There Is No Rest In My Glory

A few sheep enjoying still waters.

The reason why I exist...why anyone or anything exists, is to glorify God. Yes, we were made for His glory.

In order to discover the truth about the world around us and the truth about ourselves we must first look unto Him. (Read John 14:6)

We must ever look unto Him. As the great Reformed saying goes, "The man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

If this is true, wouldn't everything else come together if we made our lives about this?

Being introspective is great, but looking within myself I am guaranteed to find many issues that have no answer in and of themselves and issues which I will not find answers to from the world around me. Even more so, I will miss many issues and not even be able to identify them on my own.

But, if I seek to glorify Him...His light will shine truth on my heart and I will see these truths covered in His grace. There is no room for myself or anyone else to get the glory because only He can redeem what is broken.  Only He can save what is lost.

There are plenty areas of my life in which I want the glory. But I must be reminded that His yoke is easy and his burden light.  Trying to get the glory is a heavy burden I cannot and was not created to carry.

There is only one kind of water that satisfies. When I am not looking unto Him I am not drinking from the only satisfying and life sustaining water that comes from Jesus Christ. Rather, I will naturally try to drink water that never satisfies and always leaves me thirsty.


Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

(John 4:13-14 ESV)

Jesus Christ is the answer to everything in my life. When I trust Him I will look only unto Him and live to glorify Him.  I will find joy as He shows His glory to the world through me no matter how the world responds.


“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

(Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Moses wanted to see God's glory and He saw it as God's goodness passing before him (Exodus 33:17-23).  In the New Testament we see Christ is the glory of God:


And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John 1:14 ESV)

When we abide in Christ He abides in us.  Glory is not just passing before us, He lives in us.


Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

(John 15:4 ESV)



No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

(1 John 4:12 ESV)


A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(John 13:34-35 ESV)

There is rest for our souls in Christ Jesus. There is joy, peace, life, grace, salvation, eternity. All of this glorifies Him and a result of His Glory.

Before Moses asked to see God's glory, God was lovingly assuring him:


And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

(Exodus 33:14 ESV)

In the 23rd Psalm we read:


The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

(Psalm 23:1-3 ESV)

"Beside still waters," in this verse is translated in Hebrew as "beside waters of rest."

Recently I was very comforted by this relevant verse:


When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

(John 10:4 ESV)

Are you starting to see a recurring characteristic of His Glory?

I'll leave you with this:


Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

(Matthew 11:28-29 ESV)

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Helpful Resources:

John MacArthur, Keys To Spiritual Growth:
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1385/keys-to-spiritual-growth-introduction

Pastor Leonce Crump II, Jesus Loves Whores & Hypocrites | Intentional Jesus, Unquenchable Thirst:
http://www.renovationchurch.net/sermons/sermon/john-4:-jesus-loves-whores-and-hypocrites---intentional-jesus--unquenchable-thirst

Ron Hutchraft, Someone Else Has Walked There First:
http://www.hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-hard-times/someone-else-has-walked-there-first-6810

Trusting God When The Feeling Is Gone

Lately I've felt convicted to let go of seeking the "feeling" of God's presence for confirmation that He is at work in my life and that I can trust Him.

I believe (and am thankful) that, by His grace, He does give me the feeling and sense of His presence.  I also believe it is a gift of faith that He gives me the mind to know and believe He is with me always.

But, there has been a rearranging going on in my heart. I am mourning my exalted desires for the outcome of His grace over He  Himself. It is a good thing to want His grace. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. But it is still a burden, and I try to turn my head from this reality many times. I must embrace all of who He is. On His throne, He is exalted high above me. I do not deserve the fact that He steps down to reach for me.

I do not desire Him enough. I need Him more than I realize. And I am nothing without Him more than I can understand.

During a quiet prayer in a large room crowded with people excited to praise God, I simply shared with Him my lack of desire, my lack of excitement, and my lack of praise. And He did not reprimand me. I was not overwhelmed with great feeling. But I still held back tears, as He showed me that He stands in front of me, taking upon His face the sorrow of my own heart. He weeped on my behalf for what I could not accomplish on my own. He was not high on His throne waiting for me to join the crowd in their excitement. He was standing before me, holding my hand, humbling my heart by His undeserved mercy, love and grace.

I was not revived in that moment. Only assured that He is with me. And it is finished. And the feelings will come. The feelings will go. But He remains the same. I have no reason to not trust Him. There is no way I can't love someone who never ever turns me away. He sees the finished product when no one else can. I am His work in progress and He loves me as if I'm already a complete masterpiece. Only God can do that.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 ESV)

Dance Forever [Poem]

You wrap me in cold winter flakes
Purifying the seasons I took for granted
The cold air renews my heart and golden morning rays remind me that yesterday is done
How does your Eternal Kingdom meet with my finite mass?
In each present moment we are together
You place faith in me that assures me of who I am
Jesus, your love touches my lips and makes me clean
I die then I live
You give grace and forgive
Take my hand, I will dance with you forever

-Christina Meyer, Dec 2012