What is the Focus of Your Glory?

I have been considering what to write for a while. Ever since Bible Conference here at PCC two weeks ago, I have been trying to put some thoughts together for a post. Yesterday morning in my quiet time I was reading in 2 Corinthians, and one of the verses that stuck out to me was this one.

"If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities."

-2 Corinthians 11:30

This prompted me to take a closer look at the things that I'm thanking or glorifying God for. Are the things that I'm glorifying God for just the blessings that knock me down, or am I truly being thankful for all that God is doing in and through me and my "infirmities?" I have made some steps towards ensuring that I'm thanking God for the blessings in my trials, but am I being thankful for the trials themselves? I know that this is something that I'm not doing, and haven't really given much thought to.

This example is probably used quite a bit, but the story was actually performed at our most recent Fine Arts event, so it's fresh in my mind. During World War II the TenBoom family ended up being imprisoned for their aid of the Jews whom Adolf Hitler was persecuting. Corrie and Betsy, the two TenBoom daughters, got put together in a concentration camp in Ravensbruck, Germany. The part of the prison that they got put in was infested with fleas. Betsy tried to encourage her sister to thank God for the fleas, but Corrie found this hard to do. After a while, they discovered that their Bible studies and singing in their quarters was undisturbed because the Nazi soldiers would not enter the flea-infested rooms. The fleas themselves were actually a blessing from God. Choosing to be thankful for the trials that are placed in our lives is not easy, but our trials themselves are in our life for a reason. If I'm not being thankful for those trials, I may full well miss why God has that trial in my life. I need to make a deliberate choice to glory in everything in my life.

This morning in church Pastor Redlin spoke a message from Genesis 39. He pointed out how the glory for each of Joseph's circumstances, including being imprisoned, belonged to God. Despite the harshness of Joseph's conditions, and the many years that he endured jail life, Joseph was being prepared for his position of authority to come. God had a purpose, and the same attitude that Joseph had which allowed him to become a supervisor of his inmates was the attitude which provided him with the right insights, knowledge, and experience that he needed for ruling the kingdom. Joseph didn't have the encouragement that when he was released he would end up becoming second in command of Egypt, yet the Bible tells of Joseph's attitude in prison being one of meekness and servitude. Despite his circumstances, Joseph chose to glory through them, and as a result was used of God to provide for God's chosen people.

Bible Conference this year was amazing. Not only were all the speakers really good, but I was able to take a break from school and spend time in prayer with many of my friend, as well as adjust my habits to focus more on God and allow more time for Him. Two of the speakers, however, gave some thoughts that have the topic of glory and praise threaded through them. During one of Dr. Kenny Baldwin's sermons he challenged us to be consistent with our convictions. If our lives aren't consistent through our convictions and our choices to praise and glorify God, then we won't be able to influence people for Christ. If we let our guard down ONCE, if we curse God ONCE, if we snap ONCE, if we bring shame instead of praise to God ONCE, then we are ruining the testimony that we have for not only whoever is witness to our sin, but also those who find out through the sharing of our shameful deeds! It is CRUCIAL that we live a consistent life for God that is honoring and glorifying to Him!

Another thought from Dr. Baldwin, "Don't just carry your Bible, let your Bible carry you." If we want God's praise to flow from our mouth, then we need to be engrossed in His word.

"....for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

-Matthew 12:34

This is the only way that God's praise is going to flow naturally from our mouths, and if we don't employ it, we can't expect to be giving glory to Him. Not only do we need to be reading it, but it needs to be a principal part of our thought. In Matthew the word "abundance" is used. It's not hard to see the meaning for this. We need to deliberately put a priority on the things of God.

Here's something else to consider, if we aren't already being thankful for the smaller and nicer things that God has placed in our lives, than how do we expect to be thankful for the struggles, tribulations, and afflictions? I encourage you to take some time each day and thank or glorify God for the things in your life. I've been calling it my "Thankfulness Journal" for a while, but after yesterday and my recent thoughts, I've thought about calling it a "Glory List." What you call your list doesn't matter, but I would encourage you to take some time to actually write out somewhere what you are thanking God for, and what you're choosing to glorify Him with and through.

Afflictions and trials are real, and I'm not trying to negate the reality and pain of struggle, but I want to hopefully give you some tips from what God has been showing me that will help you to get through the hard times. I've said most of what I think I need to, but now I want to just encourage you with some passages straight from God's word that have been true spots of light for me in some of my struggles. Take a moment to consider what the psalmist says in these passages.

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

-Psalm 9:1-11

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

-Psalm 34:1-8

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

-Psalm 91

I pray that this post and the passages in it will administer grace and be a blessing to each of you who have read it. It is my desire that this post will encourage you to seek ways to glory in God and all that He is doing in your life.

Signing out for now,

-Austin