I made the choice to worship, not worry.
As I stood in my kitchen, trying desperately to avoid turning on the TV…trying not to stress eat…and looking for something to make me feel better about the imminent results of the election, something within me told me to start worshipping God. It was the only thing I could think of to make me feel better.
So I did.
With the rest of the house sleeping, I began to worship Him in the ways I knew how. I thanked Him for His attributes of strength and sovereignty. I told Him how much I loved Him. I quietly sang, “I worship you…most Holy God…there is none like you…I give you praise…for you are my righteousness…” I didn’t request anything of Him. I simply worshipped Him, despite the tsunami swirling around me.
I am not in denial about where things are in our country right now. My worshipping did not change the results of electoral votes or the color of states. But it gave me the peace I was desperately looking for just minutes before. It made me think about how much of my worry is due to the fact that I want to know outcomes and control things. It reminded me of how many times I say I trust God and secretly wish He won’t ask me to prove it.
My worship tonight reminded me that now is the time to put my trust to the test. Now is the time to fully surrender. To admit that I don’t have it all figured out. To own the fact that I would really like to be “in the know” about His plans for what looks like a very dismal future.
Through my worshipping, I am reminded that I am not to know those things. I am, instead, to put feet to all the things I believe, blog about, and speak. I’m to let that faith kick in when my flesh cries out to, in some way, put my faith somewhere else.
I’m to worship Him. For how powerful He is. How good He is. How amazingly wise He is.
It is the best thing I can possibly do.
It is the only thing I know to do.
It is my choice.
And I choose to worship, because my God has not changed between November 3 and November 5.
Thank you, God. I worship you.
34 comments:
So true!! He is sovereign, and He puts leaders where He wants them.. This must be what we need to further His plans.. so that is what we'll embrace. For He is unchanged, and He is Lord.
Be blessed,
Jean
Thank You so much Lisa!
I needed this this morning. Between the worry of my health and the state of our nation...I was crying and crying. God led me to come here.
Thank You Lord for Lisa.
Thank You Lisa I am now worshipping too!
..."Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name."
I love you Jesus.
I love you too Lisa
Pamela
I was reminded while I was reading another blog of Romans 13:1 - "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." While our nation has much to celebrate, we as Christians must pray, pray fervently for our leaders and their salvation. We must pray, pray fervently that as a nation we will humble ourselves, turn from the sin that has taken so much and honor God. Submit to His sovereignty - place our worries at His feet and worship Him alone.
Blessings!
Lisa, how this thrills my heart. I just came from reading a very similar post on another American friends blog.
I think sometimes that God is just as concerned, if not more concerned, with our reactions than our actions. Yesterday I read post after post of ladies declaring that God is in control. Response today will show whether that was written from the head or the heart.
Rejoicing that you are a heart follower.
Love & prayers,
Joy
Lisa,
As important as worshipping God during this time is for us...Our children need to "see" us worshipping in this situation. I have "said" out loud that God is in control--now I need to show it outwardly so my kids can see it. No doom and gloom here--the King still reigns!!! Hallelujah!
Amen!
Kim
Thank you, Lisa.
Very well spoken and a great reminder to me this morning! Thank you for sharing.
I couldn't agree more! That is how I began my Tuesday morning post. Though our country may change, God never changes!!!
This morning we see that our country has choosen change ~ we don't know what that will look like but I am thankful to know that God is still God.
Continuing to grow, Cindy
Amen! God is so good. I just wrote last evening that, whatever the news is this morning, God's sovereignty is immovable. He never changs. And He is still and will always be on the throne.
Great post!
Thanks so much. God is in control, what may look bad with our own eyes, may not be so bad. God cares about our hearts more than anything, and if our hearts become more like His, that is all He wants.
Our new president elect needs God too, we need to intercede and pray that His heart is in line with the Heavenly Father who loves Him too.
Good words Lisa! Thanks so much for doing what God has called you to do and keep sharing that faith. It encourages many of us. As always now is the time to worship! Blessings, Jill
Thanks for this post Lisa....I read your comment on Lysa's blog and I just had to come over and see. I've marked your blog as a favorite. It is SUCH a blessing to find encouragement from other women!!! What a blessing! Thanks for the post!
Blessings,
Buffi
Me too. If you have time, please come over and read my corresponding thoughts. I have such a deep peace today...some tears to, for so many reasons.
~elaine
Hi Lisa,
I think this is my first visit to your blog. Excellent post. From one worshipping heart to another - nice to meet you!
Yes, Lisa!
I had that gnawing pit feeling in my stomach all night last night, and this morning.
All I wanted was Him.
My sweet husband read me Scripture as I fell asleep last night.
I have always loved it, from the time I was a child, when someone I loved would say, "Everything is going to be okay."
My husband indulges me, and will hold me, and tell me. He is a great man.
But every day, My Savior speaks these words to me. I just LOVE that He is unwavering Truth, unmoving Justice, and steadfast Love. And I needed them this morning. Yes, I needed them so.
I praise Him. For He says to us, Everything is going to be okay, my child.
Darlene
To do this more...just like this. Too often I find myself returning to words of request from my heart. We all need to just spend time worshipping Him...pure worship! Thank you for chapter 8. It's timing could not have been more perfect for me.
In His Graces~Pamela
Lisa,
You are so right. God is ultimately in control!
Ginger :)
"Choosing" right along with you to keep focused on Him alone!
Love to you my friend!
You are just one great big blessing!!
Great wisdom and insight. I'm glad you chose to worship!
Lisa, after a long 12-hour training day, I couldn't resist visiting all my many blogging friends. You wouldn't believe the same resounding opinion throughout blogland. Many upset or rather disheartened about the results but trusting and resting in the true King. It's amazing. As much as I read, I wondered how the results came as they did. Unfortunately, many people voted with finances in mind instead of morals. This too is a sign of the end times. Things will get worse and worse. Oh, I probably shouldn't have said that since your post is about peace. Well, the closer we are to Jesus' return the more peace we will most definitely be filled with.
I believe God is so pleased with us when we praise in the midst of our crisis and pain, whether it's a national concern or one deep within our personal heart. Praising Jesus in the midst of turmoil is powerful to us and says so much to Him about our value for Him.
Love ya,
Paula
What an awesome post. I went to bed last night with great disappointment after the results of the election. I was worried and so uncertain. This morning, however, I realize that just like you said there is nothing that has changed about God between these two days. I've spent the last few days earnestly praying for the election. God CAN and WIlL do great and mighty things! I hope that as believers we can come and fill in the gap and lift our President and this great nation up in prayer. Let us worship Him!
Oh Yes, My Siesta!! God is still on His Throne!!!
I am new to your blog and I just wanted to say thank you. I needed to hear what you said about trusting God and then hoping he doesn't ask us to prove it. I am really in a weird place in my faith, a place where my emotions are lining up with the Word and I needed your blog today. so thank you!
WOW!!! This is awesome Lisa. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to link it in an email to family & friends. I wish I would've followed your lead on this one Girlfriend. Instead I have no fingernails.
Love you,
Lelia
Hey Lisa,
This was just incredible...
Sorry I haven't been by in so long.
I loved your book, (remember I won it?).
Sorry I didn't join in on the study this time. (I was doing 2 other ones at the same time!)
Anyhow, it's just amazing how different things are when our focus is on HIM!!!
Blessings to you Lisa♥
Thank you all for your blogs. Blessings to someone who agrees on Jesus' and the message of hope and good news that his death and resurrection brings to all. . .ON A PERSONAL NOTE, new Christian friends, please NOW pray for Pattie on life support, pray her lungs will be totally restored within the hour. Thank You Lord, Jehovah Jireh,Nissi,Shalom,Rophe, Tsidkenu, Shammah and Rohi, our Awesome, Mighty, INCREDIBLE only Diety, Only One True God, we petition You now in Your Son's Name, Jesus', THANKS new friends of mine, friends of God.
I wrote some similar things at my blog and can just say "amen!" to what you wrote.
Amen, friend. He is our King. Confidence in His plan is our rest. Loving the Book study!
I think of you so much Lisa! I hold your story in my heart and as I face a huge disappointment this weekend, I reflect back on some things you have said to me in your story that mean more than words can say. Your post is awesome---I so wanted our country to elect a pro-life president. So thank you for reaching out to us in the reality of where we are. I just posted about my disappointment and as I did, I thought of you and how you embrace the beautiful God that so lives in you and through you. You are a demonstration of His Power so that our faith rests not on how wise you are but on His Power. II Cor. 2:3,4
Lisa,
Thank you for your comment over on my blog.
It is amazing what God has done. It has been so terrifying at times facing down some of the memories and lies. To the point I was having panic attacks in my counselor's office. But I have learned that the enemy doesn't want me free, and will use any tactic, especially fear of the truth, to get me to stop trying.
Through this God has grown in me a increasing determination, and "grit" for lack of a better word, to not give up or give in... maybe that is what is freeing me up to end my counseling. I have learned to process better, I have learned to persevere and cling to God harder than before... So I think that Tricia has seen this, and now that I have too, I have more confidence in my ability to deal with any new crises that come up, because I can cling to God and process things better in context of the truth...
I can hardly believe it. To know this freedom at last!
How can I do anything but praise God!!! Despite, in spite of, and in the midst of everything going on around us in this world!
Thank you for this very awesome post!
God bless,
Heather
Lisa..thank you so much for your powerful words spoken out of sincere realization that only God determines the outcomes of our dayhs.. and that HE IS IN CONTROL of every detail... including election outcomes... as part of His agenda... not our own... bless you! Pam
That "Fear Not" song was playing in my head throughout reading your post. He really is with us all, no matter what transpires in this world. He's got us in His hands... ooh, another song...
Thanks for the encouragement and blessings, Lisa.
PS. I've sent you an email, in case you're like me and check only now and again...
Blessings to you. Looking forward to this weeks chapter which I will start tonight...
Thank you for this post. You are of my daughter's generation and you all are blessing me the way you are reacting and responding to the resluts of the election. After our prayer meeting at church on Monday night, I felt as though I had laid it all at His feet and had His beautiful peace. It mattered who won, yet it didn't matter because God was The one in control, not whomever won the election. I knew in my heart before it was ever called when the electoral votes were so heavy for the opposition that I knew where God was going to let it go and I went to sleep with my head on Romans 8:28. Thank you for such a beautiful post.
Lisa,
THANK YOU! Things did not change for us in the fact of whose we are, and where we are headed from Nov 3rd to Nov 5th. Thank you for reminding us of this.
Love,
Yolanda
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