The Glory of God

I was recently at a Bible study where the topic was about the glory of God. The comment was made that those in the city miss out on so many expressions of our Awesome God. Then somebody made the comment that being out in the country, there are so many reminders of the majesty of God such as the stars, a deer wandering through the yard, a multitude of different birds that can be seen, etc. Someone else, trying to encourage us to soak in God’s beauty reminded us that this month is full of shooting stars. He said, “Everyone should grab a blanket, go out into the yard or field, lay down and just watch the stars in the heavens”. After a pause as we were all appreciating what was said, a voice broke the silence with the question, “How do we get up again?” The room was filled with those in their 70's, 80's, and 90's. We all had to laugh and agree. The truth is, this may be one of the single most important things to ponder. I have a question. When you pray, how much time is spent worshiping, acknowledging, praising, and keep God always before us. Then consider how much of your time is spent asking God for things, praying for Him to act, such as healing others, or seeking some benefit. I always have to remind myself that if my glory and hope is not in God, then my prayers and spiritual walk are shakey at best. God is sovereign over all things. When we remove Him from that place in our heart, things of the world begin to fill that void. In the Old Testament, that void was filled with idol worship. Today, it is filled with money, material things, and selfish ambitions. If Eve had kept her eyes on God, she never would have been tempted by anything the Devil came at her with. That is just as true for us today. When we as individuals or the church begin to look at what we are doing, what we want to accomplish, or what ministries seems too challenging, we are often sliding away from God. Don’t get me wrong... we should be praying for the sick and seeking God’s direction in our life, but not at the expense of removing God from His rightful place in our lives. This is why so many of the Psalms are filled with worship and praise. If we loose that, we are a step closer to losing everything. Father, You created the heavens and the earth. You continue to give us life and breath. Fill our hearts with awe as we enter Your presence. Amen