Staying Close to Him

I work with adults with developmental disabilities, advocating for their independence. Part of my job includes going out with a small group of consumers (that's the 'technical' word we use for the program participants) in the community to do a job. One of the jobs we do is litter pick-up at the casino. That was what I did today.

We were in the parking garage, picking up litter, when a car drove into the entrance that I and two other of my consumers were near. Some of the consumers need a little more supervision than others, and I had one such individual with me. I told her to stay close to me as we kept moving and as the car continued to pull into the garage. As soon as I said those words, "Stay close to me", the Lord spoke to my heart, saying, "That's what I want you to do...stay close to Me."

Just like I was trying to protect my consumer by having her stay close to me, God is protecting me when I stay close to Him. If my consumer would have moved away from me, she would have been in danger of being hit by the vehicle. When I move away from God, I put myself in danger of being harmed by the enemy and any of his "oncoming vehicles". Staying close to God is not only about being in relationship with Him and having intimacy with Him. It's also about us being in that safe place where we allow God to protect us.

Idols

It's never easy when God deals with you.

Today has been a good day. Until tonight. Something happened and it made me quite annoyed, then another thing happened that made me even more annoyed. I'm to the point where I just want to be comforted. I want to sit in a chair with a blanket and a book or my journal and a cup of hot tea. 

And this is where God breaks in and says, "Hello. What about coming to me?"

So many times when things go wrong, I go to food or a hot cup of tea or to the television for comfort and to just numb/zone out. I forget that I have a God who I can go to for comfort and He will actually give me the comfort I need. All of those other things are just temporary. Food or tea or the television will only comfort me for so long, or fill me up for so long, until I'm wanting for more. God isn't like that. He satisfies us completely, leaving no lack or longing for more. 

An idol is anything that replaces God or is put before God. 

Like I said, it's never easy when God deals with you. 

Hopeful Reprieve

We're in the middle of winter and for the last three days it's been in the upper 50's, low 60's. But, who's complaining? This afternoon on my way into town, I had the windows down and the sun was shining and it felt like spring. I know winter is coming back, but this reprieve has been wonderful. The promise of the coming spring gives me hope and I know I can make it through the winter.

God showed me that this is like the process I'm currently going through. I went through a bitter winter, so to speak, and when it ended, I had six months of reprieve. Now, however, it seems as though the winter is back. In fact, maybe it never ended. But, as I look upon the six months of reprieve, they give me hope that I can make it through this winter. They promise that spring will come and it will be even greater and will last longer than the little reprieve I had. 

Hindrances

I had just gotten back to my seat from kneeling at the altar when the pastor mentioned something about having things between you and God. Right away I felt conviction. Whenever that question has come up before, I've always thought, "Oh, there's nothing between me and God. We're good." But, this time I couldn't say that. This time, I knew there was something between us.

As I thought about this revelation later, I realized that it's difficult to admit that there is something between us and God because we think (I do, anyways) that He'll be done with us and cast us out because we're not perfect and don't have it all together because that's what the world does. But, we forget that God is not like man. He is merciful, patient, and loving. He actually wants us to admit that there are things getting in the way of a relationship with Him so that He can help us weed them out. In fact, He eagerly waits for us to come to Him with those confessions.

We were made for relationship with God. He paid a high price to be able to draw us near to Himself. Because of that high price, He isn't going to throw us out...He's going to do anything He can to keep us close to Him, making sure nothing is in the way of Him having a relationship with us.

If there are things standing in the way of you and God, keeping you from serving, loving, and drawing close to Him, don't be afraid or ashamed to admit them. He knows about them already, and is waiting and wanting for you to come to Him.

The Same God

I've been listening to a song on repeat for the last several days now, but only this morning did God speak to me through it. It's Kim Walker's new song, Still Believe. In it, there is a line that says, "and I still believe You're the same yesterday, today, and forever". When I heard that line, something stirred in me.

He is the same God. He's the same God we read about in the Bible. He's the same God who raised Lazarus from the dead. He's the same God who was in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew children. He's the same God who's garments the woman with the issue of blood touched and was healed. He's the same God who could heal those whom no one else could. He's the same God who opened deaf ears, opened blind eyes, and made the mute sing. He's the same God who healed the paralytic. He's the same God who freed the possessed man. He's the same God who turned water into wine. He's the same God who gave armies into the hands of His people. He's the same God who caused the barren womb to bring forth. He's the same God who calmed the storm with His hand. He's the same God who was betrayed and died on a cross for all of humanity. He's the same God who arose from the grave after being dead three days.

He's the same God! What makes us think He's any different, or that He won't or can't do those same things for us? He's the same yesterday, today, and forever!

The LORD your God

I've been looking up Scripture about not fearing for an art idea I have. As I'm reading through all of these verses that say "fear not", I've come across one other thing they have in common. Many of them contain, "the LORD your God". I read verse after verse that contained that phrase and each time something moved in my spirit.

The LORD your God.

It's comforting, isn't it? It ought to be, if we know who God really is. He's personal...He's not just your neighbor's God, your friend's God, your mom's God...He's your God.

I don't know about you, but when I read that, it does something to me. It gives me hope, confidence, boldness...it enables me to stand once more in the face of difficulty. He's not just some God...He's MY God.

Take heart, beloved. He's not a far off God...unreachable and unapproachable. He's right here, closer than you can imagine...and He is YOUR God.

Worship - An Audience of One

I've been challenged lately by my own thoughts about worship. Here are the questions floating through my mind:

-What would churches be like if we really did worship unto the Audience of One?

-How would my worship be different if I didn't care what other people thought or thought of me?

-Why does my worship need to be dignified?

I am finally sitting face to face with these questions and I find myself thinking of David Crowder's song, Undignified. If you've never listened to it, the video is at the end of this post. It's a great worship song that talks about becoming more undignified 'than this'. Here are the lyrics:

I will dance
I will sing
To be mad
For my King
Nothing Lord
Is hindering
This passion in my soul

Chorus:
And I'll become
Even more undignified than this
Some may say
It's foolishness
But I'll become
Even more undignified than this
Leave my pride
By my side
And I'll become
Even more undignified than this
Some may say
It's foolishness
But I'll become
Even more undignified than this
Than this

La, la, la, la, la, HEY!
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, HEY!
La, la, la, la, la

It's all for You my Lord!

So, is this about pride? I think so. Webster's definition of pride is 'a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.' Hmm....  Jesus gave up His dignity when He was crucified on the cross for us, so can't we give up ours for Him?

I know that for me, every week in church is a battle for my pride. I have so experienced God in such a real way that my soul is shouting for joy, but because of pride, my mouth won't. I want to jump up and down and worship so wildly, like King David dancing before the Lord, but my pride stops me. "What will everyone think of me?" is the question that always runs through my head during church. 

But, I'm not worshiping them. My worship is not for them. So, why should I care what they think if I jump up and down or shout at the top of my lungs? It's not like it's not in the Bible. "Shout for joy..." Psalm 98:4, "Let them praise His name with dancing..." Psalm 149:3. 

Leave my pride by my side.... My King deserves my worship. Now, let me clarify something. I'm not saying that this is how everyone should worship. I'm sure that for some people, leaving their pride by their side involves lifting their hands, not necessarily dancing wildly. Everyone worships differently. I'm talking about setting pride aside and not caring who's watching or what anyone thinks, but having that love and madness inside of us for our King Jesus that we refuse to let our pride hold us back. 

I am definitely challenged to start worshiping to the Audience of One. I'm challenging myself to lay my pride by my side and let my worship reflect outwardly the way I feel toward my King.