August 1: MAKING ROOM FOR GOD: LIFT UP YOUR HEAD I

The Head personifies an entity, and an entity is often identified by its head. The circumstance of that entity is often defined by the state of the head – hence the common parlance, “the fish starts to rot from the head” Thus if the head is wholesome, then the entity is often wholesome.

The instruction “Lift up your head” invites us to “quit being men” away from ordinariness and that which is common to the Adamic nature of sin, to fulfil the purpose of God! To come away from what lies at the heart of all sin, which is flattery, that good opinion of ourselves which loves to be praised by our fellow creatures.

Its an invitation to “cease from being mere men” and the rubbish of base creation of the flesh that is constantly robbing God of His glory and ascribing to ourselves, an importance which is not rightfully ours. In Dan: 4 30, King Nebuchadnezzar boasted of his kingdom and of himself and his great achievements but instantly in verse 33, he was driven away from his kingdom and was made to eat grass like oxen for seven seasons – “until thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men”.

Let’s call ourselves to remembrance and always reference our minds to the admonition in 2 Peter 3:11 “Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved (destroyed) what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and Godliness”.

When we lift up our heads, we take our whole person and allow room for God. This immerses us in the habit of mind required by God for us, which may be called self-abasement and which should be our daily pursuit.

PRAYERS: Lord, open my eyes and my understanding to areas of my life where I am still self-conceited and self-glorifying. Teach me humbleness and help me to deflect worship to you alone in all situations in Jesus’ matchless name. Amen.

A person must recognize his need for God before he can request divine aid and give God due thanks. Anonymous