I know this seems really basic–really rudimentary…I mean, totally foundational. But I decided to journal prayer my way through Psalm 139. It is taking me several days and I had hoped to have something truly profound to share here. HA! (There is that performance mentality thing I struggle with so much, rearing its ugly head again!)
Truth is, Psalm 139 really IS profound! All by itself!
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue,
you know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in–behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6
I don’t even get to the “really good stuff” in this psalm before I have to stop and bow before my amazing, wonderful, kind, good, loving Lord.
Let me ask you this…as I ask myself. Are there activities that I tend to view as secular? You know…the sorts of things that I think fall outside of “God activities?” For instance, it is easy to see that going to church, having a quiet time, attending a fellowship group with other Christians and, maybe, even being with my family might be “sacred” activities. But what about website designing? What about grocery shopping? What about paying the bills for my 83 year old mom?
The truth is, in light of the above passage, it is clear that God certainly doesn’t draw a distinction between “secular” and “sacred.” The truth is every moment can be captured as a sacred one, every activity offered on the altar of my life, dedicated to God and His glory. I think this may be why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
All that I do can be dedicated to God’s glory, whether it is eating, drinking (the most mundane things in life!), serving in the nursery at church, pulling weeds, mucking stalls, riding horses, helping my son with his highschool chemistry work, vacuuming the carpet or doing the laundry. God cares about everything.
If he really is searching and knowing me, when I sit and when I get up, perceiving my thoughts, my going out and lying down…gosh, all my ways…can I really claim that he doesn’t care or has no opinion or thought about my eating, how I view my body, my self, the struggles that I have to give this area of my life to him?
He cares…He definitely cares!
I used to think that I wasn't giving God glory in my life if I wasn't doing what I THOUGHT was spiritual. Then I remembered the scripture you quoted that whatever we do, do it for the glory of God. In everything we do, God is there just like Psalm 139 says. I love that chapter.
I used to think that I wasn't giving God glory in my life if I wasn't doing what I THOUGHT was spiritual. Then I remembered the scripture you quoted that whatever we do, do it for the glory of God. In everything we do, God is there just like Psalm 139 says. I love that chapter.
I think I am in that phase of coming out of it, realizing that just doing things spiritual isn't all God wants…and the song going through the motions by Matthew West comes to mind here…I am frazzled today and feeling so mad at myself. I have gained back the weight I lost doing TW and keep trying to grab control back but I know the Lord doesn't want that! So prayerfully dragging myself back to the Lord again and never giving up!!I have started going through HEAL and I am really liking it…have read psalm 139 many times since yesterday and going to work on memorizing it…I love this scripture…and love the part talking about how He searches me for all my anxious thoughts!Praying for this study to really just bring me so close to the Lord to be living the abundant life He wants me to live!Also to realize and live out doing each moment for the Lord and not just "spiritual" things and living in bondage or legalism and that I will know the difference!Thank you Heidi!!
I think I am in that phase of coming out of it, realizing that just doing things spiritual isn't all God wants…and the song going through the motions by Matthew West comes to mind here…I am frazzled today and feeling so mad at myself. I have gained back the weight I lost doing TW and keep trying to grab control back but I know the Lord doesn't want that! So prayerfully dragging myself back to the Lord again and never giving up!!I have started going through HEAL and I am really liking it…have read psalm 139 many times since yesterday and going to work on memorizing it…I love this scripture…and love the part talking about how He searches me for all my anxious thoughts!Praying for this study to really just bring me so close to the Lord to be living the abundant life He wants me to live!Also to realize and live out doing each moment for the Lord and not just "spiritual" things and living in bondage or legalism and that I will know the difference!Thank you Heidi!!
I wish that I could hate sin as much as I hate gaining weight. If I could hate sin like I hate my body (true confessions) I think I might be able to make headway that is lasting. I am praying that I will hate sin like nothing else. Not just turn my back on it, but all out, down right hate sin. It is a lack of trust in God…it dishonors the mighty, loving, holy God who saved me…oh heavy sigh!
I wish that I could hate sin as much as I hate gaining weight. If I could hate sin like I hate my body (true confessions) I think I might be able to make headway that is lasting. I am praying that I will hate sin like nothing else. Not just turn my back on it, but all out, down right hate sin. It is a lack of trust in God…it dishonors the mighty, loving, holy God who saved me…oh heavy sigh!
Ooooo, I just met this Psalms this summer as we went throu Beth Moore's Stepping Up series. I love the part"You hem me in–behind and before;you have laid your hand upon me."He is before me AND behind me. His being encircle mine.I am so thankful!
Ooooo, I just met this Psalms this summer as we went throu Beth Moore's Stepping Up series. I love the part"You hem me in–behind and before;you have laid your hand upon me."He is before me AND behind me. His being encircle mine.I am so thankful!