The Highest: I am waiting for every part of me to submit
I really love the Lord. Like I really, really love Him. I love how the Holy Spirit uses absolutely anything to get a message across. I think that’s a great disclaimer to make, since I’ll be posting more on this site (So be aware! LOL) . Sometimes, He uses nature, other times He’ll use a picture, a scene, a meal, an exchange of words that I was apart of or overheard, an experience, an argument, a bad day, a great day, a problem, a solution, a scripture, a quote, a movie, even a bug (LOL!). Whatever He chooses to use, I’m listening and paying attention closely. This week He used a song.
I’m in my car, blasting Trey Mclaughlin on the highest volume my Honda can reach, 40. *Insert eye roll.* Saaaannging! Unashamed, unapologetically, speeding (because you know we believe, because we are listening to gospels we won't get a ticket! Lies) and screaming, “Bless the Lord, O My soul and all that is within me…You deserveeeeee, the HIGHEST praise!!” Honey, I’m having a whole party, in my car, by myself, fully comprehending( at least I thought) with each repetition of this same line, “Lord, you deserve, the Highest praise!” that you know what, " He IS so good, and He deserves thee Highest praise". Maybe, unknowingly I thought yelling more, louder and higher, and even dancing would translate to the Lord that, “I get it”, “you DESERVE this wild, unashamed, unapologetic, attention grabbing from all the cars I passed, hair flying all over my face type of praise.
And then…
…the holy spirit checks me.
Can I be honest with ya’ll? I mean all the way honest? I don’t know where you all learned to love, but I would say most of the things I know about love (or at least knew aboout love) and assume translates to mean love are the things I saw (or didn't see) while growing up. Most of the habits I presented in past relationships, that I prized myself on mimicked those of which I saw my beautiful mother do. Boastfully, as if applying to a job…I’d say or think, "I’m such a nurturer, I’m an encourager, a lover, a giver, I’m patient, I’m smart, basically, I bring a lot to the table".*insert a smirk* Getting to the more intimate parts of things, I prized myself on being able to, "validate a man of who he was, stir him up after a long day of the world attacking him, reminding him that he was amazing, the most handsome man that the world was privileged to see, the smartest man walking, a genius, strong, hilarious, gentle, bold, courageous, and even went as far as to remind him that he smelled good." (Ladies, don't front, that cologne...be on point) I mean, isn’t that what we do when we’re dating, interested and invested? When we really like him, don’t we shower him in words of affection and remind him that no one has, or caught our attention between the last time we spoke/seen each-other? Add the actual, "acts of service" and honey we can mistakenly find ourselves playing wife. (Topic for another day) However, none the less, the gestures still exist. Whether it included cooking for him, showering him in gifts, “was thinking about you notes”, “I miss you text messages”, “is there anything I can do..” questionnaire. We love, we care, and we recognize who we are doing life with and so---> we praise them. By praise in this regard, I mean we recognize who they are, what they do and so we are intentional about publicly expressing recognition, gratitude and approval. (I am not referring to praising them in a way that puts them above christ, thats not what this post is about)
So, back to the Honda. I’m in the car, and the Lord begins to show me myself in my intimate relationships. I would almost go as far as to say, He presented it in a righteous-jealousy kind of way. Like, “baby girl, I’m not mad at you, but let me show you some visuals of who YOU are and how YOU’VE been with men you “love” or “care” about.” So now, this song goes down to about 15 (the volume number.). I still want to hear the song, but now I’m driving with one of those blank faces. You know, the kind where you’re paying attention enough to see the car in front of you, but not really looking at the car in front of you? Yea, that face, as the Lord shows me, ME. (read that again) In this memory lane he takes me on, I am performing acts of service, expressing gratitude at every giving moment in our conversations, validating my love with my finances, with my time, sacrifices in my schedule, life plans, money, food etc.
Then I hear this sweet whisper of “highest praise.”
Highest (adj): of GREAT vertical extent. Great, or GREATER than NORMAL, in quantity, size or intensity.
This post is NOT about praising the people we date more than we do God. That’s not where I’m going, this post is to encourage you to LOVE on the LORD even higher than you do your spouse or the person you are childishly-tickled, and heart-faced emoji, into. I am a good woman, for many of reasons, not just those which I shared, but I felt challenged to be a good woman/BETTER WOMAN, and daughter of Christ even the more, than I am to man. (read that again.) Almost as if the Holy spirit challenged me to out do myself.
So then I started hearing the holy spirit ask me questions like, “How often do you get up and decide to look nice for me?” “When was the last time you verbally, randomly magnified the Lord?” “When was the last time you stayed up late or woke up even earlier, just to spend intimate time in my face?” When was the last time you came home and stirred yourself up in Who I am, after a long day of the world going against who I Am?” “When was the last time you were available and obedient in giving more….more of your time, money and food?” “When was the last time you extended yourself to the Lord, first thing in the morning and said, “Is there anything you need from me today?”
The song comes from Psalms 103:1 which reads:
“Bless the Lord, O My soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
David, who is author of this verse teaches us a few things:
1. David started with a commandment to self. (In this Psalms he is talking to HIMSELF) He didn’t suggest to himself like, “David, you should bless the Lord.” He made it plain. Bless the Lord. (Synonyms for bless include: praise, worship, glorify, magnify, exalt, honor) However he went further to command that His soul blesses the Lord. And that everything IN him lines up with this commandment. (read that again) I call my mind, my body, my soul, my hands, my feet, my thoughts, my emotions, my mood, my aches, my internal organs, my finances, my goals, my dreams, my aspirations, my obstacles, my hurts, my time, my agenda, my current plans, my future plans, my rhythm, my voice, my posture and even my intentions into and under submission, to bless the Lord, today. EVERYTHING within me, blesses HIS holy name.
2.The mere commandment that David was making was an example of something David was widely known for doing, stirring himself up in the Lord. If you read the rest of Psalms 103 you will see that he goes in depth about how great, and how merciful, how present and how forgiving and how (insert HIS endless characteristic's) God is. David was stirring himself up, and demanding that He blesses that Lord, and I believe, demanding that everything in Him come into agreement and alignment with where his worship was heading. He was taking ownership! Is there any part of you that, you do not have the authority to call into alignment? How intimate was it, that he was demanding that His soul bless God?
Can I be even more honest? I can’t stop playing this song, and thinking about this scripture, because I’m trying to outdo myself. I’m trying to Love God in ways I hadn’t thought of yet, I’m trying to give Him quality time and magnify him all the more with my words. I’m asking the Lord to not only find a scent on me that is pleasing to Him, but that my worship grabs His attention enough for him to come see about me. I’m checking every part of me day in and day out and I’m asking myself, is all that is in me, blessing Him?
I promise it's the sweetest place.
XOXOXO,
Alicia Elizabeth
P.S---
- the song is tagged below!
- Thank you for visiting! I will be posting new material for sure every Wednesday for #TheWaitingSpaceWednesday, in addition to posting through out the week different things that I come across.
- Please share this blog if it encourages you with your inner circle! I have a youtube channel (Alicia Elizabeth is the YT name) where I am always pushing the #SelflessChallenge! I believe whole heartedly in encouraging not only ourselves but those around us! We all need it at different times in our walks!
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Love you a bunches! Be encouraged!
