The surpassing knowledge of His beauty
is too glorious to proclaim with human words.
His name is more powerful and incomprehensible
than the depths of the universe,
more unfathomable than the thought
of how He created the sun, moon, and stars.
Why do I rely on mere human knowledge?
What makes me think that I could somehow determine
the path that best suits my needs?
He knows me more than I could ever begin to know myself.
He already formed me in His thoughts
before my parents were even created.
I am prideful in thinking that I can take control
over my future successes, careers, and endeavors
when I barely know myself at my innermost being.
Bowing down to Him alone and letting His perfect strength intervene
will become the foundation of my life;
the strongest foundation that will never fail
never disappoint
never let me down.
But along the way, Satan starts to offer alternate paths;
ones that fulfill my human desires.
These paths are inviting to my flesh;
worldly success, money, lust, accomplishments
things that make the world seem desirable.
I have to fight daily,
the temptations of what my human self craves,
the torment of wanting to fit in with everyone else;
to be accepted
to be loved by the world
to be praised by my accomplishments.
In these moments, I bring myself back to the promises of the cross,
visualizing Christ suffering for my sins.
He was innocent, yet suffered for the sins of the world
before I was even born.
As I struggle with temptation, I remember Christ
and pull myself back to the foot of the cross,
bowing down to Him in holy reverence
so that I may lay bare in the presence of Him
who forgives all sins, and has mercy on me.
He carries my burdens; He takes away my shame.
He wipes me clean, even when I don’t deserve it.
Because I am in awe of His mercy and grace,
I long to know Him more, to grow deeper in His love
and to let Him take hold of my future.
Anything that is not of Christ then becomes a loss.
To gain Christ is to gain everlasting life.
To suffer for His name is considered a victory.
To be rejected by the world is being accepted by Christ.
The more I suffer for His name, the deeper I long for the Lord.
Nothing compares to fully knowing Christ.
Nothing compares to His unfailing love, grace, and mercy.
Changing my desires to know Christ is how I want to live
in order to gain life with Him and to grow deeper in love with my Savior.
Amen.
