I love it when God sheds light on an area of my heart hidden in darkness. Well actually, most of the time, my initial reaction to the light is the same as when my husband turns on the bathroom light that blasts a glaring ray interrupting my peaceful, wonderfully blissful sleep. (I’m not the morning person in our relationship). He calls me dramatic…whatever! I actually love early mornings…the peace, the calm, the newness, a fresh beginning…I just have a hard time getting there. This same scenario plays out when God hits my heart with His Truth.
I read this verse one morning and it stuck with me all day long. It quickly became like that glaring bathroom light!
In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your Name forever. —Psalm 44:8
I couldn’t get it off my mind. I kept asking myself, what is your “all-day long boast”?
Webster’s Dictionary defines boasting: to show off; to wear or display in an ostentatious (to attract attention) manner.
In the original Hebrew of Psalm 44:8 the word for boast is “halal” – to be bright, shine, to be splendid, to boast, to praise, to celebrate, to glorify; at the heart of this root word is the idea of radiance.
So I pondered and paused throughout my day asking myself, what are you wearing, showing off, radiating? I quickly became painfully aware of my boastings and was not really thrilled with my conclusions.
I found myself making much of:
- my difficulties
- my inconveniences
- my discomforts
- my accomplishments
And my boasting in these things was leaving me lacking —lacking in peace, joy and contentment. I was wearing and radiating negativity, discontent and frustration… to name a few. I needed a change. A change in perspective, a change in mindset, a change in my focus.
So, I asked myself some questions:
- Where are my thoughts fixed?
- What am I focusing/gazing upon? the temporary or the eternal, the seen or unseen.
- What am I believing/trusting?
- What am I pondering?
And change for me always begins with turning to Truth. Here are some of the truths the Lord led me to that day and in the days to come:
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. —Isaiah 26:3
Submit to God and be at peace with Him. —Job 22:21
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:4-7
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. —Psalm 119:45
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. —Psalm 119:15-16
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. —2 Corinthians 4:16-18
…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:1-2
So my prayer was a plea to be aware. To live in the moment and be conscious of my boastings. And my resolve:
I will not boast in… my difficulties, my accomplishments, my offenses, my discomfort or my inconveniences.
I will boast in the Lord, my God! I will praise His name all the day long and forevermore!
It’s a daily battle. Some days are better than others. I’m a work in progress. I’m thankful God pierced my heart with truth that day. I’m thankful and overwhelmed by my God who is full of unfailing love and extravagant grace and chooses to pour it into my heart and life every moment of every day.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. —Psalm 40:3
©2014 Susan Cady
Thank you for the encouragement, Susan! I especially loved the “self talk/questions” in this piece. Very thought provoking… I also appreciate your openness since I, too, am a work in progress. It’s so encouraging to know there are other women on this journey of being transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2)