Would you still worship Him?

The question was asked in a devotional, if the things you desperately wanted, never came to pass, would you still worship Him?

After we moved to Tennessee a few years ago, all my heart desired was peace. To live in peace after many stressful years.

Peace became my God, my idol. Would I still worship Him, without the peace I so desperately sought and couldn't attain?

Yes, and it was worship that brought full surrender. Worship leads into the beautiful presence of God, no matter how angry with Him I became, He could lead me back to my heart... to get to His heart. To sit at His feet and worship Him, how can your heart and all that you are not be touched, cherished and healed by Him.

Psalm 119:11-12
Psa 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psa 119:12 I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

Lord the more I read your Word, pursue knowing you through scripture, the more your Word and your desire for me is revealed and takes root in my heart and soul, I grow. The heart knowledge, the things lodged deep in my soul become the hidden things of the heart and their goal is that I might know your will for me, and that I might not sin against you.

Lord Jesus, please through the power of the Holy Spirit, burn these things into my heart so that I do not sin against you but instead sing praises for your commands and decrees.

I do not desire to have knowledge for the sake of knowing, but that my heart would be shaped and molded for you Lord. With every concept, every nuance that you teach me Lord, plant it deep so that it may bear fruit for you. Keep your Words hidden in my heart, only for your glory Lord.

Psalm 119:1-8

Oh Father, as I reflect back on these scriptures about Joyful integrity, obedience, following your commands, learning your decrees, I have discovered that our obedience is directly related to what we know to be true. Both obedience and healing come in pieces, or submission comes as our understanding deepens. Do we ever fully attain true submission, even when we know the Father's heart toward us is always good?

For instance, we know that lying is a sin, lying to each other affects me, and the person lying to me. So maybe we stop lying, to someone else. Or maybe we just need to stop overstating the truth, embellishing. Then, we become convicted of an exaggeration, so we realize that not to be truth, and repent. Then perhaps instead of a direct lie, we just cover up the truth by omission, but it still isn't truth. And then, we realize that we aren't talking to God about an area of hurt in our life, and we realize that too, is a lie we don't want to let go of, because we need to change, and don't want to. And perhaps the next level of submission isn't outward at all, it's completely heart condition that reserves a piece of our heart we refuse to submit to His word. Maybe we aren't grateful because this one thing isn't quite what we had in mind. But the deeper we go with Him, the more He leads us to truth in our inner man. Perhaps we don't have fullness of joy, because we don't fully submit our heart in one area or another.

As with so much of our walk with Christ, the more we learn, the more we know, the more we grow and the more we are responsible for. We are lead by Him to be responsible to rise up to what we know. Oh but Lord, my desire is to keep your commands carefully, but you also know my feeble ways, the ways I see through a glass darkly. My dependence is upon you and you alone to lead me into obedience in more ways than I could ever consider in this moment. You lead my inner man from sin, to obedience in your perfect timing and will. Thank you for your grace toward me, bless my life with truth and wisdom, that I may one day truly embrace your decrees... and as the Psalmist says, don't give up on me! Diane Grant

Psalm 119:7
As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should.

No matter if I've been a believer in Jesus Christ for 55 years or 5 days I will learn your commands, and in me will grow a desire to learn and know you more. The longer our relationship Lord, the more You work in me, this I cannot begin to accomplish in my own power. To strive to attain even the idea of living as I should is beyond me, beyond my mere humanity, beyond the scope of what I can fully comprehend. The longer I'm in relationship with you Lord, the more I realize anything good in me, any power to live rightly is motivated and moved by you. It's Your righteousness that brings forth fruit in me, my responsibility is to be submitted, surrendered to you as you continue to shape me into Your image. Praise You, Jesus... for never giving up on me, for continuing Your work in my life.

Psalm 119:5
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!

Oh, that my actions...my heart first, then my thoughts, then my actions line up, consistently reflect your heart, your commands, your decrees. Oh, Holy Spirit, may this be true of me, please be the voice in my ear that says “this way, not that way”, lead, guide, and instruct me. I know that in so many moments of the day that I don’t even think of my actions, I just take action and I don’t consider whether or not they line up with your decrees, or your heart for me. Help me God, to not only choose to live in all the moments, especially when I’m just moving through the day without really being present or aware of what I’m doing. Teach me to be more mindful throughout my day, even in the moments.

I'm so relieved to be in good company! File this under you don't know, what you don't know.

Just this morning in church I was thinking, "I'm so slow to learn, my understanding and comprehension skills, dull, when it comes to maturing in Christ." And then tonight I read this (see photo) about the disciples!

I guess our humanity sees dimly, but once we accept that our spirit (our spiritual understanding) knows things we don't really realize is even there, it's not a "taught" but a "caught" thing. A spiritual understanding instead of human knowledge.

Gal 3:3 Are you that stupid? Having begun with the Spirit's power, do you think you can reach the goal under your own power?

God gives grace...so much grace, He doesn't tire of teaching, leading us into all truth. EVER. Oh Lord Jesus, give me the grace to be patient with me, as you are patient with me.

We are having some lightening, thunder and rain as day turns to night here in East Tennessee, such a blessed day. Sharing a slide from church this morning.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, oh Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8