Nothing in this life can compare to the fullness of walking in the actual Presence of Christ. The Lord is jealous for us to come to the point where there is nothing we relish more than HIM, for there is nothing He relishes more than us: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us.” (Ja. 4:5) The prize that awaits those who count all things but loss for the sake of living before Christ’s face with unadulterated resolve is HIM. Not just a theoretical, theologized Jesus, but THE actual Spirit of Jesus ALIVE and DWELLING in us. His actual life flowing through us like an unhindered surge of peace, contentment, joy, love. That is abundant life, and that is our high calling as Christians: Him in us without reserve and us in Him without reserve.
That is our coram Deo resolve.
God, I am in a pit of dung. This pit gives me (comfort, pride, pleasure, security, escape, __________). I am helpless to the point that I can’t even stop desiring some of the things that keep me in this pit, and I’m sorry. Give me a strong loathing for anything that separates me from Your Presence. I hand it all over to You. Burn it all away. Drive every evil thing from my midst. Help me to continually surrender these by placing them before Your face each time they rear their ugly heads. Remind me to come to You without condemnation knowing that You are my Forgiver and Deliverer 7 x 70 times a day. Remind me not to look inside myself or into the world or to religious works for refinement, but always to You. Oh Lord, “Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink…” (Ps. 69:14) Lord, I desire to live in Your Presence—coram Deo—at all costs.
Adapted from the Coram Deo Secret
http://www.marisarickerson.com/coram-deo.html
That is our coram Deo resolve.
God, I am in a pit of dung. This pit gives me (comfort, pride, pleasure, security, escape, __________). I am helpless to the point that I can’t even stop desiring some of the things that keep me in this pit, and I’m sorry. Give me a strong loathing for anything that separates me from Your Presence. I hand it all over to You. Burn it all away. Drive every evil thing from my midst. Help me to continually surrender these by placing them before Your face each time they rear their ugly heads. Remind me to come to You without condemnation knowing that You are my Forgiver and Deliverer 7 x 70 times a day. Remind me not to look inside myself or into the world or to religious works for refinement, but always to You. Oh Lord, “Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink…” (Ps. 69:14) Lord, I desire to live in Your Presence—coram Deo—at all costs.
Adapted from the Coram Deo Secret
http://www.marisarickerson.com/coram-deo.html