I was listening to my favorite CD this morning, when I heard the words Exalt Your Name. I started thinking about all the songs that we sing that have lyrics like that. Singing, lift His Name higher, is another favorite. When I sing those words, I smiles consume my whole being.
My question for today is: How do I do that? How do I lift high the Name, how do I exalt who He is?
First, I thought of my mind, where does it go? How do thoughts fill my mind? What do I ponder and consider? Too often, a deliberation of things that are unholy and unrighteous will fill me. Those things will take my focus and take me way off course. I look to the Bible for answers. Jesus is the Answer, and Jesus is the Word. John 1:1-2, (NIV): “The Word Became Flesh In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
I made a choice, 32 years ago, to become a Christ Follower, to believe His Word, and to give my life to Him. In this new life, I needed training in order to walk, speak, and behave in a way that pleases God. I did not know how to do that, so I spent hours and hours reading God’s Word from cover to cover. I have probably read the Bible from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 at least seven or eight times. I have studied and written bible studies, done homiletics, led groups, mentored new believers, and given lectures. The best way I know to learn something is to be required to teach it. Five hours of studying is required to speak for each hour, maybe more. This week my husband told me there was something in the Bible that I knew was not there. We had a standoff for a few minutes, and I suggested he was wrong. This is a big deal for a scholar. To be wrong does not work for most scholars. He looked it up and found out that his thought was a common phrase that was not in the Word. Like “God helps people who help themselves,” this was another non-truth. I believe that God helps those who have finally figured out that they cannot help themselves.
I look to the Word and study because it is my owners’ manual. It clears away the cobwebs and any lies that exist in my mind, developing understanding and wisdom in me.
When I find that there are ideas and thoughts I do not want, I ask God to remove them. Then I wait. I seek to not get rid of thoughts, but I seek God who can do anything and everything to help me live this life devoted to Him.
Therefore, I either exalt or put down God in my thought life. That may sound harsh, but it is the truth.
The next place I look is in my behavior. How am I acting? What am I putting into my thoughts and body? In what am I participating? Have I judged others? Do I think more highly of myself than I ought? Have I pointed others to Jesus, or have I made them run from Him by who I am?
How do I care for myself? Do I treat others and myself as wonders that God has created, or do I do things that tear down His creation?
How can my attitude either lift God’s Name higher or send it flying to the great abyss? Do I receive others with love and mercy, as He has received me? Do I look for opportunities to be kind, check in with others, and do I seek to bless and encourage others, or think impure thoughts?
I believe that when we decide to become a Christ Follower, God implants into our hearts the desire to please Him, to exalt Him and His Name, to spend time with Him and live for Him. As I learn and grow, I fulfill that desire in me, and point others to Him.
I am praying that today, God will reveal to His people, in what manner we are representing Him. I am praying that we exalt Him above all else, because when we do, He gives us everything we need to live this life. He is here. He is watching. He is extending His hands of love to us. Greater than that, He has a plan to scoop us up and carry us to be with Him forever in Heaven.
Hallelujah!
Romans 12:1-2, (NIV):
“A Living Sacrifice Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Holding Nothing Back (Jesus Culture) Lyrics
I am chosen, I am free
I am living for eternity
Free now forever.
You picked me up, turned me around
You set my feet on solid ground
Yours now forever.
And nothing's gonna hold me back
Oh, nothing's gonna hold me back
Nothing's gonna hold me back.
'Cause my chains fell off
My heart was free
I'm alive to live for You
I'm alive to live for You.
An amazing love, how can it be?
'Cause You gave everything for me
You gave everything for me
My question for today is: How do I do that? How do I lift high the Name, how do I exalt who He is?
First, I thought of my mind, where does it go? How do thoughts fill my mind? What do I ponder and consider? Too often, a deliberation of things that are unholy and unrighteous will fill me. Those things will take my focus and take me way off course. I look to the Bible for answers. Jesus is the Answer, and Jesus is the Word. John 1:1-2, (NIV): “The Word Became Flesh In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
I made a choice, 32 years ago, to become a Christ Follower, to believe His Word, and to give my life to Him. In this new life, I needed training in order to walk, speak, and behave in a way that pleases God. I did not know how to do that, so I spent hours and hours reading God’s Word from cover to cover. I have probably read the Bible from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 at least seven or eight times. I have studied and written bible studies, done homiletics, led groups, mentored new believers, and given lectures. The best way I know to learn something is to be required to teach it. Five hours of studying is required to speak for each hour, maybe more. This week my husband told me there was something in the Bible that I knew was not there. We had a standoff for a few minutes, and I suggested he was wrong. This is a big deal for a scholar. To be wrong does not work for most scholars. He looked it up and found out that his thought was a common phrase that was not in the Word. Like “God helps people who help themselves,” this was another non-truth. I believe that God helps those who have finally figured out that they cannot help themselves.
I look to the Word and study because it is my owners’ manual. It clears away the cobwebs and any lies that exist in my mind, developing understanding and wisdom in me.
When I find that there are ideas and thoughts I do not want, I ask God to remove them. Then I wait. I seek to not get rid of thoughts, but I seek God who can do anything and everything to help me live this life devoted to Him.
Therefore, I either exalt or put down God in my thought life. That may sound harsh, but it is the truth.
The next place I look is in my behavior. How am I acting? What am I putting into my thoughts and body? In what am I participating? Have I judged others? Do I think more highly of myself than I ought? Have I pointed others to Jesus, or have I made them run from Him by who I am?
How do I care for myself? Do I treat others and myself as wonders that God has created, or do I do things that tear down His creation?
How can my attitude either lift God’s Name higher or send it flying to the great abyss? Do I receive others with love and mercy, as He has received me? Do I look for opportunities to be kind, check in with others, and do I seek to bless and encourage others, or think impure thoughts?
I believe that when we decide to become a Christ Follower, God implants into our hearts the desire to please Him, to exalt Him and His Name, to spend time with Him and live for Him. As I learn and grow, I fulfill that desire in me, and point others to Him.
I am praying that today, God will reveal to His people, in what manner we are representing Him. I am praying that we exalt Him above all else, because when we do, He gives us everything we need to live this life. He is here. He is watching. He is extending His hands of love to us. Greater than that, He has a plan to scoop us up and carry us to be with Him forever in Heaven.
Hallelujah!
Romans 12:1-2, (NIV):
“A Living Sacrifice Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Holding Nothing Back (Jesus Culture) Lyrics
I am chosen, I am free
I am living for eternity
Free now forever.
You picked me up, turned me around
You set my feet on solid ground
Yours now forever.
And nothing's gonna hold me back
Oh, nothing's gonna hold me back
Nothing's gonna hold me back.
'Cause my chains fell off
My heart was free
I'm alive to live for You
I'm alive to live for You.
An amazing love, how can it be?
'Cause You gave everything for me
You gave everything for me
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