"Ask and examine your heart diligently, and you will find whether it cleaves to God alone or not. If you have a heart that can expect of Him nothing but what is good, especially in want and distress, and that, moreover renounces and forsakes everything that is not God, then you have the only true God. If on the contrary, it cleaves to anything else, of which it expects more good and help than of God, and does not take refuge in Him, but in adversity flees from Him, then you have an idol, another god." - Martin Luther
Mark Driscoll on worship:
http://theresurgence.com/worship_spiritual_disciplines
Without getting into every single thing that I worship on a daily basis, I will say this: It is a struggle for me to keep God first in my life. I don't think I am going out on a limb by saying that, as the greatest of Christian men and women, past and present, fully admit that they struggle as well. So, why is it so hard to talk about? We are all in a constant battle against the devil, temptation, and sin, but why does it seem as though pride is that one sin that keeps us furthest from God? I say "seems" because all sin keeps us infinitely apart from God, but pride, I think, in some ways, is like a gateway drug. If pride wins, and I begin to worship myself, then all the other sinful, temporary pleasures of this world will inevitably follow. I am so thankful that God is a just, good and sovereign God; He is the God of all grace who cares for us and wants us to humbly come to Him in repentance of our sins. Then, Jesus, in all His glory, washes our sins away and makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God.
Mark Driscoll on worship:
http://theresurgence.com/worship_spiritual_disciplines
Without getting into every single thing that I worship on a daily basis, I will say this: It is a struggle for me to keep God first in my life. I don't think I am going out on a limb by saying that, as the greatest of Christian men and women, past and present, fully admit that they struggle as well. So, why is it so hard to talk about? We are all in a constant battle against the devil, temptation, and sin, but why does it seem as though pride is that one sin that keeps us furthest from God? I say "seems" because all sin keeps us infinitely apart from God, but pride, I think, in some ways, is like a gateway drug. If pride wins, and I begin to worship myself, then all the other sinful, temporary pleasures of this world will inevitably follow. I am so thankful that God is a just, good and sovereign God; He is the God of all grace who cares for us and wants us to humbly come to Him in repentance of our sins. Then, Jesus, in all His glory, washes our sins away and makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God.
The following verses have been, without question, my favorite and the most helpful to me over the past several months.
"6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:6-11
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