April 28, 2021
Many men cannot handle spiritual success. When God blesses them, if they are not careful, they will begin to attribute to themselves what God and others have accomplished in their lives.
It is a great temptation to read your own press clippings.
But not David. In the moment of spiritual success when God had made a great promise to David that his son would rise behind him and be used of God to build a temple, here is his first response:
"Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that YOU have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18)
Humility is knowing who God is and knowing who you are, and understanding the difference. No one would have criticized David for taking a little credit or even for just being silent. But David was proactive in His praise and constant in his humility.
Why? Because this humility was coming from deep within. David didn't force these words from his mouth; they erupted instantly and sincerely. David was amazed at God's goodness and humbled by His exaltation of himself as King. He knew his own heart and was astounded that God would and could use him.
And this precisely why God could use him. God knew David would not steal His glory.
"Again, what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God! For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. For this reason You are great, O Lord God, for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our hearts. " (Vs. 20-22)
Does this erupt from us? When God blesses, do our thoughts quickly turn to what others are thinking about us? How we are leading? What we have done? Or is there a purity of heart and motivation that instantly and continually says, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?"
Father, from all good things come. Purify my heart. Do not let the foot of pride come upon me. Remind me that all I am and all I have come from one source. Make me deeply and eternally grateful.
February 20, 2025
If you have questions about how real, how present, how personal and intimate the Lord is, then just read six words of travelogue in Luke’s journal as he traveled with Paul.
February 18, 2025
I have known many people who have had great joy and power in the midst of great suffering. It is humbling that the slightest inconveniences deter many of us from following God. We have not gotten to the bottom—settled the issue. Most often, we live for our comfort, reputation, or gain. When any of those goals are touched, we are troubled and discontent.
February 17, 2025
The repentant who finds God gains everything. “He who has God and everything else,” said C.S. Lewis, “has no more than he who has God alone.”
