Today I am thankful for: Josh being home all day!, Radiant Moms, meeting Becky at RM and clicking well, the ladies at my table today, a nap with my girl, a lazy afternoon, watching Madi brush her own hair, listening to Darrin name various patterns over and over again, a heart overflowing with joy.
Ezekiel 28:17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor..." Here Ezekiel is lamenting the fall of the King of Tyre. God favored the king, and his kingdom was blessed with strength and wealth. But because of his many blessings, the king began to see himself as a god. God ultimately proclaimed destruction upon Tyre and its king as an example to surrounding nations that HE in fact is God, not lowly earthly royalty.
I'm no queen, and I don't pretend to be royalty of any earthly sort. But this one little verse had me thinking. How often do we lift ourselves up in our own eyes due to some favor shown to us? It feels good to be complimented and it's great to have that encouragement. But how often do we allow it to corrupt our thinking or our motives? How do we prevent it? When God blesses us abundantly do we take it for granted and see ourselves as better than others? I sure hope not! But just that smug way of thinking can creep in so silently. I notice this about myself, particularly that I make quick, unfounded, and silent judgments against people out in public. It happens so fast! I've been very careful to silently rebuke my thoughts and ask God to help me see with His loving eyes and not my own clouded ones.
Sometimes we start out with pure motives, such as helping someone or taking on a project or service, and we aim to glorify God. Yet a bit down the road we perhaps are encouraged by our good deeds and feel great for what's been accomplished, and before you know it we are glorifying ourselves and seeking for acknowledgment from others regarding our work. We may even state to a friend that it would be nice to hear a "thank you" or get that bonus, and we may begin to resent the accolades others are given. So, when did it become about us? There was probably never a conscious thought given to seeking that glory, that reward, yet it happened just the same. We get our noses bent out of shape when someone else gets what we want, even when that person is just as deserving, perhaps even moreso. Is that really the way we should be living?
I believe it all has to do with our focus. If we focus on ourselves then we can only see what's in front of us; we see what we want to see and not what we don't. This includes seeing only the good things we do and not the undesirable qualities we may have attained along the way. But if we shift focus and place it where it needs to be--on Him, alone--our vision suddenly improves! We can see all around us and see others' needs. We begin to see with eyes of love and search out where we can be most helpful. Our reward becomes the smiles, the tears, the private knowledge of having served our God in something bigger than ourselves. The joy that abounds in our hearts becomes the best acknowledgement--we know what work we did, and our Father in heaven knows, too. Then, it doesn't matter who says "thank you" or forgets, it doesn't matter if we get a pat on the back or raised up in status to a new role or job. We can be content in knowing that we served Him--not ourselves.
Father God, help me to lift up my eyes, not my heart. Help me to honor You in the roles You have placed me; help me to be an extension of Your love to those I work with directly and indirectly. I pray that I would be humbled to the point of feeling embarrassment if someone speaks well of me and raises my status before me. I do not want to be wise in my own eyes! Though I seek approval and encouragement, let it be for accountability's sake to help me represent myself and my faith in a genuine light. I praise You for all the opportunities You've set before me, and I pray You help me discern Your will so that I might stay on the path You've chosen for me. Help me to reach others in Your name, and help me to reach them even without knowledge of having done so so that I might not be tempted to be proud. Help me always to be humble! Thank You for Your faithfulness and the goodness You have shown me! In Your name, Amen!
Ezekiel 28:17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor..." Here Ezekiel is lamenting the fall of the King of Tyre. God favored the king, and his kingdom was blessed with strength and wealth. But because of his many blessings, the king began to see himself as a god. God ultimately proclaimed destruction upon Tyre and its king as an example to surrounding nations that HE in fact is God, not lowly earthly royalty.
I'm no queen, and I don't pretend to be royalty of any earthly sort. But this one little verse had me thinking. How often do we lift ourselves up in our own eyes due to some favor shown to us? It feels good to be complimented and it's great to have that encouragement. But how often do we allow it to corrupt our thinking or our motives? How do we prevent it? When God blesses us abundantly do we take it for granted and see ourselves as better than others? I sure hope not! But just that smug way of thinking can creep in so silently. I notice this about myself, particularly that I make quick, unfounded, and silent judgments against people out in public. It happens so fast! I've been very careful to silently rebuke my thoughts and ask God to help me see with His loving eyes and not my own clouded ones.
Sometimes we start out with pure motives, such as helping someone or taking on a project or service, and we aim to glorify God. Yet a bit down the road we perhaps are encouraged by our good deeds and feel great for what's been accomplished, and before you know it we are glorifying ourselves and seeking for acknowledgment from others regarding our work. We may even state to a friend that it would be nice to hear a "thank you" or get that bonus, and we may begin to resent the accolades others are given. So, when did it become about us? There was probably never a conscious thought given to seeking that glory, that reward, yet it happened just the same. We get our noses bent out of shape when someone else gets what we want, even when that person is just as deserving, perhaps even moreso. Is that really the way we should be living?
I believe it all has to do with our focus. If we focus on ourselves then we can only see what's in front of us; we see what we want to see and not what we don't. This includes seeing only the good things we do and not the undesirable qualities we may have attained along the way. But if we shift focus and place it where it needs to be--on Him, alone--our vision suddenly improves! We can see all around us and see others' needs. We begin to see with eyes of love and search out where we can be most helpful. Our reward becomes the smiles, the tears, the private knowledge of having served our God in something bigger than ourselves. The joy that abounds in our hearts becomes the best acknowledgement--we know what work we did, and our Father in heaven knows, too. Then, it doesn't matter who says "thank you" or forgets, it doesn't matter if we get a pat on the back or raised up in status to a new role or job. We can be content in knowing that we served Him--not ourselves.
Father God, help me to lift up my eyes, not my heart. Help me to honor You in the roles You have placed me; help me to be an extension of Your love to those I work with directly and indirectly. I pray that I would be humbled to the point of feeling embarrassment if someone speaks well of me and raises my status before me. I do not want to be wise in my own eyes! Though I seek approval and encouragement, let it be for accountability's sake to help me represent myself and my faith in a genuine light. I praise You for all the opportunities You've set before me, and I pray You help me discern Your will so that I might stay on the path You've chosen for me. Help me to reach others in Your name, and help me to reach them even without knowledge of having done so so that I might not be tempted to be proud. Help me always to be humble! Thank You for Your faithfulness and the goodness You have shown me! In Your name, Amen!
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