...you should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. I Thess 2:12
Beloved,
What if before your feet hit the floor this morning, your only goal upon awakening is to please Him? I have prayed frequently in my Quiet in the morning for the Lord to let me bring Him glory. God's word states we bring Him glory when we bear much fruit and the world will know we belong to Him when the evidence of His love flows through us.
I question what this exactly means for me! I was not easy with it as it seemed to put the ball in my court; giving me authority to choose what I deem as something which will bring Him glory. My flesh can have great input at such a time and this too, bothers me. I have concluded, though my desire for His glory is good, there is a higher way. It is to live in such a way as to seek to please Him. This of course requires dying to self.
Hear me... I may think certain things would bring Him glory and be quite mistaken. But if we are focused on pleasing someone else, child or adult, they decide what is pleasing. So too, only our Lord Jesus can decide what pleases Him. Our hearts must humbly seek Him in His word to know what pleases Him. Whether or not it will bring Him glory is not in our power to determine. Glory spills out to His name only as He decides. Has He not chosen the foolish things in the world to confound the wise? Have you considered He may find the smallest, quietest act of love from our heart to be the sweetest offering we give, an act seen only by Him.
It is not a place where we are, or the work that we do or cannot do, that matters, it is something else. It is the fire within that burns and shines whatever be our circumstances. AC
To To please Him is to walk by faith, "not I, but Christ". (II Cor 5:7, Gal 2:20) I am cautioned not to ask repeatedly "Am I pleasing Him?" And not to get caught up in focusing on the 'I' but instead to focus on 'Christ'. I can obey Him even with sin in my heart and with a selfish attitude. Performing religious activities with a heart that seeks self-glory and recognition. But I will never 'please' Him in the flesh. He says "No flesh will glory in my Presence" (I Cor 1:29) Let us glory in the Cross.
Psalm 69:30-31
I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the LORD more than an ox. (sacrifice)
walk as children of Light... trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Eph 5:8 &10
Life itself springs out of the Cross of Christ wrought into the very being of believers. Unless believers are crucified people, there can be no true expression of the Church." T.A.S.
Let's give God sincere, extravagant, heart-felt praise with thankful hearts. Is there anything that would please Him more than creating the likeness of Christ in us and seeing us 'love' the unlovely and difficult people in our lives, by the power of His Spirit? My sisters, be willing to die and let love cost you.
God of my praise, You who lift me from the dung-hill of the flesh and pride. Forgive and cleanse me from my many offenses against You. Show me how to please You! I count myself dead to sin and alive to You for I am in Christ. Make me a blessing to others in amazing ways because is You living in resurrection power through me! How precious You are Lord. I pray so that my sisters and I will walk in a manner worthy of You Lord, to please You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. You are the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Thank You for the Cross and Christ's finished work on my behalf. Blessed be Your name now, today, and forever.
