from Him, through Him, for Him

I started reading an article the other day...
It was found in a typical women's magazine that one might rifle through while killing time outside the doctor's office.  Full of air brushed celebrities, portraying seemingly perfect lifestyles, selling hyped-up goods and services betwixt and between the pages of fluffy "open-minded" banter.  I flipped through the glossy pages looking for something worth reading and finally settled on an "overcomer" story.  But I didn't make it past the first sentence before my dialog with the Holy Spirit took hold of my heart.

The tagline for the article read:

"After serious traumas, four women dug deep and discovered how the power of their own resilience could make their lives much more meaningful."

Wow.  That sounds like a movie trailer, doesn't it?
I could just hear the mood-setting music accompanied by the announcer's deep voice inciting, "In a world..."

The Holy Spirit responded to my thoughts with this truth... "Victoria, all glory is the Lord's."

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36)

I couldn't go on reading the article...
For the Holy Spirit is correct.  All glory is the Lord's, not ours.
Resilience is a gift.  Abilities and traits are special and exclusively designed for our benefit.
No human can honestly claim a power that makes their life more meaningful unless they claim the ultimate authority and holiness of Jesus Christ.
All shadows of self disappear in the brightness of His presence.
All strength to dig deep, all hope to survive, all success and progress... these are from Him, through Him, and for Him.
We are not remarkable... He is.
We cannot change circumstances for the better... only He can.
Our purpose is not intended for ourselves... it is to serve His Throne.
Our accomplishments are not due to any ability, any decision, any resource we have not received without His help.
To Him alone we must direct all praise.

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1)

How the scales fall off our eyes when we actually focus our hearts to see and acknowledge WHO is really worthy...  WHO is to be highlighted and worshipped.
Such truth does not lie between the pages of the air brushed, hyped-up opinions of godless money-changers and idol seekers.
No, their boasting is as fake as the lies they spin.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)

I'd rather read the rough and rocky pages of the flawed, the broken, the least of human representation lifted up and honored by the Most High who saves.
I'd rather consider the everlasting covenant of God's promise to restore what we so callously and selfishly destroy... what we alone cannot repair or make whole.
I'd rather focus on Jesus, who came to vindicate righteousness...  to rebuild and use our mess for His good...  to teach and lead us into His love - beyond all trauma - in order to make our life meaningful, hopeful, NEW.
To Him I am grateful.
To Him I will worship, and honor, and focus, and make Jesus my heart's first and only desire.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16)

All creation exists to display the glory of this One.
All history is painted in order to complete a canvas artfully portraying His beauty.
All mankind, whether willing or not, will breathe His breaths and walk His ordained steps in order to prove the wonder of His grace, the truth of His wisdom, the depth of His love.

All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are terrified;
When you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.
(Psalm 104:27-31)

Yes, all glory is the Lords.
Every knee will bow to Him.  Every tongue will confess His Kingdom.
Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty!
From Him, and through Him, and for Him are all things!

Let us forget ourselves and surrender to His perfection.
Let us praise Him in everything, with everyone we encounter, and in every place we visit.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. (1 Chronicles 29:11)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson