Tag Archives: praise

Built into God’s Home

God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
Ephesians 2:20-22, MSG*

I love the way The Message puts this: God building a home, fitting each brick and stone, each of us built into it.

The individual bricks and stones may be a variety of sizes, shapes, colours and textures, but each one has a place and we need to cooperate with God as He fits us into our spot. As the builder, God applies the mortar to join us together, but first He cleans us. You wouldn’t stick a dirty brick into a wall, either for aesthetics or for optimal adherence.

I’m challenged by how much dirt floats around a construction site and what that might look like in our congregations and other Christian groups. Irritation builds up, we start noticing that others aren’t doing things our way. We focus on weaknesses instead of strengths.

Creator God who loves and saves us, thank You for building each of your children into a holy temple where You can dwell. You’ve cleaned us and you’re building us, but help us remember our ongoing need to keep clean. Forgive us for the gunk that accumulates so quickly, and help us keep working at it. Thinner layers are easier to scrub off and don’t dim our shine as badly.

∞

Brian Doerksen’s song, “Welcome to the Place of Level Ground,” reminds us we’re all equally dependent on God’s grace.

Trusting God’s Love

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Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it.
Ephesians 2:4, 5a, 7, 8 MSG*

What amazing love is this, that “where God wants us” is close to Him, in restored relationship! And that in patience and grace He will take the time to train us, heal us and shape us into the potential He’s set within us.

He saved us, He is saving us, He will save us.

The “all we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it” is that simple and that hard. Choosing to trust God’s love, and that He’s shaping us even through the things we don’t like, is a hard obedience. It’s “a long obedience in the same direction.”

God who is Peace, the perfect peace of completeness when we’re in relationship with You, thank You for a love beyond what we can imagine. Thank You for rescue and for renewal. Help us, deep in our spirits, to know and rely on Your love and to trust You enough to let You work in us.

∞

Let Matt Redman’s song, “Never Once,” remind us to trust.

Intentional Holiness

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Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:25, NIV*

I’m challenged by how seriously the Apostle Paul takes spiritual growth and development, compared with how casually it’s often treated these days. Even when we know it’s important and we try our best, it’s easy to wish ourselves more spiritually mature and then forget to actually practise the spiritual disciplines that will help us grow.

A quick search of BibleGateway.com turned up six variations on the command to “be holy because God is holy.” We know it’s not so we can earn His love, nor for legalistic purposes. It’s spiritual training, where outward acts deepen inner devotion.

Part of the call to holiness is so barriers won’t grow between us and God after Jesus took them all down. The repeated act of recognizing and confessing our sins of commission or omission keeps the barriers broken down and sensitizes our spirits to God’s way.

I wonder if the main reason, though, is so our devotion to God will show others how incredibly worthy we know Him to be: worthy of our obedience, worship and love. After all, if we don’t seem very captivated by Him, what will attract them to consider Him?

Living and Holy God, You’ve saved us and called us to be a people set apart for Yourself, and You’ve promised to grow us into Your Son’s image. Help us take this seriously, with the right motivation, and teach us to live holy lives that worship You. Thank You for the privilege of being restored to relationship with You.

∞

Let Kathryn Scott’s “Search Me, Know Me” be our prayer today.

Relentless Gratitude

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Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23, NIV*

Last week, the day my Radical Gratitude post came out, I struggled with attitude all day. Shouldn’t have been surprised—after all, how can we learn to apply a lesson if there’s no practice? But practice is work and it’s easier to endure the crankiness and wait for it to go away.

When God finally got my attention and we did some business, I decided what’s needed is resolute gratitude. Even relentless gratitude.

Not just thanking God for His blessings, but thanking Him when everything inside us traitorously whispers self-pity, entitlement, discontent, blaming etc. When things are going wrong. Or when we’re just plain in a bad mood.

What’s the constant no matter how bad our circumstances?

God. He never changes.

For 2012 and forward, I want to learn to relentlessly, resolutely, regularly declare thanks for who He is. No matter what’s going on in and around me. That means not just focusing on the Light instead of the darkness but remembering what I know of Him and getting to know Him even better.

Amazing and unfathomable God, Your character alone gives us a wealth of reasons to thank and praise You. Help us set our hearts and minds on You and choose gratitude. As we trust You, open our eyes to see You more clearly in our lives. Thank You for the difference You make.

∞

Matt Redman’s “Blessed Be Your Name” expresses the intentionality of thanksgiving.

Radical Gratitude

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And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
John 1:5, AMP*

This is the verse that strengthened me after the terrorist attacks of 9-11. It’s the same verse that’s echoed in my spirit these past few Christmas seasons, each one leaving me more aware of the darkness in our communities and our world.

We think Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of year. But the darkness is why Jesus came. Israel of 2,000 years past was a pretty dark place, I’m sure, much like today.

His presence—Immanuel, God with us—still makes the difference.

As I’ve prayed for the people and situations nearest to my heart this season, at first the darkness was too much. This young girl—that young family—this elderly woman and her family… where they’re walking is unbearable. They’ve been heavy on my heart, and weighing down my spirit as I prayed. Reciting John’s words about Light in the darkness wasn’t helping.

A few days before Christmas God blew away the fog and let me see: I hadn’t been demanding why of God—that never ends well—but my discontent about what He had allowed said I didn’t think very highly of His management.

Judging God also doesn’t end well. And discontent is poison. Confession, forgiveness, and a fresh start work wonders, though.

Now I’m praying the same verse, but looking at the Light, practicing what Mark Buchanan calls “radical gratitude.”

Thanking God for what He will do in these people’s lives, instead of being dragged down by where they’ve been. Trusting that whatever His plans are, they’re for good. Not just praying for things to get better but for people to be made new and others to see the difference He makes.

Sovereign and holy God, who doesn’t tend to fix things, I praise You for how instead You re-create or make new. And the new is better. Stronger. Useful in Your hand. You waste nothing. Help us trust You. Show us how to pray in radical gratitude and praise, confident in our trust in You. Shine brighter in our darkness, until all will see Your glory.

∞

Permit me one last Christmas song of the year: catch the hope and the assurance in the words to “Joy to the World,” especially verses 3 and 4.

Incarnation

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1,14, NIV*

Fully God, fully man… the manger scenes can distract us from this mystery, but in the words of Charles Dickens, “This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.” (A Christmas Carol)

Each Christmas I’m more aware of the pain in the world, the brokenness. But that’s why He came.

We’re damaged goods—each of us—no matter if we’ve done or been done to.

I can’t imagine God choosing to confine Himself to the limitations of a baby… growing boy… man. In the squalor and darkness that is our earth, after dwelling in the glory of heaven.

He loves us this much!

Enough to stoop to our level, to look us in the eyes, to carry our pain and punishment so we could be restored to relationship with Him.

Eternal God, blessed Saviour, Holy Spirit, our minds aren’t big enough to grasp the mystery of the Incarnation, but we offer praise and thanks for Jesus, God made flesh, our deliverer. Our King. Thank You for setting Your love on us. Help us receive it.

∞

Let Michael Card’s “The Final Word” bless your spirit today.

Thought Adjustment

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Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6:15b, NIV*

Talk about an odd verse for God to use to correct me! This is not exactly on my list of temptations. But I knew what He meant.

I’ve been thinking lately about Oswald Chambers’ challenge to “keep my conscious life as a sacred place for the Holy Spirit” (Nov. 7 reading, My Utmost for His Highest, updated edition edited by James Reimann) and about the challenge to practice the presence of God throughout the day.

I need the peace of Christ to rule in my heart (instead of allowing anxiety to reign); the mind of Christ to rule my thoughts (to make them obedient to Him instead of dwelling where they shouldn’t) and the grace of Christ to be a guard on my lips (to keep errant thoughts from slipping out in irretrievable words). I’ve made it into a prayer of sorts.

On this particular day I was driving to work, listening to a favourite worship CD and remembering the need to stay close to God. The biggest challenge at that moment was in the thought department: I was tired and a bit on the cranky side.

Zing went the prostitute verse through my thoughts. I hadn’t even read it recently! But God’s message was clear: what about expecting the mind of Christ to unite with the cranky mind? Was that any different?

The surprise factor did in the cranky nature, and the day came into much better focus.

Holy and merciful God, if I want to cultivate a sacred space for the Holy Spirit to work and rule in my life, I can’t expect Him to share it with the offensive things I bring in. Thank You for Your grace and patience to teach me your ways, and please open my ears to hear and my heart to learn.

∞

“Refiner’s Fire” makes a good prayer for us all. This is Brian Doerksen’s rendition.

Our God is With Us

Love, Listen, Hold… Live

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“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…”
Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a, NIV*

Moses is winding up his recitation to the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in their journey. Their choices will shape their future. He’s previewed the blessings and warned of the curses. He leaves them with a motto for life.

Love the LORD Your God

it’s a heart and spirit response
it has active implications – don’t just feel it, do it

Listen to His voice

be diligent to hear
be diligent to obey

Hold fast to Him

cling to Him
rely on Him as an anchor and fortress

Why?

We always need a reason why, even if it’s just that God says so and we choose to trust Him. Moses answers the question: “The LORD is your life.”

Holy and eternal God, You are our life. We’re not whole when we’re not close to You. Help us love You, help us listen to You, help us cling to You, so we can live. Thank You for such grace that gives us this gift!

∞

Here’s John Waller’s “The Blessing.”

Enticed Away?

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Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.
Deuteronomy 11:16, NIV*

This is part of Moses’ warning to the people of Israel as they’re getting ready to enter the Promised Land. Idol worship is rampant among the nations they’re to evict, and they need to stay set apart for God.

There’s much to entice us away too: possessions, problems, pleasures…. With multi-tasking and constant communication and noise, our thoughts scatter like seed in the wind.

We forget.

Being careful takes intentional effort. Moses had some suggestions for the people that will help us too:

Talk about God, with our family and friends. Not to preach, in this context, but to teach our children and to encourage and remind our believing peers.
Visual reminders… we may not tie them to our foreheads or write them on our doorposts as Moses said, but art, jewellery, symbols are all good reminders as long as we don’t tune them out.
Keep God as part of each day, all day long and wherever we are. One thing I’m learning is to notice the beauty of creation around me and to remember to thank God for His gifts.

Sovereign Lord, You have called us to be a people belonging to You, and we want to be faithful. You know how easily distracted we are. We need help! Please teach us to be careful not to be enticed away. And when our focus slips, please draw us quickly back. There is no one like our God, none other worthy of worship and adoration.

∞

Here’s a classic Keith Green song: “Draw Me.”

Janet Sketchley

Writing Christian Mysteries & Suspense

Tag Archives: praise

Built into God’s Home

Trusting God’s Love

Intentional Holiness

Relentless Gratitude

Radical Gratitude

Incarnation

Thought Adjustment

Our God is With Us

Love, Listen, Hold… Live

Enticed Away?