2 Samuel 6:22a shows us a king who is not ashamed to worship God with his whole heart. "I will become even more undignified than this..."(NIV). He didn't care what people said or thought about him dancing before the Lord with all his might.
So, why is it exactly that we care what others think or say? Why are we more concerned with how people see us rather than how God sees us? Why do we let people determine how we worship and praise our God? Somewhere along the way, "religion" got in the way of WORSHIP. I encourage you to allow the Spirit of God to take control, and stop being afraid of men and their faces.
The very next opportunity you have to praise and worship God in public, I dare you to just let loose, let the make-up run, let the heel break on that shoe, let the hairpins fly! He is worthy of all that and much more. Will you become undignified for His glory today? Think about it.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
We Need to Clean House
Psalm 51:10 (KJV) "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
This Psalm contains a very sincere prayer. David confesses his sin, begs God's forgiveness, and asks God to clean him up. He even asks God not to expel him from God's presence or take the Holy Spirit away from him. When you have the chance, I encourage you to read the whole prayer.
Sometimes we should just get sick of ourselves. David confessed that his sin was ever before him. Our sin often stares us right in the face, and we fail to acknowledge that it's there. Ignoring the iniquity doesn't make it go away; ignoring it causes it to grow. An untreated infection can kill. An unconfessed, unforgiven, and unpurged sin can kill our spirit.
We are so unworthy of God's mercy, yet He gives us opportunity after opportunity to make things right with Him. Whatever "secret sin" you have been holding on to, tell God about it and ask for His forgiveness. He alone can purge you and make you clean. Give the Holy Spirit a clean house in which to dwell. It's time to clean house!
This Psalm contains a very sincere prayer. David confesses his sin, begs God's forgiveness, and asks God to clean him up. He even asks God not to expel him from God's presence or take the Holy Spirit away from him. When you have the chance, I encourage you to read the whole prayer.
Sometimes we should just get sick of ourselves. David confessed that his sin was ever before him. Our sin often stares us right in the face, and we fail to acknowledge that it's there. Ignoring the iniquity doesn't make it go away; ignoring it causes it to grow. An untreated infection can kill. An unconfessed, unforgiven, and unpurged sin can kill our spirit.
We are so unworthy of God's mercy, yet He gives us opportunity after opportunity to make things right with Him. Whatever "secret sin" you have been holding on to, tell God about it and ask for His forgiveness. He alone can purge you and make you clean. Give the Holy Spirit a clean house in which to dwell. It's time to clean house!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Presence of God
In the 34th chapter of Exodus, we see where Moses spent some serious time in the presence of God. As a result, his physical appearance changed (V.29). If we claim to have been in the presence of the Lord, can anyone tell? What has changed about us?
It is impossible to experience the presence of God and remain the same. Something has got to be different. Maybe it starts out as something internal, but it should eventually manifest into a physical change if we continually get into God's presence. We are to be peculiar (different). If people can't see that something is different about you, perhaps you should evaluate your relationship with God. Ask Him to show you His glory. Of course, your flesh will not be admitted into God's presence, so you will first have to die to "self" before you can enter that secret place.
If you are hung up on your title, your position, your clique, or yourself in general, you will remain on the outside looking in. There is no greater joy than that you receive in the presence of the Lord. Give up on you, and allow God to have His way in you. I promise you won't regret it!
It is impossible to experience the presence of God and remain the same. Something has got to be different. Maybe it starts out as something internal, but it should eventually manifest into a physical change if we continually get into God's presence. We are to be peculiar (different). If people can't see that something is different about you, perhaps you should evaluate your relationship with God. Ask Him to show you His glory. Of course, your flesh will not be admitted into God's presence, so you will first have to die to "self" before you can enter that secret place.
If you are hung up on your title, your position, your clique, or yourself in general, you will remain on the outside looking in. There is no greater joy than that you receive in the presence of the Lord. Give up on you, and allow God to have His way in you. I promise you won't regret it!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
God Cannot Lie, So Just Trust
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." We find these words in 2 Corinthians 1:20. His promises are true, and no one can change what God has promised in your life. There is no need for you to be in anguish over your 'haters' because God is in control.
It seems that more and more people are distraught about people throwing monkey wrenches in what you believe is God's plan for your life. God is using those people to strengthen you. God is using your adversity as a springboard for your success. His plans cannot be derailed, and His promises cannot be untrue. If anyone should be distressed, it's the person allowing the enemy to use him/her.
Hold your head up and walk in what you know God has promised you. The manifestation will come as He prepares a table right in front of your enemies. Stop your fretting and trust God. This is as much for me as for you. I must at all times, in all situations, even in the dark places, trust God!
It seems that more and more people are distraught about people throwing monkey wrenches in what you believe is God's plan for your life. God is using those people to strengthen you. God is using your adversity as a springboard for your success. His plans cannot be derailed, and His promises cannot be untrue. If anyone should be distressed, it's the person allowing the enemy to use him/her.
Hold your head up and walk in what you know God has promised you. The manifestation will come as He prepares a table right in front of your enemies. Stop your fretting and trust God. This is as much for me as for you. I must at all times, in all situations, even in the dark places, trust God!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
If It Isn't a Sacrifice...
2 Samuel 24:24 "...I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing..." (NASB)
Whatever we offer to God has to cost us something, or it isn't a sacrifice. If it isn't a sacrifice, then what is it? What purpose does it serve? God doesn't need our self-righteousness. He doesn't need us to give Him something only to be seen doing it. He wants our honesty in our giving. By giving God our sacrificial offering, we are affirming our faith in His ability to meet our needs. We are saying, "I trust You, Lord."
Abraham's sacrifice was to be his promise (his son), but Jehovah Jireh provided a ram at just the perfect moment. God is still the same; we can trust Him just as Abraham did. We can give Him our very lives as a living sacrifice. What good is an offering that costs us nothing? Sure, it can still be used for the kingdom, but how is it benefitting our spiritual lives? When we give out of our abundance it's nice, but when we give out of our scarcity.... That's the sacrifice. That costs us dearly, and that is worthy of offering to the Lord.
I trust You, and I need You to know that You can trust me with what You have blessed me with, Lord. Here is my SACRIFICE.
Whatever we offer to God has to cost us something, or it isn't a sacrifice. If it isn't a sacrifice, then what is it? What purpose does it serve? God doesn't need our self-righteousness. He doesn't need us to give Him something only to be seen doing it. He wants our honesty in our giving. By giving God our sacrificial offering, we are affirming our faith in His ability to meet our needs. We are saying, "I trust You, Lord."
Abraham's sacrifice was to be his promise (his son), but Jehovah Jireh provided a ram at just the perfect moment. God is still the same; we can trust Him just as Abraham did. We can give Him our very lives as a living sacrifice. What good is an offering that costs us nothing? Sure, it can still be used for the kingdom, but how is it benefitting our spiritual lives? When we give out of our abundance it's nice, but when we give out of our scarcity.... That's the sacrifice. That costs us dearly, and that is worthy of offering to the Lord.
I trust You, and I need You to know that You can trust me with what You have blessed me with, Lord. Here is my SACRIFICE.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Get It Right!
Genesis 4:5-7 (The Message)
3-5 Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.
6-7 God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it."
It is normal for we humans to make mistakes. As we see from this passage of scripture, Cain messed up with his sacrifice. The problem here is that Cain couldn't admit his error and learn from his mistake. He instead became jealous and resentful of his brother. If you remember the story, Cain's anger led him to murder Abel.
It is critically important that we don't allow our mistakes to fester and lead us into more harmful thoughts and behaviors. God warned Cain that sin was just waiting to trip him up, and that goes for us as well. We need to admit when we are wrong, so that we can be forgiven and be given the opportunity to get it right.
We need to get it right not just with God, but with each other. Our relationships with one another depend on us owning up to our faults. Don't pretend to be perfect; learn from the mistakes and grow as an individual. When you can admit that you are wrong, then you are right!
3-5 Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.
6-7 God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it."
It is normal for we humans to make mistakes. As we see from this passage of scripture, Cain messed up with his sacrifice. The problem here is that Cain couldn't admit his error and learn from his mistake. He instead became jealous and resentful of his brother. If you remember the story, Cain's anger led him to murder Abel.
It is critically important that we don't allow our mistakes to fester and lead us into more harmful thoughts and behaviors. God warned Cain that sin was just waiting to trip him up, and that goes for us as well. We need to admit when we are wrong, so that we can be forgiven and be given the opportunity to get it right.
We need to get it right not just with God, but with each other. Our relationships with one another depend on us owning up to our faults. Don't pretend to be perfect; learn from the mistakes and grow as an individual. When you can admit that you are wrong, then you are right!
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