Psalm 29 – Dressed to impress

In awe before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him!

Three piece suit, gold cuff links, big gold watch, gold rings on a number of fingers and the makers label on the outside of the jacket sleeve.

What is it all about? Is it smart? Certainly! Does it look good? Certainly! But why the label on the suit sleeve? What does that do?

Dressed to impress! Sunday best! Look at me I am successful. Look at me I am somebody special. Look at me I have a brand name suit.

No disrespect. Many people like to look good when they go to church and that is great. It is after all the gathering of the sons of the King. The question is, however, is it because they are in awe of the glory or trying to impress. Is it a reflection of their being or a cover up?

Does the man in front display God’s visible power by showing a suit label? Is he making people stand to attention before God or is he drawing attention to himself? Is it a portrait of look what the Lord has done or an invitation to admire him?

The appearance of man is never a direct link to the appearance of God. It is the same with huge crosses around our necks and loud tattoos. All meaningless if the life behind and beneath the adornment doesn’t  reveal Him.

Dress well, dress as you please. Make visible statements to the world but be sure who is getting noticed, who is getting praised. What do the people say? Great clothes or powerful anointing?  Are they admiring you or praising God? Are they talking about you or testifying about God?

Before you get dressed, before you get that tattoo, before you hang that cross around your neck ask yourself what purpose it will serve. Does it need to be shining gold? Would a wooden cross tied with wire bring you as much attention?

Dress your best to honour God. Clothe yourself in Christ. Put on the robe of righteousness. The garments of pure white, washed in the blood of Jesus. Wear the mantle you have been given. That will certainly impress. It will make people be in awe of the glory, it will make them see the visible power of God. It will make them stand to attention. It will honour God.

Add to that the tattoo. Add to that the cross. Add to that the suit and cuff links. The only label you will want to display is His seal placed on you.

My own Psalm – Waiting on God

It sucks. The whole world, common sense, the mind, survival instincts all screaming at you to do something. Your call screaming in your ear to be active, your gifts building up so much pressure inside you, long overdue to explode out into the world. The preacher that you are finding a sermon in every verse that you read, every occasion needing a word but no opportunity to bring it. Your finances so depleted you are considering cooking your red bank statement so at least you will have something to eat.

But your faith says wait on God.

The world looks at you and shakes its head, where is your God now? Thought your God would never let you down? Thought you said He would never let you become ridiculed and laughed at but now you cant pay your accounts? Get a job! God helps those who help themselves.

But Christ in you says wait on God.

You pray without ceasing. Your read scripture after scripture and one day are frustrated as it seems God is keeping quiet but the next day you hear many promises. One day you are abandoned but the next brings words that show a future. Yet another day, another week has passed and your situation has only got worse.

But the Word demands you wait on God.

You reach out. Look for counsel, for guidance, for encouragement. You long for an unsolicited prophecy. Anything that would indicate that God does indeed have a plan for you. Nothing. be strong they say. Just trust God, he will. Time is running out, frustration is taking hold, men of God are letting you down. Their ministry is useless to you. A lie?

But you want only what God has for you. Wait on God.

It sucks. When Gail and I were attacked in Mozambique our loss and suffering goes so far beyond the physical. Our bodies have, are and will be fully healed. The material loss will be replaced or not. What has been the biggest issue is the unnatural way we were violently removed from our ministry. We are our ministry. I am a preacher, an evangelist teacher.I live to bring Christ to the lost. Gail is one with me in life and ministry.But for the moment it is all gone. Stolen. Wrestled from us. Torn out of us. My ministry has been taken from me. The pain so deep that I have not written a devotion for a month. Not recorded a single message for broadcast.

But this I know. They could not steal my anointing. They could not beat my calling out of me. They could not kill Christ who lives from me or so damage me as to cause Him to move out. My God still lives and lives on the throne. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He remains the same yesterday today and tomorrow. His words are as true today as they always have been.He is all conquering all victorious. My enemies may be barking and roaring and licking their lips but their defeat remains sealed.

I say I will wait on God. He is my strength. He is carrying me through this dark valley. What He has purposed for me will manifest. I will soar like an eagle, I will walk forever with Him, I will run with the Word proclaiming Him in even greater ways than before.

Right now it sucks but waiting on the Lord is my only hope.