Entry #15 - Psalm 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). This verse is so very popular, and for good reason--what person, particularly a Christian and a lover of God, would not want to go to God and find rest from his stresses? I have heard this verse everywhere, and songs and meditations based on it. Today I found out that "Be still and know that I am God" does not make up the entire verse in which it is found. Here is the full verse of Psalm 46:10--

"Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"

Taken in context we see that this verse is not so much about God running His hands through our hair as we disconnect from life while sitting in His lap, as much as it is about God's restraining and sometimes vengeful power over all the armies of the world (vv. 6-9...whom or what does God tell to be still?) and His clear intent to be exalted by people throughout the world (v.10). Quite a different story, isn't it? Different attitude, different focus, different aim. So why does the full verse not appear on coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, and in songs? Can we not take comfort in the same things in the same way as the psalmist? Do we really believe that every time we read about God's passion to be exalted, and every verse we read from Paul that ends in "to the glory of God", that it is some kind of throw-away phrase? Do we believe that the more important thing is us?

Since listening to men like John Piper and Paul Washer my eyes have been opened to God's passion for His glory as revealed in Scripture. It's astonishing how I would often gloss over these phrases and statements. Not always--I was aware of God's passion for His glory and excited about it myself--especially the revealing of that glory, whether through world evangelism or the return of Christ. What took me much longer (ultimately at the redirection of said preachers) was seeing the preeminence of this passion among all of God's passions.

The Bible's testimony of this is both uncompromising and simple. God is intent on making Himself known, and being exalted throughout the earth. And for me, this is a fortress and a refuge. A mighty fortress is our God.

Entry #14 - God... and things.

There is a point when the things you care about in your life can either be aids in your walk with Christ or deterrents. It's a hard question to ask yourself: is this possession/profession/person something that brings glory to God? Does it help me to honor Him, to thank Him for its presence and purpose in my life? Or does it distract me from Him altogether, causing me to miss the gratitude I should be giving? Everything God created is designed for the good of God's kingdom. That includes things that help us or entertain us, the talents we can enjoy and use, the careers and friendships we invest in and help grow... God's heart is pro-creativity.

So where does it all go south?

For me, it was when I forgot that God wanted to be involved. It was as though I decided to pursue this investment, and God was mutually exclusive. My God time and my thing time were two separate entities. Oftentimes, I would ask forgiveness for thinking about this thing too much, and when I was doing my thing, I would feel weird acknowledging God through it all.

Any thoughts of God pervading my thing time or changing my thing time altogether were exciting but unnerving... I wanted God to take part, in fact I wanted God to breathe through it and dwell in it because my thing time brought me happiness. Now, all I needed was for my thing time to bring me joy, as well.

And for that to happen, I knew God's presence was a prerequisite.

It's a thin line between enjoying creation and worshiping it. Make it clear to God that you want to stay on the right side, and He will help you... It might hurt, but He will help you.

Entry #13 - Wasting Time

"I believe the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time."
--Donald Miller, "Blue Like Jazz"

When I read that statement, something resonated within me. When I think back over the years I wasn't really following God whole-heartedly, I realize that although I had plenty of friends, plenty of money, and was all-around a pretty happy person, I wasn't engaging God; I wasn't making Him part of my everyday life, and in doing so I wasn't walking in the fullness of who He created me to be. I was never depressed, wasn't doing drugs, sleeping around or enticing people to Satan-worship, but I also wasn't building the kingdom of God. Sure, I invited people to church, even sang on the worship team, but I was wasting time. I was not investing in my future, or future-minded at all.

I realize that the enemy had me right where he wanted me. I justified everything I did because it wasn't really "that bad," (like not doing drugs or something crazy), and I actually was involved at church. But there were very specific areas in my life that I would not let God touch. I didn't want to give control over... but that's a whole other blog.

My point is, what are we doing with our time?? Are we just doing the "Christian" thing, and going to church, reading our daily Bible devotions, reciting our prayer lists and staying out of "trouble"? Or are we engaging the Holy Spirit by actively pursuing His word, seeking His face, and getting on our hands and knees (and sometimes faces!) and crying out to God? I grow more in my spiritual walk when I'm consistently (just to clarify - "consistent" doesn't necessarily mean "daily") in the Word, and when I can find quit times with Jesus, than I ever do just going to church.

I regret nothing. Everything I went through made me the person I am today. And I know that God forigves and restores, but it makes me sad to think about all the lives I could have changed or influenced, and the growth I could have achieved had I been serving God whole-heartedly.

My challenge to you is to think about this: which areas of your life do you still have control? We all have at least one.