What Shall I Bring to God?

Reading:  Micah 3 - 7
My Verse:  "With what shall I come before the LORD,
                          and bow myself before God on high?
                     . . .
                     He has told you, O man, what is good;
                          and what does the LORD require of you
                          but to do justice, and to love kindness,
                          and to walk humbly with your God?"  (Micah 6:6, 8).

What can I bring to You, LORD God?

I like how John Piper addressed this question.

"When the psalmist cried out, "What shall I render to the Lord for all of his benefits to me?" the reply was, "I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116:12-13). So, translating that into Christmas: Jesus gives us the gift of himself and we ask, "Now what can I render to Jesus for all the benefits of his fellowship?" Answer: Ask him for his help. That's the gift he wants. . . .

. . . the only gifts that we can bring Jesus are gifts of praise, thanks, longing, and neediness."

We live in such a crazy time - at least it seems so as we keep waking up to yet another great tragedy.  The hurt and confusion we live in seems insurmountable.  It is easy to allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by all the sin in the world, all the pain and sadness.

But You promise us, LORD God that You, ". . .will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5).

David, that great king and warrior, believed this promise.  I love spending time in the Psalms because David speaks to our pain and  despair because he suffered that as well.  Yet through it all he was able to say;

 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

We live in a fallen world that seems to keep spiraling into further darkness.  You, LORD God, cannot spare us from pain, You never promised that but You did promise to keep us through the pain.  

Thank you, for this reminder.  This reminder that I need to keep Your promises in mind always.  I need to praise You for Who You are - the LORD God Almighty, creator of all that is.  I need to give you my thanks for the gift of salvation.   I need to long for you, for Your love, Your fellowship, Your goodness.  I need to allow that I am poor and needy, and only You can meet me in my neediness!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!