exalted

Opening Prayer: Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted in the heavens, I will be exalted on earth.  The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11)

Scripture: Psalm 46:10

Journal: How is God being exalted in your life?  How and where are you trying to exalt yourself instead?  How does that affect your ability to be still and know that he is God?

Reflection: I will be exalted in the heavens.  And I will be exalted on earth.  I will be exalted in your life and I will be exalted in your family.  I will be exalted in your work and I will be exalted in your church.  I made you to participate in that process, not to compete.  I made you to exalt me, not yourself.  And the best way you can do that is to be yourself; to be the person I dreamt into being before the foundations of the world.  For, ironically, when you try to be more than yourself, you become far less.  

     So be still, and know that I am God.  Stop trying so hard.  Stop trying to impress and compete.  Stop trying to perform and achieve.  Stop trying to look and sound like you know more than you do.  Stop living in fear that others will get the recognition from the world that you so deeply desire.  Stop trying to lift yourself up above others, and above me.  It is not the reason I made you.  And if you keep it up, it will wear you down and burn you out.  I want so much more for you than that.

     You are my masterpiece, not the Master.  You are a work of art never to be repeated.  Be who you are, and let me be who I am.  In fact, being who you are is a living example, a walking testimony, of who I am.  The masterpiece does not exalt itself, but the one who created it.  A beautiful painting does not say to the world, “Look at me!  Look what I did!”  No, it is simply a beautiful expression of the One who painted it.  And a song cannot take credit for having been written, or sung.  No, it is content to be the glory of the One who brought, or sang, it into being.  Be content to be my song to this broken and hurting world.  For when people hear the music, they will be drawn to its Source.  And I will be exalted in the heavens. And I will be exalted on earth. 

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord God, you made me so that I might exalt you in all things.  Forgive me when I exalt myself instead.  Forgive me when I use the gift and the abilities you have given me to try and lift myself up, rather than you.  All I am and all I have comes from you; I can take no credit for any of it.  Let me take all that I have and all that I am and give it freely and fully back to you.  That you alone may be exalted.  Amen.