Tweeted earlier this week:
"Almost forgot what it feels like to have my veins flooded with God's presence...a genuine thirst for His goodness won't go untreated."
That very sentence basically sums up this week.
What I meant by my tweet was that in this past week, I admitted in my heart that overcoming my struggles cannot take place in my own strength. Laying down our pride as a human race is basically counter-intuitive.
Yep. It's true.
Humbling yourself doesn't happen unless there's a damn (did you know "damn" among a few other socially frowned upon words here in America is not considered 'bad' in Australia...mate?) good reason it should.
Australia? What?
I bet you ten shekels that's how you were when you read that.
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| This here is what they call a Floyd. But not the pink kind.
This chick just got back from a revolutionary 12 months in Australia. Meanwhile I've been in the Midwest. Yeah, let's not talk about it. Before she left for the land down under, were what we like to call "fronds" (opposed to the generic term "friends"...far to ordinary for a kind such as us). There, Abby Floyd attended Hillsong College and engaged in various Jesus promoting, people loving and good news sharing activity.
We met up with "Sing Love" (a collective of Christ followers who sing songs of praise to their Maker) earlier this week before they went on stage to lead hundreds of students into a time of musical worship. Hanging out with Abby always leads to passionate discussions and self-reflection. Hearing about her time in a distant land and seeing how God has molded her heart in that time was a blessing I'm totally unworthy of.
When the band was up,
we stayed backstage and worshiped
as individuals in the presence of
a great God.
During that time of worship I sang to Jesus, who knows the depths of my heart and still chooses to listen to me. Coming into His holy presence in song is a beautiful thing. Even when you're like me and your ability to sing is like that of a wild boar. It's not about your performance, it's about your heart. Contrary to the culture we are surrounded by, being authentic, real and vulnerable is the way this God i speak of prefers it.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in the Spirit and in the truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
-john 4:23-24
The reason I saw the need to lay down my pride this past week was because, there's no reason not to. Ever. Jesus has given me a new life, a love with no condition and living hope to hold to. The last thing I need is something getting in the way of receiving all He has in store for me-and that something is usually myself. I could spend my life thinking I know what's best for me and reading countless self-help books in hopes to stumble upon something worth living for.
Or.
I can realize that this life is much bigger than our eyes can see and our very being has been crafted with more purpose than we can fathom.
Humbling myself to be receptive to what God wants to speak into my life was by far the best decision I've made in quite a while.
It's liberating to hope in The One who never fails even when my flesh does.
And it's awe-inspiring to think that the Creator of the universe has something to say to ears that will hear.
"He who has ears, let him hear"
-Jesus (Matthew 11:15)
Being receptive to what your Maker has in store for you is not being naive.
It's being wiser than a culture who can't see past themselves.
-BIE
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