Honor God

I was asked to share a nugget this week at a women's gathering on Honor.  When I thought about what nugget I would share, I was overwhelmed with how many things I could say about honor.  The scriptures are full of verses regarding "honor".  But I always think it's fun to share from current personal life experience when possible and this is what God has been stirring in me regarding Honoring Him . . .

"Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him.  As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."  ~ Hosea 6:3

I believe a practical nugget or key if you will, to honor is THANKSGIVING.  When I thank God for what He does in my life, I am positioning myself in honor before Him.  I have been challenged lately to pause and turn my heart and mind towards God and thank Him in specific situations.  For example, if I am going into a life circumstance and I specifically ask Holy Spirit to help me, then I ask Father to provide something and I receive from Jesus what I need (grace) and the circumstance I encounter is successful.  I am working on trying to remember afterwards, to turn my heart to Holy Spirit and thank Him for standing beside me and helping me (give Him specifics), then I may turn in my heart and imagination towards Father and thank Him for the way He moved and answered and provided (specifically) and lastly I would thank Jesus for what He purchased on the cross so that I could walk in whatever I just received from Him.  It's an act of Hosea 6:3 acknowledging Him through thanksgiving and honor.  One definition of Honor is:  to give special recognition to.  When we turn our hearts towards the Godhead and acknowledge their working in our life, and their faithfulness in our lives,  It positions us in honor.  

Remember the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17.  Jesus heals them all but only one came back and thanked Him.  "When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back.  He praised God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him."  ~ Luke 17:15  I can tell you that if I was Jesus, I would not have felt very honored by the other nine.  In fact, Jesus asks in verse 17 the one who returned where the others were.

My kids are pretty amazing when it comes to thankfulness.  They will often thank me for a meal I make or if I buy them a treat at the store, etc.  I love it when they thank me, it makes me feel honored. Destiny overflows with thankfulness and affection for the little things I do for her.  Simeon gushes when I buy him things and thanks me over and over.  Julie makes cards for me that describe her thankfulness.  I'm especially honored when they are with their friends and their minds are busy and bodies are active and they pause and turn to me and thank me for something I have just done.  What a picture of us and God.  Life can be crazy busy, and it's easy to forgot to thank God in the midst of it, but when we turn our hearts and minds towards Him and acknowledge Him through honor, Hosea says "He comes to us".  Wow, what a beautiful picture.  When I honor God by being thankful it produces a greater intimacy/closeness with Him.

Check out this verse . . . "Call to me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."  ~ Psalm 50:15  A perfect example of what I am describing.  We pray to God about a circumstance, He delivers us (does all the work) and we are invited to Honor Him.  It's like a cycle:  Prayer ~ God Acts ~ Honor 

This week can I challenge us to Honor Holy Spirit as he comes along side us and is our Paraclete our Helper. Honor Father God, as He moves on our behalf and we see things shift and change around us.  And Honor Jesus as His grace abounds and He gives to us above and beyond all we could ask or imagine in abundant life and soul health.