princes

"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who do not save."

-psalm 146:3

i think this verse needs to be my theme for the next...lifetime? i don't know. might be good.

i was reading through psalm 146 yesterday morning in preparation for leading worship. even though this verse wasn't one i was planning to read, it struck me harder than any of the others. i've been feeling very down for the past two weeks or so. among other things, part of the reason was due to straight up confusion with my relationships with a few of my guy friends. i realized that over time i have let these men become princes in my life. you don't need romance for a relationship to become complicated; for someone to become more important to you than they should...

then mark was talking during yesterday's sermon that part of being a faithful follower of Christ is to put nothing (or no ONE) before Him. this isn't really a new message for me, but it's one that i need to hear again and again. i don't even realize it when it happens, but i so easily allow various thoughts (often about my "princes") to consume my thoughts as i attempt to "figure things out"...when in reality they're gradually becoming more important to me than my God.

needless to say -

my new year's resolution (as i start the new school year) is to not put my trust, my sense of worth and value, my self definition, or my heart in the hands of princes, or mortal men, who do not save. i am more important to my Father God than to any mortal prince. therefore, i think i'll give Him my whole heart.