What God wants is my heart–the good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Scripture
Psalm 42:5
“Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and my God.”
Observation
The psalmist was having an 'off' day, and he doesn't seem totally sure why. Something in his soul was disturbed…but what?
Instead of trying to put on a fake smile and just keep going, he instead took his turmoil to God. “Why, God?” Why am I feeling this way?” God wasn't afraid of his emotions, and he wasn't afraid to bring them to God. He made the decision to be raw and real before God and those around him–and he made the decision to continue praising God, even on a bad day.
Application
I have 'off' days from time to time–when there's nothing urgently going wrong, and yet I'm just in a funk. It can be easy to feel like I'm supposed to put on a plastic smile and just power through, but that's not what God wants. What God wants is my heart–the good, the bad, and the ugly.
What He desires is the real me, without a filter or facade. What he deserves is my praise and my worship, even when my emotions are off-kilter.
This week, I choose to remain transparent in God's presence, and give Him glory–even when my day isn't Instagram-perfect.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me–the real me, with all my flaws and imperfections. Thank you for being big enough and gracious enough to handle my off-days. Help me to remember to praise you through every situation and circumstance, because your worthiness does not depend on my emotions. Thank you for sustaining me with your joy!
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