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Humility is Relevant

James 4:10 (AMP) Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].

Did you dream of being famous when you were younger? I believe at one point all of us dreamed of being in the movies or admired. I loved the movie Annie growing up. I could be found swinging on my grandparents swing set singing Tomorrow at the top of my lungs. I would sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow from Wizard of Oz and Somewhere Out There from An American Tail. You know what, this girl cannot sing. I do it around my husband just to be funny, because it is comedically awful.

Right now, social media is a platform where people can be relevant. Regular people can become “Tik Tok famous” or have “followers”. I would rather be obedient than relevant. I am grieved by the state of the church right now, by wanting to be relevant. Do you know that He has already given us purpose? It saddens me that there is a voice of division going on inside that is supposed to be seeking unity. What are we to be unified under? The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The enemy wants us confused and set apart from each other. I was reading Luke the other day and came across this scripture, Luke 9:46, “An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest [surpassing the others in esteem and authority].” What happens when we start pointing out things amongst the body of Christ? Who is watching? Verse 47,  “But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and had him stand beside Him.” I believe in correction, but I also believe we can slide into self-righteousness very easily. I want to draw others closer to Christ, not cause them to withdraw from Him because of the Body.

Psalms 69:32 (AMP) The humble have seen it and are glad; you who seek God [requiring Him as your greatest need], let your heart revive and live.

What we think on will affect our hearts. It will affect how we love not only God, but how we love each other. When He talked about removing the plank in your own eye (Matthew 7:5), before you remove the speck in another’s, He was saying to search within yourself to not cause another to stumble. Our planks can trip others up. It is not saying to stop correcting entirely, it is saying check your motive because we can be biased in some things. Do you genuinely care for them? Do you want the change because it would be best for you or is this the best way to draw them closer to Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (AMP)  For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake.

So, to all those that want to be seen, you have been seen by the One that loves you so much that He died for you. Let us share the goodness of God with others. Let us seek His glory. That is my heart in this time. Did the words that I say speak of Your Goodness and Mercy? Did the message we preach point to You? Nothing else matters. Jesus gave us authority, but He also tells us what is most valuable. Nevertheless, because we can slide into pride and self-righteousness so very easily. What is it for and who did it come from?

Luke 10:19-20 (AMP) Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you. Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.

I was in prayer and went over something I had written a few years ago for my husband and myself. I pray this over us quite often but wanted to put it out here for you to be able to pray it as well.

Lord, Your Word says You set Yourself against the proud and give favor to the humble (James 4:6). I know we fail sometimes. In fact, we are at times so full of pride that we do not bring You any glory. So I pray for humility for myself and my family. I submit this to You, because I know it is what I want in my life. Lord, You said that pride breeds quarrels (Proverbs 13:10). Make us humble people who receive advice and find wisdom. Take away any pride and give us humble hearts that are obedient to You. Seach our hearts and make a change within us. You said blessed are those who are meek and humble of heart (Matthew 5:5). That is who we desire to be. We desire for Your glory to be seen through us. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Jogging Interruptus

Proverbs 16:9 (AMP) A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], but the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.

The year of 2025 I have dedicated to “Here I am,” listening for the God moments to change direction. This Monday, as I was at the gym, it was time for me to get on the track. For the past few weeks I have been able to jog some of the track. I am really excited about the progress I am making on my time. However, I was just not feeling too good. I was a little queasy and my head started hurting. Of which I thought was strange because I had not changed anything on my diet. I kept going on the track, but I walked.

As I am walking the track, I am listening to my worship mix and praying. Thanking Him for another day to glorify Him. Praying over my body to come back in line. Then I notice one of my older gentleman friends step out of his cycling class. He has his back against the wall and we smile at each other as I walk by. My next lap around and he is still standing there, we smile at each other and I walk by. The next lap another gentleman is talking to him, they are exchanging pleasantries, but I notice a change in his complexion, we smile and I walk by. I am done with my workout, but I am going to walk by just one more time. He is still standing there and his color is completely gone. I go up to him, touch his arm and said, “How about we go sit down? The color is gone from your face, so let’s go get you cooled off.” So there I am walking him to the bench, my hand inside his arm (as if he is leading, but my body in place to catch him if he falls back). To give you a picture of our contrast difference in stature, my friend has clearly got a foot on me and he is at the gym daily. He is older by a few decades, but is the sweetest man. However, I am ready to shield his head with my body if need be.

We make it to the bench and I go grab him a cold towel to put around the back of his neck. I stand with him and exchange small talk until I see the color come back to his cheeks. He can stand again and is much better. I make sure to linger talking to other patrons and talking pleasantries about their going on’s, while keeping an eye on my buddy. He is able to leave and I head out the door as well. All of my previous symptoms of head ache and nausea are gone and I praise God for slowing me down to notice. Then I remember the time Paul was kept back from doing good for better.

Acts 16:6-10 (AMP) Now they passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor]; and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; so passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from [the Roman province of] Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” And when he had seen the vision, we (including Luke) tried to go on into Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

What I love about this example is that Paul was in the process of moving when the Holy Spirit stopped him. All too often we tell God we are waiting on Him when we have stayed still. Paul went in another direction and yet the Holy Spirit stopped him again. In the movement Paul’s heart was still inclined to the voice. It is in our try that we can hear the voice of God, if we have ears to hear.

What if I had paid too much attention to my symptoms and decided to head back home? Before I leave the house every day I pray for God to give me an opportunity to glorify and honor Him that day. Looking for opportunities means I have to step outside of myself.

1 John 3:16 (AMP) By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.

Eli and I were reading our daily devotion before he goes to school and this was today’s verse: “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends,” taken from Proverbs 18:1 in the New International Version. An unfriendly person isolates theirself was the message of today’s devotion. That is not the message of Christ. If I only serve in church and my family then I have missed the message of Christ (this is for me because my kids are grown). I am still only pursuing what matters to self. I have limited God with my availability. I praise God for the interruptions. There was no other reward that I received other than that man felt cared for by someone that did not have to. Do you know what I go the next day when I saw him? A great big hug and thank you.

In the midst of my self care I was still available. I was the vessel to tell him that he was seen and that he mattered. God says that about each one of us. It is in the moments like Monday that it became tangible. Are we paying attention? I am glad I did not jog that day, I may have missed seeing what was most important.

Isaiah 6:8 (AMP) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Father, thank you that we have eyes to see and ears to hear. You tell us the direction to go, we only need to be willing to move. Thank you for the interruptions to our plans for the better. In Jesus Name, Amen.