Hide

"Those who look to the saving God are radiant."

What is the difference between hiding and rejection?

Oh we can hide after being or feeling rejected.  I'm really good at this kind of hiding.  The kind where I don't want to be found.  The kind of hiding where disappearing into the shadows is my solution to eluding the pain.

On a bright sunny day recently, I walked.  I walked and I prayed.  I asked for some kind of answer to the pain that had yet to go away.  I could show anyone the passages in scripture that speak of God's redemption, His healing, His love.  But even in the light of day, darkness was overwhelming me.  So I hid.

In hiding, I try to do things myself.  Things I have no business or ability to do.  Like fix my own computer.  Sitting there staring at my laptop in pieces, I cried, feeling control and my backup plan shatter into pieces.  I knew I could do nothing but more harm if I tried to repair what I had just done.


"Now will you let Me heal you.  On My terms."

This kind of exposure to my helplessness, left me in tears.  I'm learning to hide in God's presence; to let Him heal me, overshadowing me, to make me confident of His love in all circumstances.

It's harder than I would ever like to admit.  I don't really have a clue what I am doing.  I've made more mistakes in this week, sinned more, ran back and forth more, seeking shelter, peace in my own way, even after I had His word and promise. 

To hide in God and not from Him.  It's what I need. 

Worthy

What's a person worth?

The error of that question is to mistakenly think that you can put any kind of numerical value on a person that God has created and called priceless.  In effect putting a price on something that is meant to be prized as priceless has left it vulnerable to becoming worthless.

When a person thinks there is a particular price for their worth, they will live up to their billing, and others will treat them that way.

See how pornography and prostitution has completely destroyed the value of women.

See how materialism has put a higher value on things that won't last than on souls that are eternal.

See how abortion has stolen the lives of the innocent.

I dare say that most of the world lives as though they are worthless.

Satan likes it that way.

He came to steal, kill and destroy.

Only Jesus paid the price to restore all people back to their pricelessness.  The only one Worthy restores our worth.

"You were bought with a price, therefore honor God with you body."


Beloved, see yourself as Jesus sees you.

Blame

She made me do it!

But he (fill in the blank)...

Well, they didn't do their job, so I gonna do this (not to mention tear down their character)...

Casting blame is easy.  Justifying our own sins and actions based on what someone else does.  We do anything to keep the spotlight off of our own hearts of imperfection.

Yes, I do this A LOT!

But how Jesus' words and the Holy Spirit have convicted me of the the words that far too easily spill out of my mouth.  Words I wouldn't dare to day to their face.  Blame.  Rejection. Comparison.

All of it to tear down another person or hide my own flaws and mistakes; to place responsibility on another person for my actions.

It has nothing to do with love.

O how I want to learn to humbly love.

I am. From the Master.  Speaking blessings and not curses.  Praying for a changed heart.  A heart that is secure in His Words about me that it doesn't cross my mind to speak poorly of another.  And I want to be quick to take the weight of my actions, whether they require a quiet humility to accept praise or to humbly repent.