Day 23 – A High View of God
Brother Lawrence said that “the foundation of his spiritual life was an exalted idea and esteem of God in faith. Once he conceived it, his only concern was, in the beginning, to faithfully reject every other thought, and to perform all his actions for the love of God. Sometimes a long time would pass without his thinking about God, yet this did not disturb him.” He just returned his thoughts to God again.
Brother Lawrence discovers a key in practicing God’s presence – begin with the high view of God as revealed in the Bible. This is foundational to his faith. He rejects everything else.
He reflects on true and upright thoughts about God – dismissing inaccurate and improper thoughts about God, and replacing all lesser thoughts with high thoughts about God.
He absorbs himself with thinking about the Triune God for who he is and what he does. Seeks to live and work with an awareness of God’s presence. Does everything with an attitude of loving God.
When he neglects to practice this awareness of God’s presence, he humbly confesses his fault, and takes it up again without difficulty. He doesn’t unduly punish himself. Rather he acknowledges his inadequacies and just starts thinking about God again.
This renewed and repeated effort to think about God develops into a habit, a spiritual practice, a holy exercise for living in God’s presence.
How can I cultivate God-thinking into my daily life as a genuine spiritual habit?
First, I need to know God as the Bible reveals him.
Second, I seek to take these high thoughts into my world of work and play.
Third, I attempt to use these very thoughts as motivational points in what I am doing at that moment.
Fourth, I endeavor to keep bringing these thoughts of God repeatedly into my everyday world until they become second nature.
Fifth, when I realize that I have neglected to think about God, I just start thinking about God again.
A.W. Tozer writes, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our mindset: “May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD” (Psalm 104:34).
Question: What attributes or character qualities of God especially lift your heart and mind toward a high view of God?
This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave
