Nothing Else

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In the last blog post, I put in writing that I will choose one song a week to start my day. The goal of this is to begin my day with focus on God. My chosen song of the week was "Nothing Else" (Songwriters: Cody Carnes/ Hank Bentley/ Jessie Parker Early). 

"I'm caught up in Your presence 
I just wanna sit here at Your feet 
I'm caught up in this holy moment 
I never wanna leave." 

We wake up, start our day with worship and a time of devotion. We feel like we have spent time in the presence of God and our hearts are feeling joyful until we make breakfast, spill our coffee on our carefully selected outfit and sprinkle Cajun seasoning on our toast instead of Cinnamon (almost happened, but luckily, I caught it in time - phew!). Our mood shifts quickly, and we no longer feel joy or that God is near to us. How can we get to a place in our lives where this desire to be caught up in the presence of God becomes a daily reality in our lives, and one that follows us throughout the day despite any circumstance that occurs?

"Oh, I'm not here for blessings
Jesus, You don't owe me anything
More than anything that You can do
I just want You"

I know in my heart of hearts that there is absolutely nothing greater that Jesus could have done for me than lay down His life and, yet I still feel like I deserve more. Selfishness is at the core of our sinful nature from which all other sins follow. How can I best look out for me? I should have a day where nothing unexpected comes up with work, no last minute "emergencies" occur. I should be given total health. I should be able to run as much as I want without putting in any training that I don't want to do in order to remain injury free. In reality, it is the mercy of God that kicks in that spares us from what we actually deserve. The wages of sin is death. God's sacrifice of His son, Jesus, spared us from hell, which is really just eternal separation from our Creator and allows us to have a relationship with him and life everlasting. All we have to do is believe and accept that gift. 

"I just want You
Nothing else, nothing else
Nothing else will do
I just want You
Nothing else, nothing else
Nothing else will do."

This is my prayer every morning, throughout every day. I want to learn to be consumed with the presence of God. That every decision flows from what He would have me do. Every action would come from a place of love for others because I am in tune with the heart of God. When asked "Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest.?" (Matthew 22:36 CSB), Jesus replies, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command" (Matthew 22:37-38 CSB). The words that come directly from Jesus are ones I want to make sure I am listening to and when He says this is the "most important command", I need to pay attention. 

God, consume me. Nothing else matters. 



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