How to Exult in God
Most Christ-followers have learned some basic spiritual disciplines: time in the Word, prayer, and gathering with believers on the Lord’s day (Sunday). These alone have the tendency to become dry and stale with time. Nothing kills healthy habits faster than boredom. Have you, then, ever considered exulting in God as an intentional habit?
In Colossians 2:9 Paul starts his reasoning for WHY new Christ-followers should “walk in him” (vs. 6) while simultaneously being aware of “human tradition” (vs. 8). He starts his long sentence with the word “for”, meaning because. What follows until verse 15 could be best understood as an exultation in all that Christ is, all He has accomplished, and all He will do. It could have been an early Christian hymn. It certainly was a passage that Christians have been memorizing and exulting in for 2,000 years.
It is similar to the exultation called “The Song of the Redeemed” in Exodus 15 as God’s people reveled in His salvation from Egypt or in Revelation 5:9-10 as the twenty-four elders worshipped the Lamb who had been slain to redeem a people for God from every nation. Jubilant exultation is a natural overflow of praise when a people are made fully aware of their redemption. It is, in one sense, the whole reason that we are redeemed: to praise his glorious grace (Eph 1:12).
Exulting is a much neglected spiritual practice but one that will be central to our glorified condition at the return of Christ. Complaining about God is natural to us humans. It is also a great sin. But exulting is natural only to our new man. We desire it but it takes practice.
This week I am challenging myself and all at Christ Community Church to practice exulting in God as a “gospel habit”. Here is the idea:
Set aside however much time you think you can handle (start with 5 minutes if you feel inexperienced) and do nothing but exult in God.
Find a place where you can do it alone. Maybe while driving or maybe early in the morning. Perhaps you need to write it down to help you stay focused. Maybe instrumental music in the background would help. Close your eyes or look to the sky. At any rate, lift a hand or two and lift your heart up to God in focused adoration for a determined period of time.
Structure for Exultation:
Start with rehearsing all who Christ is as Paul did in verse 9. Colossians 1:15-20 is a great place to get material.
Continue by exulting in all He has done for you focusing particular attention on his incarnation, His work on the cross, His resurrection, and your own salvation in Him as Paul did in vs. 10-14. Colossians 1:21-23 is also good material if you lack ideas.
Conclude by exulting in the cosmic work of Christ on a universal and eternal level: his victory over death and hell, over Satan and all evil, over all sin and its effects. Exult in his return in glory to reign over creation. You are zooming out now from the here and now to the everywhere and forever.
Benefits of Exultation:
When you have done this once, twice, three times, perhaps, let me know in the comments below how this ministered to your soul. It is amazing to me how good it is for me to forget about myself and my problems and lose myself in worship, private exultation of Him.
How did it affect your day or your week?
How did the Lord meet you and encourage you?