I Will Worship You
It was an especially difficult day with many uncomfortable moments. Another day to obey the Lord in the hard places. It is especially tough when your obedience is challenged. The temptation to back down, change your mind, and allow just this one thing presses hard against the will to obey God.
Silently I told the Lord, “I love you more. I will not back down in what I know you have shown me. Use the difficult to sharpen me for you and your kingdom.”
"Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
I put a fence around my heart by constantly praying and forgiving. I told the Lord, I would not let any offense, hurt or wrong attitude have a place in my heart.
As I drove home, I felt pity creeping up to find a seat in my heart. “Oh, no you don’t. Pity, you have no place in my heart. This heart is full of the Spirit of the Living God and I am full of peace, joy and thanksgiving. Lord, I thank you for the pressing, the difficult. Use it to whittle me down for your purposes.”
As I pulled into my drive way I couldn’t get out of the car quick enough. I changed clothes, grabbed my ear buds, leashed the dog and put my feet to pavement. As I walked, I worshipped my Lord. I knew the way out was worship. I quickly forwarded past the songs about “me” and only longed to hear the songs of the greatness of my God.
My heart was full of the glory of the Lord. I let the events of the day drop to the ground. Again, I declared my loyalty to my God. As I awakened the next morning, He reminded me that a few months earlier, I had recommitted myself to be His bondservant. I willingly chose to belong to Him and to serve Him no matter what the cost.
So here I am. Joyfully obeying. I am a well-kept servant of the Lord. He is faithful, loving and kind and He provides everything that I need.
Oh, what a master!
Are you able to worship God in the hard places? This is one of the most difficult tasks of the faith-life. It is easy to worship God when the sun shines bright. It is easy to worship God when the bank account has more than enough. It is easy to worship God when the boss applauds you. It is easy to worship God when everyone loves you and agrees with you. But what about during the hard times? Job gives us a good example of how to worship during the hard times.
“Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-21)