Out of the Box

"The heavens and their own heavens cannot contain You! How much less this house that I have built." - 2nd Chronicles 6:18

My father always tells people that God is not a feeling. People tell him, "but if I don't feel like going to church, I shouldn't go," or, "but I just don't feel like praying." In these things, we try to conform God into the areas we want Him to be. It's like we put Him in a box on a shelf; when we want something or need something, we pull Him out, but most of the time our relationship with Him is kept separate from the rest of our lives, collecting dust. I was thinking about this today on the train and it got me so upset! Who do we think we are that we feel we have the right to have God fit into our lives the way we want Him to?! In this verse in 2nd Chronicles, it says that not even the heavens' heavens can contain God, so how dare we try to define Him, tell Him what to do and how we want it done? If the heavens cannot contain Him, much less my little mind that has no idea about what's even good for me!

Here's the deal, we need to take God out of the box. He should be in control, not us. God shouldn't have to bend for us, we need to stretch for Him and allow for Him to do what's best for our lives. And don't think, "well, this just isn't for me" because there you go putting God in a box again! If that small box is all the space you give Him, then small things is what you'll see! He cannot be defined and you cannot tell someone who created the entire universe what to do in the little itty bit of time you have here on earth. He is so much bigger than our minds could ever comprehend. Once you tell God you agree to stretch for Him and let Him define who you are, I guarantee your life will change because you will finally have the right perspective.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I have such a small mind and cannot possibly comprehend even a little bit of Your works and Your wonders. Forgive me for believing myself wise or smart enough to tell You what to do for me. Open my mind and help me to know that You're the one that should define me, not me try to define You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Give Up The Control To God

"Bow down, then, before the power of God so that He will raise you up at the appointed time. Place all your worries on Him since He takes care of you." - 1st Peter 5:6-7

When God commands something of us, our initial reaction a lot of times is to rebel. His commandments are against what the flesh wants to accept. This verse above has 3 key parts and once you overcome the first part, the rest will follow easily.

Bow down, then, before the power of God - no matter what you're facing right now, health issues, financial issues, personal issues, God is bigger than that, but first you need to realize that God is also bigger than you and any effort that you are making to solve your own problems. Bowing down to God means to go before Him and recognize that on your own, you are nothing. Empty your heart out to Him and recognize that He is the Lord, the King, and you are His servant. When you come to this realization, as hard as it is to let go of the control, you will see the way He moves in your life. You will begin to trust in Him.

At the appointed time means that never too early, but always right on time, you will see the work of His hands in you and you will be astonished at how beautifully things start coming together. While you see your prayers being answered externally at due time, internally God is working to create a new heart in you - a heart that craves to always be connected to this new love you have found in Him. A heart that trusts Him and feels joy in spreading His word and pain in seeing others abuse it.

Then at the last step, placing all your worries on Him because He takes care of you, you recognize that you are completely His and you know that whatever comes at you, is no match for your God who loves you. Your only worry becomes pleasing Him, abandoning yourself to His will and absolutely knowing that He has you in the palm of His hand protecting you.

Go and bow down before His power and get to know this extraordinary love and care.

Today's Prayer:
My God, I empty myself before you because I recognize that without you, I am nothing. I am the work of Your hands and I wish wholeheartedly to abandon myself to Your will. Help me to trust in You and wait patiently on Your deliverance from all my worries and anxieties. In Your Name we pray, Amen.