"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
Malachi 3:6-7
Since when has my God been different to me? Has He not always been the same, chastening me because of my sins yet out of love and not wrath (Proverbs 3:11-12), Loving me even since I was a sinner (Romans 5:8), calling me unto repentance (Luke 5:32), good in all He does for His very nature is good (Psalm 100:5). You Lord are unchanging, as Your word to us declares. Then it is to my ignorance of Your divine nature that I worship You on the basis of my emotions, and my emotions dictate Your blessed character. For how long have I been blind in this? And only now beginning to see the error of my ways? What kind of worship, if worship it can be called, is it to offer You on the basis of emotion? That I raise my hands to You almighty God, when I am in a good mood or joyous, only then to sit down in the pew ashamed to look up to You when I am sad, all the while wondering to myself where my sorrow comes from. Indeed Lord, Your word teaches that there is a time for sorrow that is from You as it leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) and true is the story You taught of the sinner who did not raise His head but humbly asked forgiveness and he went away justified (Luke 18:9-14). But I do not mean to undermine the necessity of humility, neither do I teach a form of disrespect before You. I mean only to acknowledge to You as You Yourself already know that I have been ignorant of Your greatness. I have not based my conclusions of Your nature or of Your divine attributes on the foundation of Your word but on my emotions. You are not good because You do good to me, or because I am in a good mood, You are good regardless. You are not faithful because I am faithful to You or others, but because You are faithful. I must remember to praise You for who You are, not for how I feel, or for what I am going through. To neglect my praise for You is to neglect part of my very nature and existence, which is to bring You glory. It is Your sacrifice that is my basis for justification, not by any self merit or good feelings. Feelings always proceed out of a right standing relationship and a knowledge of You for who You are and what You have done; it is never the other way around. I want to know You personally, teach me through Your word, Lord, show Yourself to me, truly then I will praise You with honest worship. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1
Since when has my God been different to me? Has He not always been the same, chastening me because of my sins yet out of love and not wrath (Proverbs 3:11-12), Loving me even since I was a sinner (Romans 5:8), calling me unto repentance (Luke 5:32), good in all He does for His very nature is good (Psalm 100:5). You Lord are unchanging, as Your word to us declares. Then it is to my ignorance of Your divine nature that I worship You on the basis of my emotions, and my emotions dictate Your blessed character. For how long have I been blind in this? And only now beginning to see the error of my ways? What kind of worship, if worship it can be called, is it to offer You on the basis of emotion? That I raise my hands to You almighty God, when I am in a good mood or joyous, only then to sit down in the pew ashamed to look up to You when I am sad, all the while wondering to myself where my sorrow comes from. Indeed Lord, Your word teaches that there is a time for sorrow that is from You as it leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) and true is the story You taught of the sinner who did not raise His head but humbly asked forgiveness and he went away justified (Luke 18:9-14). But I do not mean to undermine the necessity of humility, neither do I teach a form of disrespect before You. I mean only to acknowledge to You as You Yourself already know that I have been ignorant of Your greatness. I have not based my conclusions of Your nature or of Your divine attributes on the foundation of Your word but on my emotions. You are not good because You do good to me, or because I am in a good mood, You are good regardless. You are not faithful because I am faithful to You or others, but because You are faithful. I must remember to praise You for who You are, not for how I feel, or for what I am going through. To neglect my praise for You is to neglect part of my very nature and existence, which is to bring You glory. It is Your sacrifice that is my basis for justification, not by any self merit or good feelings. Feelings always proceed out of a right standing relationship and a knowledge of You for who You are and what You have done; it is never the other way around. I want to know You personally, teach me through Your word, Lord, show Yourself to me, truly then I will praise You with honest worship. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1
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