But If Not

Last night, I had the privilege of attending and participating in a worship service where the Spirit of God was allowed to have His way.  The preacher came from Daniel 3:16-18:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

            His sermon title was from verse 18, “But If Not.”  The preacher reminded us that God is able to heal. He is able to deliver. He is able to bless us and work miracles. But if not…  Would we still praise Him? Would we still worship Him? Would we still serve Him? Like most present, I answered his questions with a hearty “YES!” After all, I have been there and done that and even wrote about it. Little did I know that God would give me an opportunity to prove myself so soon.

Without going into detail, I received a phone call from my doctor that should have made me nervous. It should have even scared me just a little bit.  It should have, but it didn’t.  God’s peace overwhelmed me even as the doctor was speaking. After hanging up the phone, I didn’t know what I felt, but it wasn’t fear. It was indescribable and overwhelming at the same time. It was an invitation to praise God, and praise Him I did.

As the man of God said on last night and Holy Spirit confirmed today, God is able to heal and work miracles. But if not, He is still worthy of my praise. God can set me free from all that troubles me. But if not, He is still worthy of my worship. God is able to do great and might things on my behalf. But if not, He is still worthy of my heart.

What God does or doesn't do does not determine His worthiness. Truth be told, my worthiness is also not determined by what I do or fail to do. God is god regardless of His works on my behalf, and I am His chosen and adored daughter - not because of what I do, but because of my acceptance of what Jesus did. As I took a moment and praised the true and living God, I was reminded that I’m an imperfect servant who is perfectly loved by a perfect God. That is what I shall focus on as I praise Abba Father and say, “I trust you.”

Pray with me: Precious Father, I come to you in that Name that is above every name to give you praise; to give you glory; to just worship and adore you. You are God and besides You, there is no other. There is no one to whom You can be compared – no one even comes close. I love you, God, just for being You. I thank you for all your gifts and blessings, but I thank you most for being God – my creator, savior, sustainer, protector, my Lord. You have allowed some things in my life that I would never have chosen for myself. But I know you’ve also blocked many things that I would have chosen that would be far worse than what I’m dealing with today. For that I also thank you. I know that you are with me and that you will never leave nor forsake me. Anything you bring me to, you have the power to bring me through. But if not, I will yet praise you. All the glory and honor belong to you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name – Amen.