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www.davidagraves.wordpress.com

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Choices I make today

This morning, I woke up at four a.m. and couldn’t get this imagery out of my mind. Most people including myself have given something worn down or almost broken to the church because we were replacing it with something new. As I was wrestling with why we give the church leftovers in the name of benevolence, God immediately spoke to my heart that I do this any time I am not seeking His will through Bible Study, prayer, and meditation.

The subtle lies attack me from the moment I wake up: what do I need to do today, what is for breakfast, I need to make a list of things for the grocery store, let me check facebook before breakfast, or I will see what on the news this morning. One things rolls into another and before I realize what lies I am buying into, I have forsaken time alone with my Heavenly Father. I miss out on Him singing over me. I am not still in His presence. I do not take my cares, fears, and desperation to him placing my day, life, and surrendered will into a proper perspective of His glory.

I then go about my day passing out “used” mercy, grace, hope, and encouragement to myself, to those I come in contact with, and most painfully to those I love. Doesn’t your soul need the freshness of God’s word daily? Doesn’t your spouse deserve the new of your heart refreshed in the Lord ready to serve them for His glory? Doesn’t your local body of believers deserve a renewed passion from time spent on your face communing with a Holy God? Don’t be surprised in your frustration of life when you are operating your life around one hour this past Sunday to be your “new” all week. Give and receive the new instead of the used today.



Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

My heart in worship

I have heard people with good intentions attempt to encourage someone in a storm by saying, “hold on, one day when we get to heaven, we will get all the answers.” I recognize another subtle lie that I have bought into with my wayward and wicked heart. I have based my worship and belief of God on what he can do, has done, or possibly will do. I have based my worship on my perspective of how I feel or want to feel. I have elevated gifts above the giver. I have worshiped him as healer, sustainer, calmer of the storm, provider, protector, and deliverer. These are all important and God is due each of these ascribed to him but these are about what he has done.
When I worship God for who He is without answers, my heart is seeking him and not his gifts. I am being drawn to Him and He is drawing near to me. He is the gift. God is faithful. God is Holy. God is righteous. God is always the same. God is Merciful. God is Sovereign. God is just.
When I leave this fallen broken world and enter into his presence, every answer is revealed to me. It is revealed when I see Jesus face to face. He is the answer. He does not have to provide answers. As I worship him today in my time of prayer and how I treat others, I will ask myself “am I worshiping God for what he does or who He is?”