Today I choose to honor

Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Those who enter...that means we just don't sit around an expect Jesus to make everything good for us all around us. Sometimes we have to put 'feet to our faith' - we need to take steps in the right direction and then we see God's work happening. Why is that? I think it is because God never desired robots or puppets. He created us to be in active relationship with him - willingly submitting our will to his - taking one step after another in the right direction because of how much we want to honor him with our lives.

When we put God in first place in our lives - we are honoring him - giving him the esteem he rightfully deserves. What is the opposite of putting God first - of honoring him with our lives? Whenever we trust in our own ability more than his, we are not honoring him. Whenever we don't follow the instruction of scripture - choosing to disregard it as unreasonable, antiquated, or just 'not for us', we are dishonoring him. Distrust and disregard are enemies of honor.

As I am writing this today, I am listening to praise music and the words of a Hillsong United song are playing. The words that caught my attention today were: "I'll count the joy come every battle...'cause I know that's where you'll be..." The best part of the song: I can see the light in the darkness, as the darkness bows to Him, I can hear the roar in the heavens. As the space between wears thin, I can feel the ground shake beneath us. As the prison walls cave in - Nothing stands between us - Nothing stands between us."

Nothing stands between us - those are words of honor. God honors us as his creation and we honor him as the Creator of all things. Nothing creates 'space' in our relationships because we draw near and he draws us nearer. This is what happens when God is in the right place of honor in our lives. We find ourselves 'undone' in his presence and never worry or fear that his presence will not go before us, be with us, surrounding us on all sides.

Enter into the goodness of God and allow his goodness to enter into you. In short order you will find God is doing within you what you could never do for yourself. Trust him with those things you find hard to find good within - he will show you just where he is in those things. That what it means to count the joy come every battle - because we know without a doubt he will be there right with us. That is what it means to honor God with your life - to trust him even when the battle rages and the waters rise. Just sayin!