How to Act High and Mighty

Psalm 138: ⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
⁸ The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.

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“One day I will have an office” I said to myself. Only those who were very high up in the company had offices instead of cubicles. An office had a door that could be closed and people couldn’t just wander in and pry all over “my” desk. I observed how the big bosses would separate themselves from the underlings by placing an admin as a guard; meanwhile anyone could just barge into my tiny cubicle!

• Sometimes I think I want levels especially when I desire to be on top.
• Sometimes I think I like levels especially when I think the top is worth the climb.
• Sometimes I think I would enjoy levels because maybe people would treat me differently.

Adjustment after adjustment, behavior change after behavior change I did emerge on top. I had an administrative assistant who was my guard from those on the bottom but not from those on top. I saw people I wanted to help but could not. Is this how GOD acts? NO!

• GOD is exalted but looks kindly on the lowly and wants me to treat everyone the same.
• GOD is lofty and sees people from afar and wants me to seek HIS people rather than waiting for them to come to me.
• GOD is the preserver of life, vindicator of wrongs and sustainer of love and wants me to look to HIM for power.

Levels are a myth and a creation of man to horde the comforts of life. Levels breed exclusion, limits access and causes me not to answer my phone when people cry out. BUT GOD is the only one who should be exalted. HE should be raised up in my life as the standard, meanwhile I should treat everyone the same, with utmost respect. GOD wants me to point my life to HIM.

• Do you want to go to the next level?
• Are you trying to climb the ladder of success by excluding people?
• When will you mimic GOD’s behavior by seeking the lost?
• Will you lift GOD up, lower yourself and seek HIS people?

GOD Protects Me

Psalm 3: ³ But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
⁴ I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

⁵ I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
⁶ I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

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Laughing and joking was our way to unwind from the precarious day at school. The two of us were in the home stretch and knew the schedule well. We figured that if we got off the bus one stop earlier, then we could start our mile walk home, that is unless another bus were to come.

A thug called for us to stop. We kept going. Then another appeared from nowhere. We looked at each other and took off in separate directions. I conveniently ran to where I worked, which is amazing that I was that close in the first place and my friend ran into the supermarket who’s parking lot we were crossing. I asked my boss to call the cops and when it was clear, my friend and I connected and walked home.

• Many times I have faced some very dangerous situations.
• Many times I have been surrounded with problems on every side.
• Many times I have seen assailants come up against me.

I have no idea why there are those who think they can rob, assault or kill, but they exist. Sometimes the question is, “Why does GOD allow me to be robbed, assaulted or on the brink of being killed?” Here is what I have noticed in my life.

• GOD has put a shield around me in some very dangerous situations and I am still here.
• GOD is the ONE who lifts my head high when I call on HIM.
• GOD is the one who sustains me when I falter.
• GOD protects me on all sides even though many foes may surround me.

I have been robbed, punched, bullied and bruised; BUT GOD protected me the entire way! HE surrounded me so many times that I cannot begin to count. GOD is my salvation!

• Are you surrounded by something that is causing you to worry?
• Do you have something or someone who has caused you fear?
• Can you thank GOD for protecting you?
• Will you rely on GOD’s protection rather than living in fear?

Fighting the Wrong Battle

2 Chronicles 25: ⁶ He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

⁷ But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim.⁸ Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”

⁹ Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?”

The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”

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I finally got time on the agenda after making a few calls. With presentation in hand I entered the stage. I had my facts ready and the information was set. I also had my local board prepped, but the usual suspects seemed very confident.

As I entered the stage I could tell something was different this time. When the barrage of poison questions hit me, I noticed my local board remaining silent as if to say “you are on your own.” I wasn’t supposed to be in that battle and I got pummeled.

·         There have been times where I jumped into battle when I should not have been fighting.

·         There have been times when I felt confident in my capabilities when I actually was not ready.

·         There have been times where I was blind to what was actually going on because of over confidence.

Confidence is a great quality to have but it can blind me if it is only coupled to my abilities. I can get puffed up by “my” success, thinking “I” accomplished whatever I accomplished. BUT GOD says different.

·         GOD says to me “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to.”

·         GOD says to me “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”

·         GOD says to me “Humble yourself before me and I will lift you up.”

My confidence has to be in the LORD not in my abilities. I can do nothing without HIM and I certainly cannot accomplish anything HE has not ordained. GOD has a plan that includes HIS prosperity, but it is in HIS time, HIS method and HIS style. Success to GOD may look very different to the world but HE never lets me down when I am humble before HIM.

·         Are you demanding GOD of something?

·         Do you feel you have the right to tell HIM what you need?

·         Can you stop complaining about HIM and humble yourself to HIS power and will?

·         Will you stop squirming out of your troubles and wait on the LORD for direction?

GOD’s Elevator

1 Kings 16: Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: ² “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. 

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“You are one of the best” someone said to me. I said “Thank you” and moved on. Another person said “You are THE best we have.” I said “Thank you and by the way, have you noticed how other people are slacking off around here?” In fact the more I got complimented, the more I complained about my surroundings.

• Sometimes I think “I” am talented.
• Sometimes I think “I” am the one who is smart.
• Sometimes I think “I” am needed and they are disposable.

It seems like the higher I go the blinder I become as to how I got there. Once I reach a certain height then I think “I” did it all and no one else helped me. BUT GOD wants me to understand where blessings truly come from.

• GOD is the one who has raised me up and HE wants me to proclaim HIS name every step of the way.
• GOD is the one who has raised me up and HE wants me to show appreciation by following HIS way.
• GOD is the one who has raised me up and HE wants me to thank HIM instead of thanking myself.

Recognizing GOD is a must. HE protects me, leads me and loves me so why not proclaim HIS name? Proclaiming HIS name comes with a price. It means I can’t falsely thank HIM and secretly follow the world. I must give each god to GOD and let HIM do HIS way with them. If HE chooses to tear them from my hands I must thank HIM instead of cursing HIM.

• Have you recognized where GOD has brought you?
• Do you think you got where you are by yourself?
• Can you tell others about GOD and how HE has blessed you?
• Can you take your blinders off for a moment and drop the complaints from your lips?

GOD’s might

1 Samuel 2: ⁶ “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.
⁷ The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
    he humbles and he exalts.
⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.

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“Check his pockets” the thugs said, being quite thorough in their robbery. Fortunately I kept my precious bus money in my sock. Yes, sometimes it was a bit cumbersome when a quarter would slip down by my toes but it was worth it this day.

This memory popped in my head as I sat at the table of a major corporation making decisions on what to do with their billions of dollars. Looking back, it was only GOD who brought me through it all.

• GOD can say “No” and “Yes” in my life.
• GOD can take money away or give me money.
• GOD can keep me low or raise me up amongst men.

I never would have known that I would be raised up to where GOD placed me. HE brought me through many difficult and dangerous times without a scratch. People think it’s their own abilities that elevate them. They are fooled by their credentials. BUT GOD is very different.

• GOD elevates and exalts me.
• GOD lifts and dusts me off.
• GOD seats me with people I would never have guessed I would be seated with.

I stopped believing in my ability long time ago because my skills are limiting. GOD has far more power than I could ever muster up and HE does amazing things in my life.

• Is GOD amazing to you?
• Do you see GOD as a barrier or infinite power?
• Are you exhausted or energized?
• Won’t you stop looking at your abilities and become amazed at GOD again?