“Mommy, I think that daddy is getting shorter.” observes our youngest as we all squeeze into our tight elevator.
“Well, sweetheart, I think you are the one getting taller, daddy isn’t getting smaller” I replied.
Her words got me to thinking. I’ve got nothing against little people growing, although I envy them. Yet, in our spiritual life, when we grow bigger in our own eyes, we tend to see our Heavenly Daddy shrinking.
I was digging through the pages of Isaiah, a scroll Jesus often read in the synagogues, a book packed with judgement and hope at the same time, and I marvelled at the prophet’s response in chapter 6.
As Isaiah is exposed to the God breath-taking glory, he says WOW to God and WOE to himself. What a beautiful example to follow: making time to stand in awe of His character, to allow His presence to make us aware of His greatness and our sinfulness, longing for Him to enable us to give us all we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried.” Isaiah 6:1-5a
Is that my view of the God I claim to worship daily? Or, am I a shining star in my own show, wrapped up in earning my own glory?
Because if I see myself taller than God, I WOW myself and WOE my God. And that’s not a life that God will bless.
It’s the season of the year when we wave goodbye to the 365 days God allowed us to experience in 2017. Some look ahead with hope for a fresh beginning. Others look with dread to what the new year will bring.
Instead of making ten resolutions about our weight, our career, or about our financial status, what if we engaged in just one commitment.
How would 2018 look like if I elevated God at His rightful grandeur, and daily placed myself at the presence of His feet WOW-ing at who He is and what He can do.
How would it be if my prayer life was more filled with faith, wearing out my knees rather than wearing myself out in worry?
How would it be if I relied more on Him to change a heart, rather than trying to control and intervene on His behalf?
How would it be if I looked up to Him to daily provide, rather than fear for tomorrow’s needs?
How would it be if I trusted Him more, and trusted me less with every aspect of my life?
How would it be if God was big and I was small in 2018?
Lord, be the spotlight of my life!
I truly want you by my side
May You grow big, as I grow small
It’ll please You and bring joy to my soul.
Meditate: Isaiah 6:1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”