Humble Servant~

by CD Swanson

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  (Matthew 23:12 KJV)

When the Lord humbles us it’s most likely to reveal how dependent we are on Him.  It’s His process of eliminating our “self-centered” ideas and pursuits which highlight our “own accomplishments.”  It’s His way of bringing us to the true purpose in our lives.

A humble person is small in their own eyes. They exalt the needs of others above their own. And, they desire to fulfill God’s will for their life above anything else.  This is the path of Christians fulfilling our roles which should emulate His ways in all that we endeavor in life.

Humility is contrary in a world that’s all about showcasing ones accomplishments.  A person with wisdom of God will conduct their behavior accordingly, and be welcome to all they encounter because of   the light shining from within.

A proud, boastful individual is not in alignment with God’s ways. Whereas a proud person exalts himself, a humble person is exalted by God. A humble heart is open to give freely; a proud person seeks that which will benefit them.  It’s not a “walk-on-me-like-a-rug” mentality. Instead, it’s a mind with the cause and purpose of putting God first in all that we do, thereby acquiring a Christ-mind.

We must be faithful and loving servants and behave according to His will and His ways. A servant’s heart is a loving and selfless heart which equates into a humble soul.  John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”   

Lord, help us transform into Your selfless ways with the heart of a servant bound to You in all we do, in Jesus name. Amen

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(2 Corinthians 4:5 – For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

1 Peter 5:5 – Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Dear Abba Father,

You have our heart. You are astouding in all that you do. There isn’t anything You haven’t done which can be done in a moments time. You are the great I AM and the sovereign God of the Universe.

How holy is Thy name? The name that makes the earth shake and the skies thunder? The name that constitues the very meaning of love?  My King and Lord, how worthy are You that sit upon the throne?  How merciful and kind that You should favor us with grace and protection through all the days of our lives?

Your miracles never cease. They are the same as they were in the beginning and are now, and ever shall be.  Just this past weekend Your intervention was glaringly apparent as You stopped a dear friend from being operated on. She would have been subjected to an unnecessary and dangerous operation, perhaps facing paralysis or worse, had it gone through.  But, No—You weren’t going to allow that to happen and so You blocked it in Your traditional supernatural, albeit loving, sense. You swooped in to “save” Your child, Dee…as the surgeon paid a visit to her room to say, “Change of plans.  We’re going to send you to Boston Medical Center for a non-invasive procedure that won’t even require you being opened up.”

The revelation of Your  most divine and holy grace overwhelmed me, creating a flood of tears to fall as the Holy Spirit touched me fully.  My friend was stunned, and didn’t realize the full impact in which had occurred, but she will…eventually.  Her mind was too fixed on other things happening so fast.

This isn’t the first of miracles I’ve witnessed throughout the years. Your hands are loving, kind, and filled with grace and compassion. Your ways are higher than any man can begin to imagine.  Your thoughts pure and filled with the best intentions for us, Your children.

How amazing are You?

How awesome are You?

How wonderful are You?

To try to define love in terms by which You love us–  is difficult to put into words. Your love is all encompassing and consuming. It is our place of worth, safety, refuge, peace, and salvation.

Thank You Father for all You are, all You do, all that You will continue to do.  Thank You for everything, and thank You for being our everything. Thank You for loving us no matter what. How freeing it is to know that You love us for our heart and nothing more. How spectacular are You?

Happy Father’s Day…to our heavenly powerful loving “Abba Daddy.”  You are our eternal gift in which we shall rejoice forever more. You have our hearts always and forever more.

We Love You.. 

 ~I love You~

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Many, O LORD my God, are your wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us: they cannot be recounted in order unto you: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5

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O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep .(Psalm 92:5)

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1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  (Psalm 100:1-5)

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P.S. “And a special thank-You  Lord for having sent the kindest and most loving earth daddy that I was fortunate and so blessed to have had in my life for so many years. He is with You for the last fifteen years, and I know he is in peace walking alongside You.  If You would allow me to say this Father God— please tell him I love him and miss him. And Happy Daddy’s day to my earth Dad…”

Be Still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46:10 is a familiar verse that most Christians know and probably one of the top twenty scriptures quoted so regularly. We say it, but do we fully know what it means to be “still?”

Our Sovereign God, Master of the Universe can manage all things without growing weary. His existence comes from no other source. He is in perfect understanding of all things at all times…all at once. He is great beyond comprehension, and we can’t find fault in anything He does. He has immense unsurpassable knowledge, and He is Holy and wise.  So, wouldn’t that suggest…and behoove us… that we should “be still” and know that He is God?  Shouldn’t we proclaim His sovereignty and extol His holiness and His widsom?

When God was speaking with Moses, He told him of His ways…and His higher realm of existence, one in which we could never match. But, we could and should recognize how amazing He is, just by His word.  Therefore, “be still” and embrace His insurpassable and incomprehensible knowledge, wisdom, love, power, dominion, royalty, magnifcence…the words in which to describe Him never cease.  Much like His existence.  He is the great I AM.  The Alpha and the Omega…. He always was and always will be.

When we sit and be quiet, and bow to Him in our humility….we are acknowledging He is Lord.

When our attitudes change for the better—such as our way of thinking, and the ways of our heart—we are in acceptance of God and His perfect will, knowing He is wise and good.

When we “drop things” and stop what we’re doing, and take the time to “visit” with Him and sit in His presence and say, “Here I am God…I’m listening, and I’m still.” We’re in obedience and therefore in alignment of His will.

How can we “hear” Him, if we are sucked up by the world?  How can we hear Him, if we are preoccupied with things of insignificence?

Some will say, “Hold on…insignificant?  I’m caring for my elderly parents while running a household.”  Or, “I’m working and supporting my children and mother.” Yes, these are all good things, and of course extremely important.  But, compared to GOD all things pale in comparison. He is the most significant part of our lives. And, when we sit, and listen, and obey…all the things we are responsible for, and all of the things that we’re going through…will fall into the area of “acceptance” and peace. Thereby, goodness and strength, by His grace and His power, will flow in between every single aspect of your lives. 

Still—be still.  Listen…be quiet. Bow to Him in humility.   Your life will change dramatically for the better, as will your relationship with Him. Our relationship will intensify, and flourish, through this daily and meaningful quiet time. He loves when we love Him back, and worship Him. It makes His day.

When you find the time for HIM, and HIM ALONE  it pleases our Father…make an appointment during your day to sit with Him and listen.  Commune with Him.  As Jesus did.  He would walk off alone during His ministry on earth to commune with His Father. He needed the time, quiet and solitude…and if Jesus did it, that is reason enough for us to assimilate and practice  this beautiful peaceful time with God each and every day of our life.

Sssh! Listen, be still and know that HE IS GOD.

Our perfect loving and wise Sovereign Father…

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Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  (Psalm 100:3 )

Be Silent, O all flesh before the LORD for He is raised up out of His holy habitation.  (Zachariah 2:13)
 
The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him. (Habakkuk 2:20)

Beautiful water, trees and sky by the Master of the Universe, our Loving Father, God. The picture was captured by the grace of God through Scott Sbirge–Photographer and good friend~

Be Still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10