYTHING before him, He will point it out in love what you need to let go of. And maybe you are in a place of surrendering all things to him-job, heart, savings account, house, pets, children, relationships, thoughts, bad habits, your car, your health-you name it. That's a good place to be. BUT don't get discouraged then when the Lord tests you. He does. He will. And a true lover of Jesus will want Him to test them because they want to be found holy before Him. I can freely and restfully say, it's not a car nor my job nor my money, not even my physical health that I rest in. He's still teaching me. But what freedom there is when you start to lose all the things that the world has taught you has security, and finally after you're done crying over your first world, second and maybe even third world problems, you realize NOTHING can take away God's love for you. What a revelation. Nothing the enemy sends our way has the ability to remove me from the Lamb's book of life. Not unless I allow my worship to become distracted and I choose to walk away from the Lord because of it. But if you have your eyes fixed on your loving, heavenly Father, you will remain at rest. And let me add, after Job went through his disasters, the Lord gave him back more than He had. It's not just about finding the rest in the turmoil...
This leads me to the final point: WORSHIP HIM. Do you know that this God in the Bible isn't just loving? He is just. AND He loves to give good gifts to His children. During that same worship set at the 45, God also spoke these words: "Did you forget that I am the best Father? I teach all the fathers how to train their children, love their kids, discipline their children. Even more, it is I that teaches them how to give good gifts. But I know how to give the best gifts. Just ask me. Child, I know how to give the best gifts". And readers of this blog, HE DOES KNOW HOW TO GIVE THE BEST GIFTS. The Lord turns all this junk for good because I love Him, and I seek His ways above my own. He will do the same for any of His children. Just ask Him. I await patiently His good gifts of blessing from these trials, and I thank Him already for showing me how blessed I am to have friends and family, and a church body that uplifts and supports. This is his Word over me, "The Lord is faithful to all His promises". He knows our heart. He knows the things I continue to pray for in the midst of the trials. And He hasn't forgotten. And our WORSHIP UNTO HIM is what is paving the way for Him to do what He says He longs to do. Worship is my response to the truth. I can't help but falling all over myself in giddiness when I think about Him. Don't just claim to worship the one true God. DO IT. WORSHIP HIM. AND KEEP WORSHIPING HIM. Ask him the questions you are afraid to ask. Sacrifice the things you are afraid to give. Because the Father's heart toward you says, " I want you; I don't pity you. I want you, I like you, I love you."
Listen to this with your heart: http://youtu.be/DH1VT2PeGDw
