Monday, May 2, 2011

Cleaning the Toilet

You know how you hear a song, and for whatever reason, you just can’t seem to get the song out of your head? Well, unfortunately, I’ve had a few times when the wrong song has played like a broken record in my head, and I just couldn’t switch the off button. However, a few weeks ago I heard a Fred Hammond worship song that resonated with me in a way that surprised me because of its simplicity. The song simply says over and over again, “Lord, we love you. You are good.” Then it goes on to say, “Lord we thank you. You are good,” and “Lord, we praise you. You are good.” I am so blessed to have that song hard-wired into my brain and spirit lately.
Things have been so chaotic, unsure, and downright scary lately.

Bleak circumstances can cause us to question God if we’re not careful. Although I never voiced it, questions have swirled through my mind. Is He still here? Does He care? Is He really good?

I’m going to be real. I was cleaning the toilet (I know, I know), and I started humming the melody to the Fred Hammond song. On a side note, we have really hard water, and I have three boys—let’s just say toilet cleaning is not a pretty job in my house. Anyway, I started to sing, “Lord, I love you. You are good.” I sang it over and over again, and without warning, I felt the weight of the pressure I had been under slowly release. I still kept struggling with the toilet, but tears streamed down my face. God assured me and reminded me that He is good—even in the situations where we might think that surely God can’t be in the midst. He met me right where I was that day, and He can meet each one of us in any place, circumstance, or condition. No place is off limits for Him to meet us there.

Nahum 1:7 says, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” The assurance that the Lord is good and we can hold onto Him and His Word in times of trouble is so comforting. He knows those of us who trust in Him. In Psalms 107:1, the psalmist says, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Then, on down to the eighth verse, the psalmist continues, “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness.” Countless times in scripture, we are reminded of the goodness of God.

However, we have to be so mindful not to just praise God just over the blessings He gives to us. Our praise and worship has to be grounded out of our love for Him and for His goodness. Regardless of what bad or difficult situation we may find ourselves in, God is still good.

Whether you’re scrubbing a dirty toilet, literally or figuratively, God is good. He loves you. He cares. He’s sovereign. He’s in control, no matter what it looks like. Psalms 31:19 says, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” I can’t even begin to imagine what God has in store for those who give Him reverence, those who trust in Him. He pours His goodness into us when we trust in Him. We know He’s done it, not always by the situation changing, but by how we are changed.

God’s peace, joy, love and kindness and other fruits of the Spirit strengthen and bless others as well as ourselves when we worship Him with all of our hearts. It doesn’t matter where we are, how we feel, or what is or isn’t going well, God is good. I’m so thankful that I serve a good God who never changes, and I’m praying that you worship Him today and always for His goodness, love and mercy towards us.

Blessings and Love,
MaRita

1 comment:

  1. Here is a hymn that speaks of God using "hornets" (bees) to drive out the inhabitants of the promised land so that His people could go in and possess it. This way the houses would not be all run down and the gardens would be planted........

    http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/i/l/tilhv2me.htm


    THIS LIKE HEAVEN TO ME


    We find many people who can’t understand
    Why we are so happy and free.
    We’ve crossed over Jordan to Canaan’s fair land,
    And this is like Heaven to me.

    Refrain

    And this is like Heaven to me,
    Yes, this is like Heaven to me.
    I’ve crossed over Jordan to Canaan’s fair land,
    And this is like Heaven to me.

    So when we are happy we sing and we shout.
    Some don’t understand us, I see.
    We’re filled with the Spirit, there isn’t a doubt,
    And this is like Heaven to me.

    Refrain

    We’ve heard the sweet music, the heavenly chord,
    From glory land over the sea;
    A soul thrilling message from Jesus, our Lord,
    And this is like Heaven to me.

    Refrain

    We’re looking for Jesus with glory to come;
    ’Tis Jesus Who died on the tree.
    A cloud of bright angels to carry me home—
    O that will be Heaven to me.

    O that will be Heaven to me.
    Yes, that will be Heaven to me.
    A cloud of bright angels to carry me home—
    Yes, that will be Heaven to me.

    Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. "

    http://www.heaven4sure.com

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