A woman once said to me, "You're pretty to be a dark-skinned girl." I thought her (drunken) candor was funny, albeit highly inappropriate. Clearly, in her mind someone with darker skin could not possibly be "pretty" and, to be so, was an exception to the rule. However, her state of inebriation (or perhaps not) prohibited her from exercising the basic discretion that is needed in everyday human interaction and she said exactly what she thought in the moment. I was somehow acceptable to her, in spite of my darker skin, because she thought I was "pretty".

So, this statement came to mind as I thought about how often we judge by outward appearance. We deem someone or something unworthy, etc. by some standard we have set up--in clear contradiction to God's way of judging. He said He looks at the heart, while man looks at the outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7). He also warns us to refrain from showing partiality in the New Testament as well (James 2:2-5), but we continue to do so because we trust what we see with our eyes (and judge it according to our distorted, finite understanding) a bit too much.

Further, this difficulty with judging things erroneously carries over into our faith as well and hinders our trust in God. We don't see how the limited funds can stretch to pay the seemingly unlimited supply of bills. We don't see how we can possibly get well when the doctors said there is no cure. We don't see how that loved one can ever come to yield their life to God when they are wallowing in a lifestyle of sinfulness. And on and on the poor judgments go. But God...

He is faithful. His thoughts are not like ours nor are His ways (Isa 55:9). Our sight is limited and our judgments are frequently off. We need Him to help us see with His vision--both people and circumstances. Only then can we be the hands and feet He desires us to be in this world--through clear vision and strong faith.

C.S. Lewis said, "It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men." I believe that to be true.  What an awesome God I serve! He condescends to us and graciously allows us to enter His presence.

In Old Testament times (see the book of Leviticus), only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies--that innermost, sacred place of the temple where God's glory dwelt. And he could only do that at certain times and in a certain fashion and with a rope tied around his ankle so that his dead body could be pulled out in case he "got out of line", so to speak, in God's presence. But, alas, God has sent Jesus Christ--God manifested in the flesh--as our great High Priest that we can worship in His Name and thus experience the blessedness of God communicating His presence to us. Worship...what a beautiful thing!

Oswald Chambers said in his wonderful devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, "A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ's own, one who is not above his Master, one who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls to no special work; He calls to Himself. 'Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,' [Matthew 9:38] and He will engineer circumstances and thrust you out." Although Chambers was making a statement that merely encompasses this particular thought, it really spoke to me today.

The Bible says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21) I wonder how many times we try to concoct some grand scheme--or even a small one--in the name of "doing a work for God" that He really is not leading us to do. Somehow us humans who have been elected unto salvation, in our efforts to be "like the Most High", like to get busy doing things for God rather than simply enjoying Him. For example, Martha was busy working while Mary sat at the Lord's feet, which caused Martha great annoyance (Luke 10:40-42). In that instance, Jesus said that Mary chose "the better part". Wow...to Martha it simply looked like Mary was wasting time sitting down doing nothing while she did all the (important?) work. I've felt (and acted!) like Martha before...have you?

The Lord enjoys to see His servants truly serving Him and working for His kingdom out of a genuine and sincere love for Him. But sometimes we get off track (or were never on the right track in the first place) and decide to do some great work for Him when He simply is calling us to Himself. Sometimes it's not the grand scheme that we believe God is stirring up in us, but really the sweet drawing of the Holy Spirit into the presence of our Father. And it is there, in His presence, that we get the truth, discernment, and clarity we need to really see how He has been "engineering" the circumstances around us and is preparing us to be "thrust out". I want to hear from Him and move when, where, why, and how He says move. Lord, help me to be that "Mary"-like servant.

To book Nicole Danielle, contact:


Royal Heiress Music - 215.833.1014 or heiressoflife@gmail.com
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