I admit that for most of my Christian life, I've gotten a lot more excited when I read something that has to do with me (guidance, promises, encouragement, etc.) in God's Word then when I read His attributes or some great, powerful Work He has done or promises to do. Even the Creation story: how quickly I skip over the first few verses of Genesis, where it describes the Power of the Universe flinging stars into space, creating the intricate details of flowers and grasses, and designing each magnificent animal! Instead I quickly moved on to where MAN was created and my involuntary inward attitude said "Ahhhh....now we're on to the important stuff: now we're going to start talking about 'ME'."
I've asked Him to forgive me for not being passionate about His glory. He deserves and demands to be glorified!
A quote from the book:
When Adam fell, man's nature was corrupted. His darkened nature put himself first. He saw himself as the most significant part of reality. ...His focus became instinctively "me-first" instead of instinctively "God-first". He fell short of his purpose of reflecting and enjoying God's unique excellence---His glory.
When I fail to worship God as the most significant Reality in my life and all around me, then, my fallen nature is ruling who I am. When I look at nature, when I taste food or enjoy a child or gaze at the stars, He deserves to be worshiped with every fiber of my being as the Creator of every good and perfect thing. Oh, may I learn to stop and praise Him more often in my thoughts and with my words.
I read Psalm 18 and 145 the other day, and was struck with so many attributes and actions describing who my God is! (Listed below.) I forced myself not to slow down: to roll them around on my mind and pondered them, and as I did my awe of God and my delight in being HIS blossomed!! I believe that a worshipful spirit is something that MUST be cultivated. It does not come naturally to humans to adore their Master and delight just in belonging to Him and obeying Him (we could learn a lesson from our dogs). All I know to do is to ask God to place in me a passion for His glory, and to make a concerted effort to worship Him at every possible chance. As I've practiced this, it seems to come more naturally. It wells up inside of you like a bubbling spring of water and fills you with so much joy.
The Living Water is meant to be drunk of deeply.
- The King of the everlasting kingdom
- Unfathimably great and worthy to be praised
- Majestic, glorious, full of splendor
- Abundantly good
- Righteous in all His ways
- Gracious
- Compassionate and loving to ALL He has made
- Slow to anger
- Rich in love
- Good to ALL
- Mighty
- Faithful to all His promises
- Upholding those who fall; lifting up those who are bowed down
- Providing for all
- He fufills and satisfies the desires of every living thing
- Near to those who genuinely call on Him
- Hearing the cries of the helpless, and saving them
- He watches over those who love Him
- Holy!
- My Strength
- My Rock, in whom I take refuge
- My Fortress and Stronghold
- My Shield
- The horn ("strength") of my salvation
- He hears the voice of those who cry to Him
- Angry with those who do wrong
- He is a consuming Fire
- He is surrounded by darkness, clouds, bolts of lightening, hailstones, and thunder
- He shoots arrows to scatter the enemy and routes them with lightening
- With one breath, He can expose the valleys of the sea
- He reaches down to hold me, to draw me from deep waters, and rescue me
- My Supporter
- He delights in me!
- The Just Judge
- He acts with faithfulness, blamessness, and purity towards righteous men
- Shrewed in His dealings with the crooked
- He turns my darkness into light
- he enables me to singlehandedly fight against an army
- Perfect
- He is the Shield to those who need refuge
- He arms me with strength
- Guiding me, He makes my way perfect
- He makes my feet like the feet of a deer so I can climb on tretcherous mountains
- He trains me for battles and gives me the victory
- He stoops down to make me great!
- He makes my path wider so my feet won't slip
- Stalks and destroyes His enemies
- Does not answer the cry of the wicked
- He is the LIVING GOD
- He avenges His children
- Full of unfailing kindness
Great post, my friend! So encouraging...love your comment: "When I fail to worship God as the most significant Reality in my life and all around me, then, my fallen nature is ruling who I am." So true!
ReplyDeleteI read through your list of some of God's attributes...I was overwhelmed by how PERFECT He is. Thank you for sharing! :)