Where: My living room
Listening to: Mumford and Sons Sigh No More
Drinking: Twinings Earl Grey
Read:
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
--Psalm 24
Pray:
God, you know the things that trouble me, the conflicts, the tasks, the opportunities. I wish I was powerful to make all things new, but I am weak and broken and foolish. I cannot make things right. I can only obey. The earth and everything in it belongs to You, that includes my troubles and fears. You own my fears. You have beaten them. They fear you. If I am to come close to you, I must forsake the idols of my own abilities and comforts. You are the only One in whom I can trust. Today, I'm going to seek You and let You accomplish Your will. Anything that you don't do today is simply something you don't need done. I just want to obey today. So, I am going to lift up my head today, not in my own confidence, but having confidence in You. Miracle my life today. Miracle my work. Miracle this community and all You want to touch today.
Think:
(Ask, Analyze, Apply)
Write:
I seem to have a common them in my devotions of late: I want to trust in myself. I work so hard to be productive, creative and interesting...I fail on my own. The truth is, trusting in my abilities apart from daily reliance on God is idolatry. Today, I'm seeking Him. I am lifting my head in great expectation of His miraculous work.
Do:
I'm going to go to some meetings, share what God gives me, and hopefully write some plans for Serve Elyria 2011!
Where: my dining room table
Drinking: Starbucks Sumatra
Listening to: Mumford and Sons (Great music for the Irishman in me!)
Pray:
Father, it is a blessing to watch the snow today. When I'm weary and daunted by brokenness, it is a good thing to watch something so peaceful cover the ground and remind me that You make all things new. Everything seems fresh and new in the cover of snow. Today, fill me with Your Spirit. Help me to love You, love people and live surrendered better today.
Read:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. --Matthew 6:33-34
Think:
(Ask, Analyze and Apply)
Write:
I worry less about my food, clothes and shelter than I did 4 years ago. I have been through times when I wasn't sure how I was going to keep my house or support my family. It is only by God's grace that I feel further from losing my material safety. However, my mind finds new things to worry about. I am always in a battle with my own sense of security. There are days when I look at my job and my gifts and can't see how everything comes together. I'm not a brilliant guy or a great leader. My successes can all be directly traced to moments of surrender and obedience directly followed by God's providential action. Remembering I'm not awesome leads me to insecurity or to trust. The more I think about my weakness, the more insecure I become. The more I think about God's sovereignty and love, the more I just love watching Him use me.
A friend of mine played football in high school. His coach, looking at the field and seeing they were short a player, grabs my friend by the shoulder pads and throws him on the field. He stumbled around, not knowing the play. All of a sudden, he gets knocked down. The play was over, and he walked off the field only to see the fans cheering and his teammates slapping his helmet and congratulating. He had inadvertently gotten in the way of the opposing teams star player. He "tackled" him and saved the game. Sometimes it's not about knowing everything. It's about being wear the coach tells you to be.
Do:
Today, I'm going to rest in the truth of who God is. I'm going to read my book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas (great book!), drink tea and watch the snow. Praise God for rest!
