Lift Up Your Heads

Since September of this year I’ve been caught in a flurry of activity. The start of another season of women’s bible study, two women’s conferences, vacation with my husband and family arriving for Thanksgiving. This last Tuesday morning as I was putting away our Thanksgiving decorations I asked my husband if he could bring in the Christmas decor. On top of that, we are having our annual women’s Christmas Brunch tomorrow. Deep breath’s! I wish I could tell you that I’ve been quietly sitting at the Lord’s feet morning by morning. I would love to share that I’ve been soaking in an atmosphere of worship. But no, like so many in this busy season I have allowed my calendar get the best of me. I’ve taken only snip its of time in my bible and prayer has been rushed.

Stopping Long Enough to Look Up

Yesterday morning I had to tell myself to STOP. I intentionally sat myself down took my bible in hand and read God’s word. Then I lifted my head and turned my eyes to Jesus. There was a rush of conviction within my heart. Why hadn’t I been doing this as I know I should? Why have I been so consumed with everything around me only to neglect the one thing that is needful? Lifting my head above the temporal to gaze on the eternal. Beyond the conviction there was a sense of restoration. Restoration and returning to Him who is true and worthy.

A Call to Look Beyond the Temporal

Isaiah 40:3–5, 9 reminds us, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”. . .O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Sometimes it’s hard to look up. Sometimes we have so much on our plates in the present moment. So many things that occupy our minds cause us to forget to raise our eyes and look beyond our own circumstances. Sometimes we wait well, sometimes we wait with disinterest and distraction.

Psalm 24:7–10 says, Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.

Making Room for the King

A remembrance of who God is and who we are in light of who He is must prevail over the present.

We need the words of Scripture, the words of Isaiah and the writer of Psalm 24 to declare the glory of God! The glory of a glorious King- a Messiah who came. Who came and lived among us to save and redeem us. The Messiah who will also return to rule and reign in his second coming. We wait in this Advent season remembering and anticipating- remembering Christ’s first coming and anticipating his second.

Let us lift our heads and love Him and raise our voices to share Him, our glorious Jesus! May our hearts continually move upward toward our God – toward glory. Towards the King of Glory.