Tag Archives: delight

Glory Manifested

Glory Manifested

We know that we are the glory of God, made in His image. (Genesis 1:27) We know we are continuously being changed into His glorious image, under constant construction of heart. ( 2 Corinthians 3:18)

What a glorious thought to understand the place we have in God’s heart! But let’s face facts here, life is tough, and it’s easy to think of “God’s glory” as some future event meant for heavenly times and a perfect world. Nice thought, but just not a reality for us now.

Friends, this is not how it was meant to be! We are the glory of God to be manifested now, not some future time in some unknown place. No, this glory was made for you, for me, for a time that is now.

What does the manifestation of the glory of God even look like in every day life? I have also struggled with this very thought process until one night I had my own wrestling match with God, and I wasn’t going anywhere until He gave me an answer. We ask the Spirit of Truth to guide us (John 16:13) and we search the Word of Truth.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Let’s break this down briefly:

“Though outwardly we are wasting away”- roughly referring to the daily grind and misery that is life as we know it in a fallen and sinful world. Sickness, death, pain, disappointment, injustice, cruelties…etc. Physically, we’re all going towards the same end-death. Morbid as it seems, it is the simple truth. Yet there is an exciting truth we find in the next line of the verse:…”yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Wow, that almost sounds hopeful, optimistic…even, refreshing! And here we find the key. God didn’t give us life because of what happens on the outside. God deals with the heart of the matter. He gets down to the glory. We are renewed day by day as we reflect His glory, for it is then that we find our true sense of inner joy and refreshment. Tapping into that stream that is God’s glory, and reflecting that in our inner being. That is how we fix our eyes on what is “unseen” and what is “eternal”.

”Our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory.”

What did God speak to my heart that night? I’m not sure if you’ve ever noticed this in your personal time with God, but whenever I ask God a question, He inevitably answers with something that appears to be completely unrelated. I’ve heard this from others as well. This night was no exception. He took me to Psalm 91:2.

“This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust Him!”

This is what He spoke to my heart:

“Hope only in Me…

Expect only from Me…

Trust only in Me…

I will thwart you from your plans to save you from your plans and bring you to MY perfect plan….

I will show you your idols to draw you to Me…

I will sanctify you with your circumstances…

THIS IS MY GLORY BEING REVEALED IN YOU DAILY!”

Think about it. Think about the circumstances in your own life. Hope only in Him, expect only from Him, trust only in Him. Freedom comes only in surrender. God’s glory is revealed in the life of the one who is fully submitted to Him, the one who clings to Him with all their heart. (King David repeatedly claimed to search for God with all his heart throughout the Psalms!) His glory is reflected when that heart is focused on the unseen and the eternal.

“God…has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 (NLT)

Glory Revealed

Glory Revealed

God’s first great glory was seen in the act of Creation; namely man in His own image:

“So God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27-NIV

God’s greatest glory then came through His Son in human flesh:

“[The Word became human and made His home among us.] We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 [NLT] NIV

Through His unconditional capacity to love His creation, He desired for man to reflect the glory of Himself.

“We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18-NIV

Wrap your head around this truth: you are the glory of God revealed! He created us to be a manifestation of His very likeness, and that “glory” means a lot more than merely an hour in church on Sunday morning singing songs that “glorify God”. It means that our very being is a glorification of God Himself! When He created us, it was in His own image, to glorify Him! My friends, this is a truth that will change your life, if you can grasp it! Ask Him to help you understand even a portion of what it implies for you and your life.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18-NIV

When we see our precious Savior face to face, our glory will finally be complete! We will see it fully revealed, which implies that much of it is hidden from us at the present moment. I imagine some of the reason for this is to protect us from the downfall our pride would cause us. Certainly God only transforms us into His likeness one step at a time for a reason, otherwise we’d all be perfect upon Salvation.

No, there is definitely glory in the process. The sanctification of our hearts brings glory, and makes us a better reflection of Him. I like how the New Living Translation puts it:

“The Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.” 2 Cor. 3:18

Go take a look in the mirror. You are no accident. You were made in God’s glorious image! Do you understand what this means? Are you beginning to grasp, even a little, just how much God cares about You, His creation? Have you ever heard the saying, “A man/woman after my own heart”? Well, that’s what we’re talking about here, only to a far greater level. More then we could ever begin to comprehend. And let me mention, none of this is based on, or has anything to do with your performance! None of it! (But that is a whole other issue!)

The next time you hear that voice of self-loathing, doubt, worthlessness, unbelief, or negativity which wants you to question your life, your purpose, your desires, and most of all-who God is, and how God feels about you, RESIST IT OUT LOUD! Declare to your enemy the truth you know; what God has revealed to your heart about how He cares for you, how He loves you, and what He created you for-His glory!

From God’s heart to yours:

“Child, you are My glory, I made you just for Me. I am working everything out around you to daily transform you into My glorious image and one day; yes, one day soon, you will know My glory fully in you. You will be restored, and you will be complete.”

The Song of Psalm 119

The Song of Psalm 119

 I am but a foreigner here on earth;

I need the guidance of Your commands.

 

Along the path of Your commands…

is where my happiness is found.

Give me an eagerness for Your decrees.

 

Turn my eyes from worthless things;

give me life through Your word.

Your laws are all I want in life.

Renew my life with Your goodness.

 

I will walk in freedom,

for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Your promise revives me;

it comforts me in all my troubles.

 

Your principles have been the music of my life.

Lord, You are mine!

This is my happy way of life.

 

I will hurry, without lingering,

to obey your commands.

I am firmly anchored to your law.

The suffering You sent was good for me.

 

You made me,

You created me.

Give me the sense

to follow Your commands.

 

You dsiciplined me because I needed it,

Now let Your unfailing love comfort me.

If Your law hadn’t sustained me with joy,

I would have died in my misery.

 

I will never forget Your commandments,

for You have used them to restore my joy and health.

Your word is a lamp for my feet

and a light for my path.

 

I have suffered much, O Lord;

restore my life again,

just as You promised.

Your decress are my treasure;

they are truly my hearts delight.

 

Do not let my hope be crushed.

Sustain me.

Come and show me Your mercy.

Your decrees are perfect,

they are entirely worthy of our trust.

 

As pressure and stress bear down on me,

I find joy in Your commands.

I stay awake through the night,

thinking about Your promise.

All Your words are true;

all Your just laws will stand forever.

 

I rejoice in Your word

like one who finds a great treasure.

Those who love Your law have great peace

and do not stumble.

O Lord, listen to my cry;

give me the discerning mind You promised.

 

Let my lips burst forth with praise…

Let my tongue sing about Your word…

Let me live so I can praise You.

*I used the New Living Translation and portions from the following verses:

Psalm 119:19,35-37,39-40,45,50,54,56-57,60-61,

71,73,75-76,92-93,105,107,111,116-117,132,

138,143,148,160,162,165,169,171-172,175

–

Song of Psalm 119 arranged by Rebecca Aarup 5/5/11