A Humble Heart

'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.' 1 Samuel 16:7


Her husband had left her. She had no profession, no riches, no fancy clothes, no more than a block of cheese in her fridge at times to feed her kids with.
Many probably wouldn't have given her a second look, as nothing extraordinary stood out. Her outdated clothing hid from others the treasure that God saw inside:

Humility.

How do is humility displayed?

Serving others, being hospitable, showing forgiveness - all these are examples. However, examples that are seen also by man. What could possibly then be humility only seen by Him?

Driving home one day worried out of my mind, I understood it.
In the middle of my racing thoughts of different and fast solutions to my dilemma, God stepped in and said"
'Humble yourself before me and watch me deliver you once again.'

I hadn't realized that in my worrying and seeking answers with my own strenght, I was dimming the light on Him. Trying to sway His will with my endless 'why's', belittled the fact that He's always in control.

That abandoned woman and King David had one thing in common, They both humbled their pride, and earthly ambitions before the Lord in situations others might've feared. They recognized that He is who was, is, and is to come. They held on to Hid promises of being their refuge and source of strenght. In time of trouble, they fell face down and allowed His glory to shine around. They humbled their heart and everything that came with it before the King.

Friend, let's remember each and every day, that the Lord is worthy of our humbling before Him. He knows what is to come in our life, even when our path seems to be going south.
He has promised to give us a future and a hope. When we let our fears, ambitions, and pride down and humbly come before Him, He will lift us up.

Prayer

Dear God, each and everyday I have to thank you for always being my refuge. Even in the middle of a storm, I know you are near. Give me a spirit of humility so that my heart will always remember that you and noone else are my Creator, Protector, and King.

Hills melt in His presence!

“The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”  Psalm 68: 8

Who can stand the presence of Adonai? Can depression, can anger, can fear, can insecurity, or what about worry? Can the proud, can the evil at heart, can the gossiper, or the abusive? How about addiction, disorders, or bad habits? What about broken relationships, an empty bank account, or sick loved ones?

“The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.”  Psalm 97:5

Poster holding adolescent girls, and even some middle-aged women wearing "I <3 JB" t-shirts, go "goo-goo-gaga" over Teen Pop singer, Justin Beiber.  Now I know you have seen those little girls with tears streaming down their faces, screaming at the top of their lungs, "I love you Justin!" I am not a Justin fan. Don't get me wrong, the boy can sing, you just wont find me melting over this guy. Like Rabbi Freeman at my Synagogue says, "Everyone puts on their pants the same way!" Meaning, we are all human, rich or poor, famous or an outcast, at the end of the day, we are still a person.

But there is ONE that should get our hearts racing, our legs trembling, our mouths stuttering and our hands raising-up, high posters that have love quotes written on.

He is the one that can melt even the hills, shake up the heavens, and shatter to pieces whatever is bringing you pain today.

When we worry or dread over something that is hurting us and we do not invite his presence in, then we will not have peace. When you find yourself crying, frustrated, or worried, drop your knees on the floor, face to the earth, and hands lifted high. Cry out for YHWH's presence. Cry out for the Great I AM to walk in the midst of you.

There is a song we sing at Synagogue that brought me to the conclusion that all you need is God's presence to weaken your pride, to weaken her, or his pride, to heal that disease, that disorder, that deadly cancer, to kill that addiction, or that gossiping tongue, to wake up what has been asleep for so long, to bring rain to that drought, to make a sinners shout out, praises to the God most high.

One Sabbath not too long ago, we were worshiping God, and no one could deny that His presence had fallen on a needy people. We have a police officer that monitors the Synagogue since in the past it has received threats. As we were singing, the police officer, opened the doors to the Synagogue and just stood by the door, his eyes closed and his hands lifted high! No one can stand the presence of ADONAI!

There is no type of pain today that can stand up to the presence of Adonai. You do not have to wait to get to church to feel HIS presence, ask for it today, it will not be denied. I leave you with this awesome song sung by Paul Wilbur-In your Presence.

Have an awesome day filled with His Presence today.