(We Must) Make SPACE for GOD!
“Stop striving and know that I am God;
(Psalm 46: 10 NASB)
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted on the earth.”
Today, an auspicious day, the last day of the calendar year, my sister-in-law’s birthday, a day to consider how we must begin anew, but most importantly, a day to Make SPACE for GOD!
- Make SPACE for trials because they are sure to come.
- Make SPACE for God’s Purpose, for Faith.
- Make SPACE for pressing into God’s will.
- Make SPACE for God’s goal for our lives—spiritual completeness.
- Make SPACE for God to work within us.
- Make SPACE for God, to seek HIM, to run toward HIM, to listen, to be silent.
“Finally, brothers and sisters,
(Philippians 4: 8 NASB)
Whatever is true,
Whatever is honorable,
Whatever is right,
Whatever is pure,
Whatever is lovely,
Whatever is commendable,
If there is any excellence and
If anything worthy of praise,
Think about these things.”
Today, a final day to look back upon the previous year, a day to recall what we accomplished or failed to complete, a day to consider how we’ve grown stronger or grown stagnant, but most importantly, a day to Make SPACE for GOD!
- God’s Word is TRUE—filled with fact and reality, completely accurate and exact.
- God’s Word is HONORABLE—deserving our highest regard, our highest respect.
- God’s Word is RIGHT—containing justifiable details that are true, proper, and good.
- God’s Word is PURE—spotless, exact, and righteously clean.
- God’s Word is LOVELY—delightful, harmonious, and filled with God’s Grace.
- God’s Word is COMMENDABLE—entrusted to us and given to us for our guidance.
- God’s Word is EXCELLENT—Great, Superior, Preeminent.
- God’s Word is WORTHY of PRAISE—Sufficient, Valuable, Favored, & Worshipful.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, may we Make SPACE to think on these God-filled things.
“Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”
(James 1: 21 NASB)
Today, a day to recall just exactly how much God loves us and to remind us how God allows us to participate in His redemptive purposes, and most importantly, a day to Make SPACE for GOD!
- Seek Intimacy with Christ.
- Seek God’s Heart.
- Seek Discipleship.
- Seek Growth in the Fruit of the Spirit.
- Seek to Reflect the Image of Christ.
- Seek Silence.
- Seek Resting in the LORD.
- Seek Solitude.
Know that “growing in Jesus” takes a lifetime because when we were first made new, we were made new at the core of our being. That doesn’t mean we completely left all of our old habits, thoughts, or ideas. We walk with Jesus daily, and as we do, God trims us, molds us, and completes us.
You must & I Must (We Must) Make SPACE for GOD: Upward—Inward—Outward.
May we step from this old year into this new year not focused upon the resolutions we must make to improve ourselves or our lives, but may we step into this new year with our hearts focused completely on LOVING GOD. As the new year begins, may we view ourselves AS GOD SEES US, and really see our neighbors, LOVING THEM AS JESUS COMMANDS US TO DO.
- Be Quiet.
- Let Go.
- Relax.
- Be Still & Be Silent.
A beautiful melody that speaks to all this is titled “Take Me In” by the band Kutless. Within this song, we hear this truth.
“Take me in to the Holy of holies.
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am.”
John Mark was one of the original Apostles of Jesus. He had a regular job (a fisherman) before he met Jesus. John Mark was known as a helper; in fact, he helped Peter with his interpretation of the Greek language. It is John Mark who records in the Gospel of Mark the way Jesus Made SPACE for His Father—GOD.
“And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.”
(Mark 1: 35 NASB)
May we follow the example of our Savior! &
(We Must) Make SPACE for GOD every day of this new year!