Majestic Monday - Swallowed Up With His Glory

 One of the books I am reading this year is a book of Puritan Devotional Readings. It is called Voices From the Past and was recommended by a good friend, Scott Long. I have only been reading it for a little over a week and I have so enjoyed it. 

When I read a book or devotional there are always phrases and words that strike me and I write them down or study them a little further. Today was no exception. 

Today I read a passage from Thomas Manton who lived between 1620 and 1677 and was best known for his skilled expository preaching. 

Until we get our hearts out of the world. how easily our hearts are carried away with the thoughts of earthly concerns. Until we can separate and purge our spirits, how we mingle our prayers with many ridiculous thoughts. The flesh introduces, and our carnal hearts insert and interlace our prayers with vain thoughts and earthly distractions. Then, when we come to offer incense to God with our censer, we might mingle sulphur with our incense. Therefore, we should always labour to get our hearts above the world into the presence of God, as if we were by him in heaven, and wholly swallowed up with his glory.

I was just struck by this phrase and just kept thinking about it. Do I let myself be swallowed up with God's glory? Do I spend enough time with Him to be swallowed up? 

Many times in the midst of praying or even just listening or studying Scripture I find my mind wandering to things that do not please God or things that would please God but I know are a distraction. That is when I know that I need to reevaluate some things in my life and purge some things. I ask myself what I have been spending my time on and what am I putting before my eyes. Do those pursuits draw me closer to God or distract me from being "swallowed up with his glory?"

He is worthy of all praise and glory!



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