Pride, Pity and Praise

This morning I awoke and realized that something was not quite right in my spirit. I prayed, “Where are you God? I can’t hear you…I can’t see you…” and I realized I had allowed “stuff” to clog my heart and I needed to confess some things to the Lord. Wrong attitudes, complaints, resentments…and as I talked to the Lord about these things, the Holy Spirit began to reveal, my heart to me, because I asked him too. He does not force us.

I remembered the peace he had given me when my mom died, and at that time, I said, I never ever want anything to come between me and God, because the peace he gave was so pure and freed me from unforgiveness…but years go by and we become complacent and take Him for granted. Even though He shows us many things, and uses us for His glory…little foxes come and spoil the vine. (*Song of Sol. 2:15)

This morning these thoughts came to my mind as I prayed. I thought about, Pride, Pity and Praise.

Pride certainly blocks our communion with the Lord. We are centered on the “self.” And when self is on the throne of our hearts there’s no room for another.

Pity also blocks our communion because the “I, Me” is our focus. “Why can’t “I” have this, or, why can’t “I” be like that, or, why doesn’t anyone care about “me?” Poor pitiful thing…

Then there is Praise. Not the praise of self, but praise to God. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Praise opens the gates into the courts of the throne room of God. Our eyes are taken off of self and focus on the Living God. He is our Hiding Place, He is Love and grace…our hearts become free and unfettered in His presence. Life emerges and we can see clearly who He is.

Then I had a vision…the room was dark and someone, I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman, was sitting at a desk writing. Light illuminated only where the hand was writing and the Holy Spirit said, “Praise brings the light!”

We can know the Lord, study his word, know all Scripture and sing songs and pray. But unless we are enlightened by His grace we are empty vessels. When we begin to concentrate on who He, is and what He, accomplished and forget about ourselves…then the light of His grace and mercy will burn like a bright light in our souls…

We can become so distracted by what we want, and what we think, that before we know it, everything is all about us…It takes the light of His Holy Spirit and His word to reveal Jesus to our hearts so that we can be clean and holy in His sight…writing for His glory…singing or preaching or greeting, or giving, our motives must be about what He wants, not what we want…

I hope this encourages you today. Stop what you are doing right now, and open your heart and mind and see if there is anything blocking you from hearing and seeing His light. Let go of pride and pity and open your mouth in Praise to Him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb…Be blessing and honor and power and glory, forever….(*Rev. 5:13 NKJV)

God bless you on your journey…

All is well with my soul!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 21, 2017

John 8:12 English Standard Version (ESV) I Am the Light of the World

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Psalm 119:105 Good News Translation (GNT) Light from the Law of the Lord Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.

*Song of Solomon 2:14-15King James Version (KJV) O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

*Revelation 5:13 New King James Version (NKJV) And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”