Saturday, August 1, 2009

Self-pity To Praise

Focus verses: Jeremiah 20:7-13

How often do we sink into self-pity? When something untoward happens we start asking questions. "Why me, Lord?" "What did I do to deserve this?" "Where are You?"

We should be asking a different question. "Where am I in relationship to God's will?"

We know that we are in God's will when the world comes against us as we speak out for God. It would be so much more comfortable to remain silent, to hide in the shadows, to be inconspicuous. But when we are living for God, it becomes obvious to all the world. They may ridicule, denigrate, and sneer at us, but they know where we stand.

And it's not like we have a choice in the matter. When we choose God, we choose to be His disciple. Not speaking for him creates a fire in the bones. When we speak God's words and message, we are not to bite our tongues. (I've never been good with the bruised and bleeding tongue thing, anyway.)

Only when we take the focus off ourselves and think about Who God is and the fact that He is with us can we begin to praise and worship Him. God inhabits the praises of His people. In praise, we draw closer to Him.

Father, God,

Help us to take our eyes off ourselves and fix them upon You. Draw us closer to You in our praises of Your worthiness and power and majesty and might. Keep us in right standing, knowing our place in You.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

2 comments:

Andrea said...

AMEN. We MUST remember to keep the focus on our Heavenly Father and not ourselves.
Blessings, andrea

Judith Robl said...

Thank you, Andrea.