My new favorite soaking song. Beautiful! :)
Be thou my vision, be thou my joy
My providence and my reward
Be thou the wisdom that I employ
To trade my worth for Yours
Be thou my refuge, be thou my strength
Should my confession err
My heart shall whisper a sure "Amen"
And trust Your every word
Be thou exalted
Be thou exalted, Jesus, forever
Be thou exalted
Be thou my passion, be thou my zeal
That I may offer Thee
No great procession or vain appeal
But my sincerity
Hallelujah to the Name of all names
Hallelujah to our God be all praise
Ever holy, worthy
Be thou exalted always
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
One Thing
I love how God's Word never stops speaking. A verse that speaks in one way and imparts a particular truth at one point in time can speak in an all new way and reveal an entirely different or deeper truth at another point in time that causes you to see/understand it in a new light. That is the undeniable power of the living and active Word (Heb. 4:12) that never ceases to amaze me and it's absolutely why I can never get enough of it.
I have been experiencing this most recently with Psalm 27:4, which has long been one of my very favorite verses in scripture (as is probably evident in the name and subheading of this blog). I know it by heart, and what I love is that when we fix God's Word in our hearts and in our minds and invite it to dwell in us, He will call it to mind and speak it to us/over us in our times of need. It's one of the many ways we hear from Him! With regard to this particular verse, God has been bringing it to my mind over and over again these past few days and I've realized that it's been speaking to me in a deeper, more profound way and has been an eye-opening, re-orienting truth in my time of need:
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek..."
Now in all honesty, how often do we go to God in prayer intent on just one thing? And not just any one thing, but the one thing: Him. I think it's really easy as we go about our day to day lives and get caught up in the cares of this world for our prayers to become ongoing lists of what God can do for us, what He can give to us, what we decide that we want or need in this world in order to be happy, to be at peace, to feel secure, to feel fulfilled. It almost becomes this sense of entitlement as, whether we recognize it or not, we come to believe we deserve certain things from God and we deserve this particular life that we have envisioned and have tried to plan for ourselves based on worldly standards. We formulate our own plans and simply want God to sign off on them. Now while we know that God absolutely loves to bless us and give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11), and that Jesus came to give us full and abundant lives (Jn. 10:10), we also know that the gifts should not and do not equate to the Giver. They cannot overtake or surpass their Source and they themselves should not be our focus. So when we begin to elevate God's blessings above God Himself, when we shift our focus from Him to them, we are no longer in God's will. What we should be seeking after first and foremost in prayer, at all times, is God Himself. Not that it's wrong to bring our earthly cares, needs and desires before God - He knows about all of them anyway, He cares about every detail and He loves when we come to Him with full acknowledgement that He is our Provider of everything and depend on Him in that way. He knows our needs even better than we do (and I often thank Him for that!) But when our prayers become primarily laundry lists of requests rather than a passionate aim to learn more about God, to know Him more intimately, to grow in relationship with Him and simply spend time with Him, we know we've gotten off track. It can be a subtle distinction and often hard to detect, but all the same the result is that we've stopped pursuing after His heart above all else and He becomes a means to an end rather than the end itself.
David asked God for one thing. Just to be with Him, in His Presence. To dwell in His house. To gaze upon His beauty. To seek Him. He understood that God Himself is the goal, He is the end. He experienced that God Himself satisfied all of his wants and needs and so much more, that there is no other and no greater thing to be attained. Better than life itself, as he says, is God and His love (Ps. 63:3). God absolutely captivated him, to the point where he need not ask for or pursue anything else. Indeed, as we all know, anything else in our lives that we pursue - material things, worldly things, anything apart from His kingdom - will not last and has no eternal value (1 John 2:17). And when we make them the focus of our prayers, when they overshadow our praise and thanksgiving and worship to Him, we are essentially saying to God, "I don't want You as much as I want what You can (and should) do for me." That's a tough pill to swallow! So why do we get so fixated on mere things? Jesus says that when we seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, He adds all else to us. So all the things the world chases after, God adds to us supernaturally when we seek Him first! (Matt. 6:32-33) He meets all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). So why get caught up chasing after those things that He promises to give us when we simply abide in Him? Even when it's hardest to believe, He always knows best!
I know I've been struggling with this lately, particularly trusting that God will come through and provide for a certain need I feel is becoming desperate. And while I wait around for that need to be met - trying to stay hopeful but increasingly discouraged by circumstances, worried that they won't change, and feeling a lingering sense of dissatisfaction because this particular thing has not yet been provided - God repeatedly whispers the same thing to me: one thing. In spite of anything and everything else in life...whatever it is we think we want or need at any given time...it's always one thing.
So it ultimately begs the question: who and what are we living for, really? What is our true motivation? Are we seeking after God's heart first, desiring above and in spite of all else to be with Him? That is our eternal destiny and the only worthwhile investment in this life. It's so easy and so tempting to get caught up in and distracted by the world we live in and all it claims to offer us. As A.W. Tozer says, "the world around us is at conflict with the Word within us." While we are in the world, we are not to be of it. So no matter what the world throws at us, no matter the obstacles Satan puts in our path to hinder us or lure us away, we will follow hard after God. We throw off everything else. We keep our eyes fixed on Him. We run the race (Heb. 12:1-2). Because when all is said and done, He really is all we need. He is our life. Apart from Him we have no good thing (Ps. 16:2).
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:41-42
I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, that I may die to self and live wholly to Him. - Charles Spurgeon
I have been experiencing this most recently with Psalm 27:4, which has long been one of my very favorite verses in scripture (as is probably evident in the name and subheading of this blog). I know it by heart, and what I love is that when we fix God's Word in our hearts and in our minds and invite it to dwell in us, He will call it to mind and speak it to us/over us in our times of need. It's one of the many ways we hear from Him! With regard to this particular verse, God has been bringing it to my mind over and over again these past few days and I've realized that it's been speaking to me in a deeper, more profound way and has been an eye-opening, re-orienting truth in my time of need:
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek..."
Now in all honesty, how often do we go to God in prayer intent on just one thing? And not just any one thing, but the one thing: Him. I think it's really easy as we go about our day to day lives and get caught up in the cares of this world for our prayers to become ongoing lists of what God can do for us, what He can give to us, what we decide that we want or need in this world in order to be happy, to be at peace, to feel secure, to feel fulfilled. It almost becomes this sense of entitlement as, whether we recognize it or not, we come to believe we deserve certain things from God and we deserve this particular life that we have envisioned and have tried to plan for ourselves based on worldly standards. We formulate our own plans and simply want God to sign off on them. Now while we know that God absolutely loves to bless us and give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11), and that Jesus came to give us full and abundant lives (Jn. 10:10), we also know that the gifts should not and do not equate to the Giver. They cannot overtake or surpass their Source and they themselves should not be our focus. So when we begin to elevate God's blessings above God Himself, when we shift our focus from Him to them, we are no longer in God's will. What we should be seeking after first and foremost in prayer, at all times, is God Himself. Not that it's wrong to bring our earthly cares, needs and desires before God - He knows about all of them anyway, He cares about every detail and He loves when we come to Him with full acknowledgement that He is our Provider of everything and depend on Him in that way. He knows our needs even better than we do (and I often thank Him for that!) But when our prayers become primarily laundry lists of requests rather than a passionate aim to learn more about God, to know Him more intimately, to grow in relationship with Him and simply spend time with Him, we know we've gotten off track. It can be a subtle distinction and often hard to detect, but all the same the result is that we've stopped pursuing after His heart above all else and He becomes a means to an end rather than the end itself.
David asked God for one thing. Just to be with Him, in His Presence. To dwell in His house. To gaze upon His beauty. To seek Him. He understood that God Himself is the goal, He is the end. He experienced that God Himself satisfied all of his wants and needs and so much more, that there is no other and no greater thing to be attained. Better than life itself, as he says, is God and His love (Ps. 63:3). God absolutely captivated him, to the point where he need not ask for or pursue anything else. Indeed, as we all know, anything else in our lives that we pursue - material things, worldly things, anything apart from His kingdom - will not last and has no eternal value (1 John 2:17). And when we make them the focus of our prayers, when they overshadow our praise and thanksgiving and worship to Him, we are essentially saying to God, "I don't want You as much as I want what You can (and should) do for me." That's a tough pill to swallow! So why do we get so fixated on mere things? Jesus says that when we seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, He adds all else to us. So all the things the world chases after, God adds to us supernaturally when we seek Him first! (Matt. 6:32-33) He meets all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). So why get caught up chasing after those things that He promises to give us when we simply abide in Him? Even when it's hardest to believe, He always knows best!
I know I've been struggling with this lately, particularly trusting that God will come through and provide for a certain need I feel is becoming desperate. And while I wait around for that need to be met - trying to stay hopeful but increasingly discouraged by circumstances, worried that they won't change, and feeling a lingering sense of dissatisfaction because this particular thing has not yet been provided - God repeatedly whispers the same thing to me: one thing. In spite of anything and everything else in life...whatever it is we think we want or need at any given time...it's always one thing.
So it ultimately begs the question: who and what are we living for, really? What is our true motivation? Are we seeking after God's heart first, desiring above and in spite of all else to be with Him? That is our eternal destiny and the only worthwhile investment in this life. It's so easy and so tempting to get caught up in and distracted by the world we live in and all it claims to offer us. As A.W. Tozer says, "the world around us is at conflict with the Word within us." While we are in the world, we are not to be of it. So no matter what the world throws at us, no matter the obstacles Satan puts in our path to hinder us or lure us away, we will follow hard after God. We throw off everything else. We keep our eyes fixed on Him. We run the race (Heb. 12:1-2). Because when all is said and done, He really is all we need. He is our life. Apart from Him we have no good thing (Ps. 16:2).
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:41-42
I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, that I may die to self and live wholly to Him. - Charles Spurgeon
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him...
--Philippians 3:7-9
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Where You Go I Go
This song has been rocking me lately...awesome!
Where You go I go
What You say I say
What You pray I pray
Jesus only did what he saw You do
He would only say what he heard You speak
He would only move when he felt You lead
Following Your heart, following Your Spirit
How could I expect to walk without You
When every move that Jesus made was in surrender
I would not begin to live without You
For You alone are worthy
You are always good
Though the world sees and soon forgets
We will not forget
Who You are and what You've done for us
You are my God
Where You go I go
What You say I say
What You pray I pray
Jesus only did what he saw You do
He would only say what he heard You speak
He would only move when he felt You lead
Following Your heart, following Your Spirit
How could I expect to walk without You
When every move that Jesus made was in surrender
I would not begin to live without You
For You alone are worthy
You are always good
Though the world sees and soon forgets
We will not forget
Who You are and what You've done for us
You are my God
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Psalm 63
Loving this song and wishing it would be released on CD...*sigh*
My soul longs for You, Lord, in a dry and weary land
My soul longs for You, Lord, in a dry and weary land
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
--Psalm 63:1-8
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Trials
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4
I'm finally beginning to understand what it means to consider it pure joy to face trials. I don't think I've ever felt more powerless or out of control as far as my current trials go and everything I've been enduring. And for someone who's a bit of a control freak, it's a bit unsettling and overwhelming. But I also know I have never felt closer to God. I've never seen or known Him like this. I've never felt more alive, or more sure of anything. I have never trusted Him more, I have never had more hope in Him. I've never felt more blessed or been more thankful for all that He is and all I have in Him. I've never been so in love. I am absolutely captivated. He is with me and He is making me mature and complete in Him. I lack nothing.
How else to describe it? Pure joy.
Am I saying that the trials we face won't be painful or difficult, won't involve suffering and grief and won't test us to the utmost? No. But are they ultimately worth it to help us realize more and more the depth of our need for God and to bring us closer and closer to Him? Yes, without a doubt. Whatever it takes to be entirely His, to see Him glorified. Christ is worth everything. It's good news. :)
All of my life, in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship!
I'm finally beginning to understand what it means to consider it pure joy to face trials. I don't think I've ever felt more powerless or out of control as far as my current trials go and everything I've been enduring. And for someone who's a bit of a control freak, it's a bit unsettling and overwhelming. But I also know I have never felt closer to God. I've never seen or known Him like this. I've never felt more alive, or more sure of anything. I have never trusted Him more, I have never had more hope in Him. I've never felt more blessed or been more thankful for all that He is and all I have in Him. I've never been so in love. I am absolutely captivated. He is with me and He is making me mature and complete in Him. I lack nothing.
How else to describe it? Pure joy.
Am I saying that the trials we face won't be painful or difficult, won't involve suffering and grief and won't test us to the utmost? No. But are they ultimately worth it to help us realize more and more the depth of our need for God and to bring us closer and closer to Him? Yes, without a doubt. Whatever it takes to be entirely His, to see Him glorified. Christ is worth everything. It's good news. :)
All of my life, in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Praise!
God is SO GOOD. I mentioned several posts back that I'd have praise reports about what God has been doing in my life as I began to take steps out of my comfort zone and follow where He was leading me. Well, I know one thing for sure about my God and that is that He is 100% faithful. Yes, even when I am faithless! (2 Tim. 2:13). In His abundant goodness He has been confirming all over the place what He has called me into and blessing me so much and in so many ways it's incredible. He has been with me, He has been my confidence and my strength, He has been pouring out wisdom and insight as I've called on Him and answering prayer in unbelievable ways, He has been equipping me and I have seen the work of His hand. And it's only been a few weeks! I don't know what else to say, I'm just in awe of Him!! I was certainly hesitant to follow God's call and it took a little while for me to kick it into gear but now I can't imagine not having done it. I would be missing out on so much. He truly does reward those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6) and who step out in faith to follow Him! Every day I am finding my life! (Matt. 16:25) I'm so excited for everything that's yet to come in this journey! More than anything, always, I crave to know my Father's heart. I crave that intimacy with Him. So amazed and so, so blessed that He delights to reveal Himself to me and passionately loves me.
I'll say it again: God is so good. Seek and you will find. :)
I'll say it again: God is so good. Seek and you will find. :)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Look to You
"Looking inward you become despondent. Looking around you become disillusioned. Looking up you become devoted." - Brian Houston
I'm amazed at the truth in this statement. Where are you looking?
So I look to You
So I look to You
No one else will do
No one else will do
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. - Psalm 105:4
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