As you can tell in the above photograph, I recently learned to levitate…
Okay, actually I was riding a ski lift, but levitating is a personal dream of mine (and definitely something my Abba could make happen!), so forgive me for indulging for a moment.
Anyway, I got to ride a ski lift this past weekend in Gatlinburg with some of my family. The view was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, and my heart was full. The slow ascent let me see and take pictures of the beautiful scenery. As always, my measly iPhone 6S camera doesn’t do it justice. You just had to be there.
The views from the top and on the descent two hours later were just as mesmerizing. God is unquestionably the best artist!!
As I gazed upon the beauty of God’s creation, I was overwhelmed and convicted. You see, in this season I have caught myself exalting finances above God.
What does that mean? It means I have allowed myself to be anxious and spend time worrying and striving about how my financial needs would be taken care of, rather than resting and trusting in God. It might not sound like such a bad thing to do, but think about it. By worrying and striving, I was revealing that in my heart I did not believe God was big enough to take care of me. I needed to figure out how to pay for my bills because God was not able. He did not have a plan, He lacked the ability to impart wisdom or guidance. He was scrambling and throwing His hands up in the air saying, “I don’t know, Tiffany! This time you’ve really dug a hole too deep for Me to fill. Figure out how you’re going to find financial stability by yourself.”
In reality, that’s not at all true. God is able. He has a plan, and knows the future. He is perfect in knowledge and wisdom. He is a good Shepherd who loves to guide His sheep by still waters. There is no lack in Him. He is not scrambling for an answer, or fuming in frustration about what I have done, or abandoning me to sort things out the best I can. God is big. God is BIG!
The mountains off in the distance are huge, but God made them! He’s bigger! The sun diving behind and the clouds mingling on top of the mountains are glorious, but God made them! He is more glorious! The contentment filling my heart is comforting and warm, but God made my heart with His own hands! He is the author of all things good and perfect.
He formed the Great Smoky Mountains, effortlessly; He can handle my finances.
He painted the sky and draped the clouds, easily; He can meet my needs.
He made me and knows me better than I know myself. He is committed to me. He loves me. He will be my provider.
I don’t understand how quickly I can forget the God I serve. How often do I truly behold Him as He truly is? As He deserves? More scarcely than I’d like to admit.
He is worthy of the praises of ten thousand tongues, and more. He is worthy of every person, young and old, stopping what they’re doing, dropping to their knees, and singing of His greatness. He is so BIG, so GREAT, so PERFECT. How often is He thanked?
Lord, give me eyes to see You as You truly are, and a heart that is eager to praise You rightly.
Thankfully for me, Abba knows I struggle with beholding Him rightly. He knows the (many, many) areas where I need growth. So He has wisely placed me in the season I need and given me a mandate to match.
In my previous blog post I talked about mandates in a broader scope. Now I’d like to focus on specific ones, and I’ll start with a mandate I’m familiar with. I’m calling it David’s First Mandate: the Secret Place.
In my next blog post I will unfold this mandate with scripture and hopefully build your faith as you see how it relates to a season to which the Lord may call you.
