Have you ever felt that you’ll never fit in or find your place? Have you stood at a window–palms pressed to glass–looking into the place where you want to be, seeing people there but knowing you don’t have access? Waiting for a door to open that seems forever locked?
Knocking on that door, are you answered with words that you are:
Under-qualified Not Experienced
Not Welcomed
Too Old, Too Young
We’ve all been there. You could be in a place of unemployment, or maybe you’ve been locked out of a particular social circle. You could be unable to advance in your career or in the fight of your life for a better relationship. There are times when it seems we are locked out of the place we want to be.
If you feel like you will never get there, let me share with you a story, one that I hope will encourage you to look for the promise of God’s favor in your own life despite the circumstances:
Here’s the story:
Each week about a year or so ago, I met with a sweet friend to share coffee, encouragement and prayer. We were both treading water in a sea of financial stress. She had been looking for work for more than a year, and I was struggling to keep my family encouraged as my husband’s business faltered with no new projects on the horizon.
We had been meeting for months to share scriptures and hope with each other. When one of us couldn’t go another (seemingly) hopeless day, the other would speak a gentle word and share a promise from scripture. Make no mistake, it was a dark time and to this day we are still shaking the muck and mire from our feet.
But on one particularly distressing day, my friend and I sat in the coffee shop at a table adjacent to a glass window. Our table was drizzled with coffee, tea and more than a few tears of frustration. My friend had been rejected for yet another job, and my husband was so discouraged that I felt helpless.
Then God showed up.
In the ugliness of that moment, two beautiful pure white doves flew down to our coffee shop window and perched on the window frame by our table. Startled, we watched as the doves pecked at the window for about five minutes, almost as if to get our attention. We were speechless, watching these two beautiful white birds only an inch away from us, pecking on the glass. Then, just as suddenly as they came, they flew away.
I have never again seen a white dove in nature, and in fact, I don’t recall seeing one before that day. Oh, I have seen pigeons, and I’ve seen grey doves–but never a white dove. And certainly not two doves.
Think what you may, but here’s the reason why I am sharing this story: If you feel discouraged like I did, then God has a message for you today, the same one He sent to me at the coffee shop. His message is this:
You, my child, are greatly favored.
You are greatly valued.
I know where you are, and I see your situation.
I AM El Roi, the God Who Sees!
I am with you, and I will see you through this storm.
When you are met with discouragement due to whatever situation you face, you need to know that God’s favor rests on you even when it seems like the world stands against us. Satan will come to us in times of trial, whispering, “Where is your God now? Has He forgotten you?”
Take heart. He has NOT forgotten you! Remember that you are a favored child, even in times such as these. In fact, we need to remember God’s favor especially in the dark times! Satan would have us forget… and lose the battle.
Here’s what I want to leave you with…it is not our battle. It’s God’s battle. He will be victorious.
I’ll leave you with the words of Christ in the temple as He stepped into His great mission of salvation. Jesus unrolled the scroll of Isaiah and read these words:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:16-19
Remember, if you are in Christ….then you have the Lord’s favor. Live in that favor!
I’ve been listening to my conversations with people lately, and the words I am hearing are not pleasant. Complaints. Impatience. Annoyance. Don’t I regularly speak about the power of praise? Didn’t I write an entire book about God’s blessings in the face of disability and despair? Don’t I stand and lead others in worship in all times, good and bad?
If so, then why am I not wrapping myself each day in the protective blanket of praise?
And now that I’m thinking about it — where has my joy gone?
The Bible says that “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”(Nehemiah 8:10)
Look a little more closely at that verse and we can see that the word “strength” here (Ma`owz) means
“place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold refuge (of God), human protection.”
And since the Word of God is Truth, then shouldn’t I praise God (choosing thanksgiving over complaints) all the more on my darker days? Days when the reality of my situation would lead me to despair and hopelessness, choosing instead to focus on God’s promise of a future?
Choosing joy over ingratitude bring me to a place of safety, protection and refuge.
There’s God’s infallible promise, written clearly in Nehemiah. A gift from God, the secret to overcoming.
In today’s worship moment, I am passing along a truth that I learned from singer and songwriter Laura Story, who surprised us by showing up to lead worship at Church at Charlotte this morning. Laura says in her new song “Blessings,”
What if…the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are your mercies in disguise?
I think she’s on to something. A truth I keep trying to burn forever into my heart but find a need for frequent reminders. So today, I’m choosing gratitude instead of self-centerness. I’m choosing to find God in the simplest joys of life.
I’m choosing life, not death, a life of abundance lived right here, right now.
Here are my Worship Weekend videos to bless you today:
Praise and Worship in Battle: Can you imagine sending a praise team into battle ahead of the soldiers? That’s exactly what the Israelites did in 2 Chronicles 20. This act of faith and worship brought about an amazing supernatural victory. It’s a fascinating story that I want to share with you.
In this Bible story, which I talk about in the video below, King Jehoshaphat discovers that praise and worship is one of the mightiest methods of warfare that believers can use against the enemy. When you face walls that keep you from your own Promised Land — the place that God prepares you for — follow King Jehoshaphat’s lead, declaring the victory for God and praising Him for the victory that lies ahead. Then you, too, will see God move in mighty ways!
21 After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing,
Give thanks to God, His love never quits.
21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the LORD and some to praise the splendor of [His] holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:
Give thanks to the LORD,
for His faithful love endures forever.
21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever.”
Each Worship Weekend, I want to give you a special video. Here’s one by U2. Enjoy!:
This is the first of my “Worship Weekend” video posts that will feature a special thought on the topic of worship.
Worship is a key component to living a victorious life in sync with God’s purpose and will. Worship is not just about singing songs on Sunday… it’s something you do with your entire life.
In this video I share some thoughts about the impact of drawing near to God’s presence, and why it matters:
Do you have any thoughts about worship? Do you wonder why it’s important or why it matters to God?
If so, let’s talk! I would love to discuss the topic with you. Leave your comments below!
Have you ever done something special – whether it’s a gift, a ministry, or a service – and felt like no one noticed? Have you worked hard to bless someone, and felt like it was all for nothing? Have you questioned if anyone cared, or if your offering mattered at all?
Yes, whenever you reach out in love to serve another, it most definitely matters..and here is why:
(Note: The audio is soft…I apologize!)
Want to know more? Read about it in Mark Chapter 14! Click here to read this chapter.
As a writer, I recently pitched an idea for a new book to someone in the industry. In a very polite way, she told me that I had proposed a much-needed message that people really needed to hear today. Then she followed that statement by telling me that unfortunately, my name isn’t well known enough to share this message.
She’s right, I know. People don’t know my name. A marketer by profession, I know that there is a considerable amount of business wisdom in her statement. People won’t listen if I don’t have influence. People don’t buy if my name won’t sell. That makes perfect sense to the business side of me. Perfect sense.
But do you want to know the truth? My name hasn’t a shred of power. It won’t change lives for the better. I’d rather lift up the Name of the One Who has created every living thing. Now that name has power! That’s the name to be lifted up… not mine.
Forget my name. Remember HIS. Here is why:
Exodus 24tells the story of Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s elders on Mount Sinai seeing the feet of the Lord descending to the mountain. Verse 9 describes,
“Beneath His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire stone, as clear as the sky itself.”
Imagine seeing such a vision! The Lord on His throne descending on Mount Sinai, His feet resting upon a sparkling sapphire platform.
Ezekiel 1 describes the throne in more vivid detail:
“The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone was above the expanse. There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above. From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him. The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the LORD’s glory.”
John witnesses this holy and sacred setting in Revelation 4:
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there in heaven a throne was set. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder. Burning before the throne were seven fiery torches, which are the seven spirits of God.
Those in Heaven know something that I often forget — there is but One Name worthy to receive glory:
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:
We have not been blessed to see the sights that Moses, Ezekiel and John saw. But we have the Living Word of God to help us see it. Isn’t it interesting that three books of the Bible–Exodus, Ezekiel and Revelation– each written centuries apart, describe the throne of the Most High God so similarly?
Oh, Lord! So often I want to put myself where only You should be! So often I want to lift up my own name rather than Yours, and oh, my heart breaks in sorrow that I have done so! Help me, sweet Jesus, to remember that the Most High will never leave His seat unattended. There is no room there for my name!
And yet, the amazing truth is that we, as children of God, are called to approach it boldly!
I am forever welcomed at the throne of the Most High God. Paul tells us to approach it with a boldness to find mercy and grace and help for whatever troubles we face. But how can I dare approach the throne –so powerfully described in Ezekiel and Revelation –with boldness? And yet, scripture says that is exactly what I am called to do!
The bottom line:
Even if the world forgets my name (and it will) The One that sits there–the same God that the scriptures above describe in vivid detail–WILL FOREVER REMEMBER MY NAME.
In fact, it’s inscribed on the palm of His hand. (Isaiah 49:16)
That’s all they could go. When King David brought the Ark of the Lord into Jerusalem, lifted on the shoulders of priests, they could only carry this holiest of structures six paces before having to sacrifice an ox and fatted lamb. (2 Samuel 6:13)
Imagine carrying a structure so holy that one touch meant instant death! (2 Samuel 6:6-7) Think about the achingly slow process of repeated sacrifices to cleanse and cover the sins of the priestly party before continuing on in the journey. In just six simple paces, human flesh had managed to defile itself once again, and the Holiness of the Lord requires complete purity. Repeated sacrifices and repeated bloodshed for a temporary covering of sin.
When the Ark finally entered the city of Jerusalem, David made it a celebration of worship. He didn’t just invite the dignitaries. No, not King David. Do you ever feel that the best celebrations require a backstage pass? You get the best seat at the table … if your name is well known. You get a place of honor … if you are considered influential, a person to whom others look up to in respect. Have you ever walked by a formal party at a fancy restaurant and peered inside? Everyone is dressed in their finest clothing, sparkling crystal in hand, and a colorful array of delectable food adorns expensive china plates. That’s what it feels like to look in from the outside while the party goes on without you.
But David – the favored, handpicked and anointed king of Israel, didn’t require tickets or a name of prominence to be invited to this celebration. He invited everyone, the “whole magnitude” of Israel — including the women – to share in one of the biggest events in the history of faith — ushering God’s holy presence into the city. David delighted in bringing the presence of the Lord to the people. ALL of the people, not just the dignitaries.
And here is the best part: David didn’t sit up from above and look down as the people celebrated. Oh, no, he joined in with them, “the commoners” or “base fellows,” as his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, called them. This mighty king jumped into the celebration with the people, literally spinning in dance. (2 Samuel 6:14) and mind you, he took off his kingly robes, too. You see in David’s eyes, there would be no other king to be honored that day. There was only One Whose presence dwelt between the cherubim of the Ark. Yes, David was a man who knew how to worship God in freedom, spirit and truth.
When you surrender your dignity in worship — as David did as he danced and whirled without his kingly attire –you are choosing to lay down your nobility, your esteemed position, or perhaps your prominent image, to worship God in freedom. David worshiped the Lord with every ounce of his being. His worship was undignified. That’s the kind of worship ushers in the very presence of God.
When you experience a selfless freedom in worship, one that ushers in the presence of God, you will find that it will either draw others in, much like a moth is drawn to a bright flame, or alienate them in fear. Expect to get attacked. To David, the attack came from his wife, Michal, daughter of Saul, when she looked down on David and “despised him in her heart.”
“How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” (2 Samuel 6:20)
Michal didn’t like what she saw. She was too carried away in her own presence, her own position above the people, to jeopardize looking “undignified” or out of control. You need to know that when God’s spirit descends, no man can control it. He comes like a wind that cannot be contained. Forget control in the presence of God! When I enter into the presence of God, I can barely sing! (Not a good thing for a someone leading worship!) I can’t force God to show up in a powerful way. God will do what God will do. When I happen upon a mountain and experience God’s presence, I can only wrap it around me and rejoice!
God is searching for people who will worship him in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:23) Why can we become “undignified” as we watch sporting events, reality shows, and when shopping at a good sale at the mall, and not jump for joy when singing about God’s ability to raise the dead and forever cleanse our fatally flawed flesh? Listen, there is nothing “ho hum” about worship!
Here is the truth: Coming together to sing praises is no different than ushering the Ark into Jerusalem. We are calling for and ushering in the mighty, holy presence of God. The Most Holy. The One who could hit the smite button at any moment, and yet His love is so powerful for us that He doesn’t. The God Who calls us by name and gave His Own Son to pave the way back to Him. To be purified and cleansed forever. No, we don’t need a sacrificial cleansing every six paces. We are forever cleansed and covered by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Isn’t that worth celebrating? I think it is. So go ahead, be undignified! Dance and shout, whirl if you will, and celebrate the One Who has set us free!
Have you ever felt that you’ll never fit in or find your place? Have you stood at a window–palms pressed to glass–looking into the place where you want to be, seeing people there but knowing you don’t have access? Waiting for a door to open that seems forever locked?
Comments from Readers … or your turn to talk!