By Lysa TerKeurst
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:10a (NIV)
Why do I often want to settle for less than what God has for me? What if I truly lived today completely obedient to God's word and in tune with His voice? What if before every choice I make today, I held up my options to the Lord and chose obedience over convenience and righteousness over my rights.
God has never asked me to do great things for him. All He has ever required of me is to allow His greatness to enter me, change things around in me, and be revealed through me. Not to do for Him, but rather to simply be with Him.
So, just for today I will live this way. Just for today, I am making the choice to not settle. Just for today, I will not let the subtle influences of pride, what is best for me, what is easiest for me, and what I want overshadow my desire for more of God in my life.
Today, I will believe with absolute certainty. Today, I will obey with complete surrender. Today, I will seek with complete abandon. For today, I want God to find in me a haven in which to rest.
Isaiah 66: 1-2 (NASB) says, "Thus says the LORD, 'Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,' declares the LORD. 'But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"
My soul jumps at God's question, "Where is the house you could build for me -- where is a place that I may rest?" He is the God of the Universe - so big and so mighty and so capable. Yet, asking almost a vulnerable question to a completely unworthy human - "Can I abide with you today?"
If the president of the United States called me today to inquire, "Can I come and stay for a while? I’d like to sit and find rest with your family today,” I would be left utterly speechless. How much more so that the God of the Universe actually desires that with each of us today.
Unimaginable. Uncontainable. Unfathomable. Yet completely true.
There are no great people in the kingdom of God. Just simple people. But every now and then a simple person makes a great choice. Oh God, let me make that choice today. Even if it is just for a day - how I long for it to be more - but even if it is just for today, may it be completely so. For one day completely with You, is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Dear Lord, I desire You today. Surround me with Your presence. Remove the distractions from my heart and mind so I can see only you. Lead me, guide me and teach me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Jesus?
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, by Lysa TerKeurst
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this so click here for Lysa’s blog
Application Steps:
Spend time with God. Really spend time with Him. Every waking hour acknowledge him in some way. He will give you such direction, focus, and strength.
Reflections:
Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the thought of truly living the rest of your life in complete obedience to God? Why not make that decision just for today? Why not set aside today as the day that you are committed to living life exactly as Jesus would have you to? Sometimes looking at life a little more daily, enables us to make the bigger decisions in life. Do it and see what happens - just for today.
Power Verses:
Col 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)
Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (NIV)
Psalm 139:23 “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (NIV)
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:10a (NIV)
Why do I often want to settle for less than what God has for me? What if I truly lived today completely obedient to God's word and in tune with His voice? What if before every choice I make today, I held up my options to the Lord and chose obedience over convenience and righteousness over my rights.
God has never asked me to do great things for him. All He has ever required of me is to allow His greatness to enter me, change things around in me, and be revealed through me. Not to do for Him, but rather to simply be with Him.
So, just for today I will live this way. Just for today, I am making the choice to not settle. Just for today, I will not let the subtle influences of pride, what is best for me, what is easiest for me, and what I want overshadow my desire for more of God in my life.
Today, I will believe with absolute certainty. Today, I will obey with complete surrender. Today, I will seek with complete abandon. For today, I want God to find in me a haven in which to rest.
Isaiah 66: 1-2 (NASB) says, "Thus says the LORD, 'Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,' declares the LORD. 'But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"
My soul jumps at God's question, "Where is the house you could build for me -- where is a place that I may rest?" He is the God of the Universe - so big and so mighty and so capable. Yet, asking almost a vulnerable question to a completely unworthy human - "Can I abide with you today?"
If the president of the United States called me today to inquire, "Can I come and stay for a while? I’d like to sit and find rest with your family today,” I would be left utterly speechless. How much more so that the God of the Universe actually desires that with each of us today.
Unimaginable. Uncontainable. Unfathomable. Yet completely true.
There are no great people in the kingdom of God. Just simple people. But every now and then a simple person makes a great choice. Oh God, let me make that choice today. Even if it is just for a day - how I long for it to be more - but even if it is just for today, may it be completely so. For one day completely with You, is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Dear Lord, I desire You today. Surround me with Your presence. Remove the distractions from my heart and mind so I can see only you. Lead me, guide me and teach me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Jesus?
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, by Lysa TerKeurst
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this so click here for Lysa’s blog
Application Steps:
Spend time with God. Really spend time with Him. Every waking hour acknowledge him in some way. He will give you such direction, focus, and strength.
Reflections:
Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the thought of truly living the rest of your life in complete obedience to God? Why not make that decision just for today? Why not set aside today as the day that you are committed to living life exactly as Jesus would have you to? Sometimes looking at life a little more daily, enables us to make the bigger decisions in life. Do it and see what happens - just for today.
Power Verses:
Col 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)
Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (NIV)
Psalm 139:23 “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (NIV)
5 Comments:
Thank you for this devotional!
I needed to hear what you wrote today!
Sheila
Sigh. I had ended my subscription to your devotions a few months ago - not for any reason of yours, just because I was not able to get to them, they were piling up, and I felt email in general was crowding out LIFE, so I haven't enjoyed them in awhile. Today, with a few moments of rare free time, with the internet available, I wondered "where do I want to go today?" and instead of taking the usual path to "garbage" (news, entertainment, waste time stuff) I felt a nudge to your site - your devotion.
Funny how a nudge is usually "Holy Spirit". This was exactly what I needed. How awesome God is - the amazing God you wrote about who created the universe and yet desires to dwell within us - that He opened up this small window and arranged this exact devotion for ME. (And what's even more amazing is it's not only for me - there are many women out there who probably feel the same way today! He is so incredible!)
So thank you for responding to HIS call to write this, post this, and be obedient to Him for today. Your simple act did indeed do something great.
thank you and once again thank you.
This is exactly where I found myself needing to get back to this weekend and so far this week I have made it practice to be more aware of God and His presence. I need Him now more than ever, and still it's sometimes hard to remember that He wants to be with me too. I love the verses you found for this devotional today. Well done...thank you. ~em
Thank you for this touching meditation from your heart.
I read it specifically because I a planning a mini-retreat with God in 3 days.
May God overbless you!
Sylvie
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