Surrender in awe and Wait in Joy
My brother Rick asked a question on behalf of the Christian Questions Radio Program: 1. What do I worry about most? 2. What is my best method to keep this worry in control? This lead me to elaborate on this meditation.
To me Worry is a repeated rehearsal of a concern, without truly surrendering it to God.
So I worry most about my health and about pleasing people.
Especially in the business we run, I want employees to like me and I want them to be on board with our innovative ideas, decisions and projects.
The most helpful thing I’ve found is a change of focus, from what I am worried about to the awe of Who God is and what God and Christ stand for. (See below)
Regarding my health: Isaiah 48:17: Instead of “I’ll never figure out what this problem is or how to deal with it” “I know He is leading me step by step in His time and way for my highest good.”
Regarding employees: Instead of “I hate it when I have to confront people; he’ll be mad…” “I will stand for the highest good of this person by being honest about this issue. I am inspired by how God and Christ stand for the highest good of all people, at great cost to themselves.”
#248 Surrender in awe and Wait in Joy Psalm 5.3
Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
IN the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:1-3
The answer to our prayers for help and direction is honesty before the Lord, realizing Who He is: “my King: the One I choose to reverence and obey, and My God: my Mighty One.
When we are authentic about what we are really thinking and feeling to the One whose authority we respect, mighty in power, we are able to let see our point of view as not necessarily the accurate and absolute truth of the matter.
It is very humbling to admit some of my judgments and what I am worried and upset about to My King and my God. Suddenly I am struck with His Greatness, His far seeing wisdom, and my narrow vision and narrow mindedness. My certainty that I am right about this one’s motives, or that one’s opinion on how to deal with employees, for example, is suddenly up for grabs. My desire becomes not to prove that my thoughts are right and that my feelings are justified, but to truly seek to know His perspective.
In the morning the God who keeps His covenant promises hears our voice.
He hears our sighing. He hears our cry for help.
In the morning, as the priority of our day we ‘set the wood in order’ on the altar. (The phrase “lay my requests before you” in Psalm 5 is the same word used in Genesis 22:9 and Leviticus 1:7, to lay the wood in order on an altar, to prepare for sacrifice. We prepare the place of surrender, just as Abraham did when he ‘set the wood in order’ on the altar where he was prepared to offer the Son of his laughter and joy, Isaac.
After preparing our heart for surrender, we wait in expectation, or as the NASB states, we “eagerly watch.” When Abraham lifted his eyes, he saw the provision of God in the ram in the thicket. When we eagerly watch we are open to welcome whatever the Lord reveals He wants of us in our present dilemma-opportunity.
Instead of dreading what we are led to surrender we can eagerly wonder, ‘How will the LORD reveal His will, and then the means to do His will to me in this situation?’
Sometimes we are very attached to our own desires and agendas. May we find the strength in Him to “lay my Isaac down” in faith, and watch for His Provision.
“This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17
To me Worry is a repeated rehearsal of a concern, without truly surrendering it to God.
So I worry most about my health and about pleasing people.
Especially in the business we run, I want employees to like me and I want them to be on board with our innovative ideas, decisions and projects.
The most helpful thing I’ve found is a change of focus, from what I am worried about to the awe of Who God is and what God and Christ stand for. (See below)
Regarding my health: Isaiah 48:17: Instead of “I’ll never figure out what this problem is or how to deal with it” “I know He is leading me step by step in His time and way for my highest good.”
Regarding employees: Instead of “I hate it when I have to confront people; he’ll be mad…” “I will stand for the highest good of this person by being honest about this issue. I am inspired by how God and Christ stand for the highest good of all people, at great cost to themselves.”
#248 Surrender in awe and Wait in Joy Psalm 5.3
Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
IN the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:1-3
The answer to our prayers for help and direction is honesty before the Lord, realizing Who He is: “my King: the One I choose to reverence and obey, and My God: my Mighty One.
When we are authentic about what we are really thinking and feeling to the One whose authority we respect, mighty in power, we are able to let see our point of view as not necessarily the accurate and absolute truth of the matter.
It is very humbling to admit some of my judgments and what I am worried and upset about to My King and my God. Suddenly I am struck with His Greatness, His far seeing wisdom, and my narrow vision and narrow mindedness. My certainty that I am right about this one’s motives, or that one’s opinion on how to deal with employees, for example, is suddenly up for grabs. My desire becomes not to prove that my thoughts are right and that my feelings are justified, but to truly seek to know His perspective.
In the morning the God who keeps His covenant promises hears our voice.
He hears our sighing. He hears our cry for help.
In the morning, as the priority of our day we ‘set the wood in order’ on the altar. (The phrase “lay my requests before you” in Psalm 5 is the same word used in Genesis 22:9 and Leviticus 1:7, to lay the wood in order on an altar, to prepare for sacrifice. We prepare the place of surrender, just as Abraham did when he ‘set the wood in order’ on the altar where he was prepared to offer the Son of his laughter and joy, Isaac.
After preparing our heart for surrender, we wait in expectation, or as the NASB states, we “eagerly watch.” When Abraham lifted his eyes, he saw the provision of God in the ram in the thicket. When we eagerly watch we are open to welcome whatever the Lord reveals He wants of us in our present dilemma-opportunity.
Instead of dreading what we are led to surrender we can eagerly wonder, ‘How will the LORD reveal His will, and then the means to do His will to me in this situation?’
Sometimes we are very attached to our own desires and agendas. May we find the strength in Him to “lay my Isaac down” in faith, and watch for His Provision.
“This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17
