Nuggets and Tozer

The waiting continues these days in earnest. Praying a couple of days ago we were reminded that our purpose is not to wait for the approval of our visas but to wait on God, not to seek something from man but to seek God. The multitudes sought another free lunch when they came running around the Sea of Galilee after Jesus. They should have been seeking Jesus. (John 6) I can’t really say that I’ve been any different these days.

I read these verses this morning in Deuteronomy 32:

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;

And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

Let my teaching drop as the rain,

My speech distill as the dew,

As raindrops on the tender herb,

And as showers on the grass.

For I proclaim the name of the Lord:”

I was thinking about these words today in light of all the things we might use to consol a heart or bring comfort to a fearful mind. Search the world over and you will find no more drastic impact than the name of the Lord on calming a heart and setting the distressed mind at ease. The verses continue:

“Ascribe greatness to our God.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;

For all His ways are justice,

A God of truth and without injustice;

Righteous and upright is He.”

I then read chapter eight of A. W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God,” a book that is a bit too mystical for my taste but contains the typical profundities that Tozer is well known for. Here is an example: “The moment we make up our minds to exalt God over all we step out of the world’s parade.” The chapter is built around the premise that creation was altered when man chose to sin and those who live a truly remarkable life are those who find in Christ Jesus the goal and glory of their days. “Be thou exalted O God, above the heavens . . .” He concluded the chapter with this prayer:

O God, be thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of [a donkey], and let me hear the children cry to Thee, 'Hosanna in the highest.'