THE POSTURE OF POSITION
Image by StarFlames from Pixabay
Position.
What comes to your mind when you read the word—position?
Does a station in life, place of employment, or personal ownership of a company capture your thoughts? Perhaps your standing with a particular association or birth order in your family registered. Position for a pilot, surgeon, and yoga instructor will probably resonate differently. Your almost-numb foot may have you changing your position.
God has much to say about position. Most importantly, about our position in Christ. A glorious location so incredible that when it is understood in the smallest degree, a posture of humility emerges. Meek and lowly, gentle and holy—humility arrives discretely without fanfare. Grace personified, humility surfaces without the horn-tooting fanfare of pride’s look-at-me neediness.
The POSITION
Genuine understanding of Truth and Reality comes through illumination by the power of the Spirit.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;
John 16:13-16
for He will not speak on His own initiative,
but whatever He hears, He will speak;
and He will disclose to you what is to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
Each breathtaking revelation from the Spirit can enlighten the eyes of our hearts, clarify our vision, and change our behavior.
Hallelujah, for the transforming touch of the Holy Spirit!
Can I get an “AMEN!” my friend?
The apostle Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, “…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:18
What a prayer regarding position!
Paul prayed for the Holy Spirit to illumine their understanding so these saints could realize their position. And not just realize but revel, rejoice, relish everything that belonged to them because of their holy position.
Do you think Paul’s scale-removing request had anything to do with his blinding encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus? Members of the “once I was blind, but now I see” camp long for others to encounter the same Grace. To taste and see how good God truly is.
The POSTURE
One sobering and scary aspect of sin is how easily it blinds us. Prone to pride and selfishness we are desperate for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to every heart posture that is not in keeping with our position as God’s image-bearers.
Earlier this week during a time of prayer, a spiritual download regarding our posture and position arrived. I have been mulling things over ever since. When thoughts about helpful “postures” came to mind I jotted them down. I plan to consider them and ask God to weigh in regarding whatever I should know and understand about each. I have included the list below if you are interested.
Humility, in ever increasing measures, should be the prevailing posture of soul for everyone positioned in Christ. May it be, Lord. May it be.
And Lord, will You open the eyes of our hearts to know, understand, realize, and live in the fullness of our new life in Christ? And when we glimpse by Your Spirit, a fuller understanding of our actual position and what we possess as Your children, may the revelation’s imprint mark us more fully with humility.
Help us live from a posture of perpetual hope, anchored in an eternal perspective, and overflowing with joy. Drown all lesser affections in the flood of knowing and enjoying You—our Maker, Sustainer, and Supreme Delight. May our heart’s posture be one of increasing wonder, reverential awe, and meekness. As the heights of Your handiwork is recognized, then received and realized, produce a depth of humility fitting for one who is created to reflect Your glory.
The list:
SINGLENESS OF HEART
BE STILL and KNOW THAT I AM GOD
HUMILITY
MEEKNESS
CEASE STRIVING
GUARD YOUR HEART
POSTURE—SUBMISSION, FAITH, LOVE
KNOW LIFE COMES ONLY FROM GOD
WATER FLOWS DOWNSTREAM
GENTLE and LOWLY
“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.”
-Thomas Merton
“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
-Saint Augustine
“Humility is nothing else but a right judgment of ourselves”
-William Law
Charles H. Spurgeon offers helpful insights about using God’s Word to examine our hearts.
Thanks for this Nancy. Much to reflect on. Attending a “celebration of life” today for my closest cousin whose life as an adult was riddled with leukemia & endless medical interventions. Yet he lived life with gusto & was so servant-hearted. People honoring him speak to how he always reached out to them. He wasn’t a “church goer” yet prayed for loved ones & was the one who always kept checking on how you were. My thoughts of him today are that his “position” in life was more like the “Good Samaritan” and with that I believe God was pleased.
Oh, Sharon, I am so very sorry for your loss. Such a rich testimony—“lived with gusto and servant-hearted” while enduring health issues. And knowing he lived with an other focused heart, and prayed regularly—L O V I N G! So loving. I think you are right about God being pleased. Love you, dear one. May today’s celebration of his life meet and minister to you in a special way. Praying.
Humility in ever increasing measures…May it be, Lord. May it be!
Well done, friend.
Thanks, Mary. Encouraging one another—all the way Home. 💖