Exalt

Back in January, when I was looking forward to a new year and reviewing my goals and dreams from the previous year, it became abundantly clear to me what I needed to work on. This year's goals can be summed up in one word: faithfulness. Last year, hubby and I really worked hard to trim our lives down until we held the priorities we believed God wanted us to be holding. Only those priorities. This year, I need to faithfully continue in those priorities. Those callings. 

One of those priorities was the upkeep of our house. Our home. I'm not great at keeping the house clean and cared for, and 4 little children definitely didn't help. But, because my home is clearly something that God has given me stewardship over, I have been seeking to grow in that area. As a result, I've been reading lots of different material on "how to keep your home clean when you're busy," or " how to keep a clean home with kids." The main answer I've been finding is to simply have less stuff. Purge. Sell. Donate. Minimize. Reduce. Prioritize your possessions until you are only caring for the things that are truly necessary for or important to your family. 

So, my mind has been focused. I have been consistently seeking to prioritize my home and life.

Then, this morning in the church service, I began singing these words:

"Your presence is all I need
It's all I want,

All I seek"

Words come easily when you're singing, but my conscience suddenly focused in on those last words:

"All I seek"

Is God's presence "all I seek?" Really? Truly? I've been actively seeking His priorities in my relationship with my husband, in my parenting, in my home, and in my business. But what about my life? My personal priorities? What do I seek? In those free moments, in my thoughts, in my personal wants and desires... What am I really seeking? 

My mind was whirling and the song continued on:

"I will exalt You, Lord, I will exalt You, Lord

There is no one like You, God
I will exalt You, Lord, I will exalt You, Lord
No other name be lifted high"

And suddenly I began to see what I really exalt in my life. What I really seek. I seek myself. I exalt myself. I know, I know... "Well, everybody does that, right?" True. But I began to see specific things in my life that just do not support the priorities we believe God has for our family. Things that do not exalt my God in my daily life. I do not actively seek God throughout my day.  Yes, I have a time set aside each morning where I actively seek God’s presence through my study of His Word. But … “all I seek?”

I began to see snapshots of moments in my day:

- rolling over in bed after my alarm rings … picking up my phone to scroll through Facebook first thing in the morning

- turning on a TV show while I do dishes to entertain me … even though my children are (or want to be) playing at my feet

- responding to the "ding" of an email on my phone instantly … even when a child is talking with me or when I am in the middle of a task

- spending hours on Pinterest or browsing my favorite clothing sites researching latest styles or trends … seeking to feel confident or beautiful … but really just supporting a jealous, discontented heart

- reading, watching TV, or browsing Pinterest … during times that are supposedly set aside for other priorities … multi-tasking?

- starting another TV show for the kiddos because I didn’t complete the chores I was supposed to complete during the first one … I was taking time for myself

- spending an evening of relaxation on the couch … when I have piles of projects that would serve the other people in my family left to complete

None of those things listed above are declared “wrong” in the Bible. No single one of them is in and of itself damaging or “sinful.” There may even be days when one or more of those things is actually necessary for my priorities. Sometimes those things actually help me to exalt Christ in my life and priorities. But … I can think of days when all of the above (and more) have been true. And, looking at my life as a whole, I can tell you … I have developed habits, priorities for myself, my personal time that do not exalt Christ. Time spent seeking my own desires instead of God’s presence.

One definition for the word "exalt" is: 

“raise to a higher rank or a position of greater power”

And, as I look at my personal life today, I am realizing. Something has got to change. Some things in my personal life need purged – gotten rid of completely. Some habits need to be changed. Priorities need to be re-aligned. Boundaries need to be put in place. Practical steps decided on and carried out. Christ needs to be exalted to a higher position in my day-to-day life. His presence needs to rank higher than my personal comfort or entertainment.

Because …

“Without it (His presence) there's no meaning … without it I’m not living.”