Rhythms of Grace

Hello my friends,

I started this post on January 1st 2020. I had prayed about what the Lord had wanted me to focus on this year, and it sounded wonderful. Glory. “His glory revealed, His glory given”. Something challenging, but something that seemed, contextually, pretty easy, something that might simply require a heart shift. I never would have imagined just how much weight this one word would hold.

The one thing I have continuously prayed over the last years has been: Jesus, it’s all for your glory. Majority of the time this hasn’t been a flippant comment, I’ve prayed this with a seemingly genuine heart. However, one of the things God challenged me on was that 99.9%, although a majority, is not all. And I don’t have the right to give Him anything but my all. When I pray “all for Your glory” do I actually mean it? Or do I mean I’ll give Him my all when it’s convenient?

Because let me tell you, friends, surrender isn’t easy, and nothing about it is convenient, especially when everything is not going to plan. It’s a constant decision, something that requires a little bit of “open heart surgery”; realignment of thoughts and feelings not just once, but in every moment. Because the question is, when everything is stripped away, will you still give your all to worship Him?

In the current world climate that is governed by fear, it can be pretty difficult to place the attention onto Him. I’ve found that we become increasingly accustomed to glorifying the by-products of relationship with Him- the miracles He brings. However, what I am beginning to discover is that actually, when we focus entirely on Him, THAT is when He begins to move. When our lifestyle of worship is not dependent on the physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit, but rather on WHO we are worshipping, everything begins to fall into place. When we stop glorifying the miracle, and actually glorify the “miracle worker”, that is when he begins to break through. (He’s already won the battle).

The more we seek to glorify Him, the more He will reveal His glory.

The fact is, when everything is about Him, we become a servant of the greatest King of all time- all fear and anxiety fades away. He broke the power of sickness and death. When you are on assignment of the King, you have authority. In the natural, but more importantly, in the supernatural.

In Psalms 91 (NIV), it speaks of “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge”, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” It goes on to say that the Lord says, “I will protect Him because He acknowledges my name”. Firstly, that “if” is dependent on our choice to make the Lord our refuge, our dwelling. By focusing on WHO he is, He is able to outwork what He does. Secondly, by glorifying Him, we acknowledge Him. If you are fearful in this time, turn your face toward Him. Acknowledge who he is. Cry out to Him because He is your Father. He’s closer than you know. He wants to meet with you. He wants to give you peace.

Lastly, as I have been learning the reality of “His glory given”, I have begun to see “His glory revealed”. I have experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit like never before… In the moments I have said: “distractions, you have no hold over me” and given my all for Him, I have experienced what seem to be glimpses of Heaven, as well as had the opportunity to see others meet with Him. He has taught me to get over myself, my pride and my own discomfort, and led me into relationships that challenge me to become more devoted to Him.

This is not to say I’m getting everything right… “decrease” on my part is a journey, and my offering of praise whether that be through my life, or my words will never measure up to His goodness. But as I have realised that in reality it’s not about me, and allllll about Him, I have simultaneously realised more and more of just how good He really is, of just how fulfilling His presence is, of just how placing all the attention on Him might just be the key to revival.

So my friends, stay hopeful, stay alert, stay mindful of what you are glorifying, LET FAITH RISE and I have a feeling this may just be the beginning of something wonderful.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope, with less of you, there is more of God and His rule.” -Matthew 5:3 (MSG)

Philippians 4:7 (NIV) – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

Amen x

LOVE

Matilda xo