But without faith is is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6**
I wake up, weak, and read that even me, in my humanity, has the ability to please You. Offspring of Adam can please God.
Who is this God?
Who is this God who has set up a paradigm where He not only rules, but marries. You are both King and Father. Lord and Lover.
And You, God who created the expanse between ocean deep and same sky stretching from here to the other side world, allows Yourself to be …pleased. God whose voice splinters the cedars and makes them skip like a calf, enabled Yourself to receive from that which You have made.
I adore You, oh God who can be pleased by me. My deeply-moved heart can’t yet comprehend that I might have something to deeply move You, so I just adore.
I sit here under the truth that You made a creation that will not just do what You say, but will please You. And I say it back.
I praise You, God, who made Your people so that they might have faith. Heart stretching. Arms reaching out into something so other, with expectancy. You created this. Faith. You created me for faith.
Feeble, frail, and broken are not where You leave me. I can not stay here — at least if I want to please You. I must lean into You to receive that which will bring You pleasure. I praise You for offering me everything I need to give an offering back to You.
This cyclical exchange all rests on You, the Lamb.
My empty-handedness doesn’t linger in Your presence. I place me on the altar and You burn beautiful incense of faith and, somehow, what marks me “lame” to the world opens the door for me to receive a faith from You — to give back to You.
You take my empty and fill me up with that which no strength or accolade could prepare me to give. You impart faith and, then, when I spill it back out on Your altar — messy, even uncertain at times, but zealously fighting for belief — Your countenance reveals that I’ve achieved my end.
To please You, oh God who created pleasure beyond what my capacity can hold at the moment, gives me the greatest reward. And reward, You do.
I stumble my way to Your throne, and You look through my laundry list of failures and see diligence. And You reward.
Oh, who are You, God who rewards those with sin’s stains?
Daughter of Adam, by faith — by You, made to be daughter of Abraham. I wear faith like a locket of promise. Not one I earned, but passed down through generations.
Sweet inheritance. Sweet aroma to please. Given by You, back to You.
**So what do I do with these posts, you ask, other than just read them? First, if you haven’t yet, read: Why I Adore to give you a context for this little space on my blog. (This post also gives context.)
If you are compelled, I invite you to participate. Set up a space and time in your own life to begin adoring. Over laundry or dinner dishes, on your commute to work, or in the wee morning hours — ten minutes is a great start. You can use the verse I list here every day or two as a launch pad for your own adoration.
Then practice praise.
Add to my adoration here, by posting a comment with your own words back to God about God …or hide it in your heart.
I promise your weary soul won’t regret it.
***You can easily subscribe to these devotional meditations as they are delivered, by using this feed: http://www.EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai/feed or by entering your email address in the second box on the right-hand side… (scroll up a bit)
Additionally, all of the Morning Chai Posts can be seen, in the order of posting, by clicking here or adding this address to your reader: http://EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai
