The art of losing myself...

I love music. I think I said that in the other post also, but it's the truth. I love the way that there are all types for all different situations/emotions/etc. I was listening to Hillsong the other day at work and the words "...my purpose remains, the art of losing myself in bringing you praise" hit me differently then words that just come out of my mouth when I hear the song. I thought, "what does it look like to lose yourself in praise?" So naturally as I always do I have been pondering what that would look like. Or if it is even possible. How can someone go day in and day out praising God? Not that He isn't worthy of that, but can it be done by a human.
The next thing I thought about is why is it important that we praise God all day, everyday? Is it because I call myself a Christian and I feel that is what I am supposed to do? Sometimes, yes. Sad to say it but it's the truth. Sometimes I don't feel worthy enough to praise the God who created me and who saved me from death. Sometimes I just cloud myself with things that don't matter and waste my time and I just forget to praise God. Once again, it sounds rough, but the truth isn't always pretty. That comes from a lack of focusing on Christ and the Cross and that is the most fundamental element of the Gospel. Focus on Christ, stay on the "straight and narrow," lose site of Christ, sink in the water like Peter. (Matt. 14 22-36)
No matter how I feel from day in to day out, I must stay focused on Christ. Not holding onto that principle takes me places that I don't need to be and allows Satan to attack and take hold of me. I was bought. Brought out of death. Placed into life. I didn't deserve it. Nobody does. The point isn't whether or not we deserve it...the point is that it was done. God loved me so much that He sent His one and only son to this earth and had Him die in my place so that I could be alive in Him. If that isn't worthy of praise then I don't know what is.
That was a bit of a rabbit trail. My purpose in life should be to praise God throughout the day. Not because I am supposed to but because of what He has done for me. Not only does praising Him throughout the day keep me focused on the Gospel, but it is also an outward testimony to others who don't know about the victory that is in Christ. Both are equally important because we weren't commanded to come to Him and then keep it to ourselves. So our outward praise is a witness to others. People watch us whether we like it or not. Here recently I haven't done the best job at showing my testimony to others. It's because of this. I don't do this, but my heart desires to. So I'm working on it.
I'm really blessed to be where I am at in life. I have friends who are there for me whenever I feel unworthy to be called a child of God. They are there to encourage me and remind me that no matter what I do, it doesn't push me closer to God, or if I do something that isn't pleasing to Him that it doesn't push me away.

"I'll lay my trophies down, all down at Jesus' feet"

How many times have I heard that song. "Jesus Paid it All" I've always thought it a powerful song. I mean Jesus, the firstborn among all creation, the author and perfecter of our faith, paid every debt that we have ever piled up. Our own ignorance, and desire to be a god threw us into a downward spiral or disobedience, sin, and ultimately death.
The band played this song Thursday night (9-25-08) at Crusade and I have to say that it hit me differently this week. The words "I will lay my trophies down, all down at Jesus' feet" really hit me hard. I guess it just made me think about how the things that we do in the life on Earth aren't for us and they aren't for our friends or our family.

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Plain and simple. Whatever we do, no matter how big or how small it is, it is to be done for God. To bring glory to his name. How many times have I done things that I wanted to do and then seek out the praise, not that I put on like I was doing it for that reason, but deep down I knew the truth. I did it for the purpose of praise from others. "Look at what I did" is always the mindset. Yes some people may give you that while you are here on Earth but you will have to give an account of that when you are in Heaven. So why not just do what you do for God's glory instead of your own selfish reasoning. In the end you are going to have to come face to face with your creator and you aren't going to want to seek out praise from in but we will forever be in constant unending praise to Him. We will not care about the things that we did on Earth, all of the trophies and stuff that "we" have collected will be placed at His feet while we are face down in adoration.
I really like song lyrics. Sometimes that can be good, sometimes that can be bad. I understand that they are from frail humans but I feel like sometimes they explain exactly the way that I feel. This one is from a band called Project 86:

"So many times we smile in pride, putting such faith in what we've accomplished, when minutes ago we were, minutes ago we were slitting our wrist running for sympathy."

That holds a lot of weight in my life. So many times I tell God to sit this one out because I can handle it, sometimes it works out, but more times than not it falls through. When I do complete something on my own, I have a great sense of accomplishment and it encourages a habit to continue to do on my own. It makes me feel good to know that I can do something on my own. On the flip side, the minute something that I can't do crumbles I run back to God angry and upset that I couldn't do it on my own and begging forgiveness. How weak I am. How sinful I am.
God make me rest and trust in You to do the things that You will. Help me understand that I can't do it on my own and that my ways are far inferior to Yours. This is going to take some tearing down of my own mindset and that is going to be painful, but I am ready.