exalt

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Matthew 16:24 NIV

As we deny our independent right to ourselves, our real lives begin to grow. 

The Presence of God is meant to be our continual experience. As you go about your day, notice where you are in proximity to Him. Are you walking ahead of Him? Maybe even running ahead. Are you lagging behind? Or are you right next to Him, side by side, walking at His slow and steady pace?

Many of us do our best to not be “needy” however, God designed us this way. He designed us to need Him for fulfillment. Our weaknesses and feelings of incompleteness all point us to Him. We can rejoice in our neediness leading us to find intimate completion in God. 

1 Peter 5:6 tell us that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. He doesn’t need qualification, He doesn’t need our agenda—He wants our brokenness. We are blessed when we empty ourselves of “self” at the feet of the Father, knowing that we lack without Him. We are blessed when we surrender our goals, plans, ideas, dreams, and thoughts into the hands of God and trust that He will guide us. This is how we learn to depend on Him for all things.

Oswald Chambers writes, “but our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him.” Nothing hinders our spiritual growth more than our resistance towards surrendering our individuality. Perhaps this is why Jesus said if we want to enter in the kingdom of God, we will have to become like a child. (Mat 18:3) Children are filled with wonder and imagination. They are hungry to learn, incredibly resilient and ready to receive with an open heart. They don’t pretend to know everything. Jesus invites us into this tender space of absolute devotion and surrender. No matter how difficult the road may seem ahead, the safest place is always by His side.

Practice

awareness

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (PS 19:1) Awareness awakens our souls to the presence and mind of our awesome Creator and strengthens our ability to trust that He is with us. We become attentive to what truly matters without being distracted by trivial things and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

​While driving, walking, or even just observing from your window, notice the trees, the grass, the flowers, the birds.

All of creation is alive to the presence of God. Breathe in His goodness.

​Notice what is inhibiting you from remaining in the present. Simply ask the Father, what are you saying to me today? Is there a person I need to encourage or pray for? Is there a conviction I’ve been avoiding?

Seek our compassionate Father who understands our weakness. As we become more aware, we receive His grace to overcome and the humility to extend that grace to others.

centering prayer

LORD, be exalted over my life.