Monthly Archives: November 2012

No Competing

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Haggai, Quote for the Day

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Reading and researching through Haggai led me to find a quote by A.W. Tozer regarding comparing ourselves, and competing, with others Christians and their work. Tozer said:

“Dear Lord, I refuse henceforth to compete with any of Thy servants. They have congregations larger than mine. So be it. I rejoice in their success. They have greater gifts. Very well. That is not in their power nor in mine. I am humbly grateful for their greater gifts and my smaller ones. I only pray that I may use to Thy glory such modest gifts as I possess. I will not compare myself with any, nor try to build up my self-esteem by noting where I may excel one or another in Thy holy work. I herewith make a blanket disavowal of all intrinsic worth. I am but an unprofitable servant. I gladly go to the foot of the cross and own myself the least of Thy people. If I err in my self judgment and actually underestimate myself I do not want to know it. I purpose to pray for others and to rejoice in their prosperity as if it were my own. And indeed it is my own if it is Thine own, for what is Thine is mine, and while one plants and another waters it is Thou alone that giveth the increase.” (A.W. Tozer, The Price of Neglect)

I pray I would have this heart.

To Be Known

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Exodus, Old Testament, Personal Experience, THE WORD

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So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” -Exodus 33:17

This is the sweetest thing I have heard in a long time, if not ever. To know in all my impossibilities and heartaches that I have found grace in God’s sight, and even more that HE KNOWS ME by name. I had to highlight  the knows me part because when the world becomes overwhelming, and the struggles of life fall down upon me like an avalanche, the fact that God knows me by name reminds me of all the love He has for me, and all that is true in the world. It reminds me of all that really matter, and today I need to be reminded.

Every time I read this, I just weep because I see the love and kindness of my God and my heavenly Father pouring through the words above, and I need to know just how much He loves me. I don’t know why certain things happen in life, and I can’t see God’s plan or understand His way, but I know that He loves me and I know that He knows me, and that is enough. Much more than enough.

So, now as I get ready to head out on a journey today, I don’t know what lies ahead of me, but I thank God that before I go He has brought me to place similar to where He brought Moses. And I echo what Moses said after being overwhelmed by the circumstances around him, “Please, show me Your glory.” (v.18)

To see God’s glory is all I want in this moment, and it’s all that matters. And, maybe I am beginning to see a little bit of why God has brought me to this low point.

Finally, I love that God does not turn me away when I come to Him, but He answers my prayers and says, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.” (v.19) I absolutely need God’s goodness to pass before me, and I need to be near Him. I love that when I cry out to Him, he doesn’t leave it up to me, but he picks me up and places me close to Him, and sets me firmly upon the rock that is His Son and my Saviour. “And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.” (v.20) I need Him, and I need to be firmly standing on the Rock that is Jesus Christ when the storms of life rage upon me.

After I have looked at the Word of God, wrote down what God is speaking to me, and meditated on Him I realize that I have had God’s goodness pass before just now, I realize that I have been placed close to my Father, and I realize that I am suddenly standing firmly on the Rock that is Jesus Christ. How faithful is my God. Thank you Jesus.