June 8

God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies. Who can compare with God, our God, so majestically enthroned, surveying his magnificent heavens and earth? He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who’ve been thrown out with the trash, Seats them among the honoured guests, a place of honour among the brightest and best.” Psalm 113:4-6 (MSG)

We walk into a room and look for a place to hide, away from everyone and everything. We take the back row and the back seat because a lifetime of being rejected and pushed aside tells us that is where we belong. And if we run out of people to say it to us, we have enough painful memories stored away in our own catalogue of failures and faults, that we can remind ourselves of all day long.  “Who do you think you are?”, we hear. “No one”, we answer, and so we hide. 

And yet, once again, here comes this wonder-working, miracle-making, passionately loving God of ours Who says, “Not today, My Princess. Take My hand and come with Me. I am seating you here, right beside Me, in a place of honour and blessing. Sit with Me, My Beloved. Sit with the brightest and best. Because that is how I made you and where I meant for you to be. No back row or back seat for you, beauty. You belong to Me.” 

Oh, dearest heart, don’t you see? You are a shining star amid His majestic creation—the object of His love and affection. Shine on, beloved of the Most High God! Full of beauty, and oh, so bright!  Shine for the whole world see! 

Prayer:

Majestic and Marvelous God, such truths as these are so hard for me to comprehend at times. I see all that is wrong with me, yet You know that You have already made everything right! 

Your forgiving love is what makes You so wonderful. Your wrap-around presence is my greatest joy. 

In Your tender love and kindness won’t you come today, and by the power of the Precious Holy Spirit, help me see as You see. To see Who You truly are: tenderhearted, kind, patient, and forgiving. To see myself as You see me: seated with You in heavenly places, raised to that place of honour, forever by Your side, made perfect and holy because of all that Jesus has done. 

That I could even know You, Lord, the One Who outshines us all, is more than I can bear. That I could love You and be loved by You, is my deepest desire, and the fullness of all dreams come true. I do want to reflect Your glory, Lord. I do want to shine for You!