Glorifying God

That phrase, "glorify God" gets thrown around by us Christians alot, don't you think? But what does it really mean? Is it truly our focus? Do we really desire to glorify God? Do we know why we should?
Someone just recently asked these questions to me. I have grown up hearing them. So, it has just been given for me to glorify God.
As I have been pondering my friend's questions I have come to realize that my first response to her was a very fine prepackaged Christian answer. First, I said that glorifying God means to worship Him. Second, I should glorify God because that was what I was created for. And third, Yes, I want to glorify God...I think...I have never stopped to think about it.
Giving it more thought I am realizing that glorifying God is not just a Sunday Morning worship thing we do...it's a focus in life...it's the driving purpose behind everything I do in life. It is God's driving purpose behind the creation of the world, the trials He gives me, the work on the cross, the relationship He seeks to have with mankind, and everything else.
Glorifying God is lifting Him up, pointing others to Him. Not just worshipping Him, but actually pointing others to Him. So this makes me think a little more about what I wear, where I go, what I eat and drink, what I say...do all these things I do in life point others to him or myself or to something else? Am I being a light in the dark places?
Yes, I was created to glorify God...I am His workmanship, created to do good works. God is also very much worthy of our glorifying Him. But another significant reason I am to glorify God is becaues I am not my own...I have been bought by Him to do with me what ever he chooses to do. I was bought with a very high price. How can I the purchased, turn to the purchaser and question what He wants to use me for?
Now, do I desire to glorify God? After considering this question I was posed I would have to say, "yeah". I do. Somedays I don't understand this desire in me...it is drives me to do what is right in the most difficult situations and when I don't do what is right, boy, do I know it. I can feel it within my spirit that I have not glorified God. I also think, because the Holy Spirit resides in me, I am effected by His passions and desires...perhaps actually it is His desires that I can feel deep within me to urge me to do what is right. But yes, I can honestly say, I do want to glorify God. It has given me such purpose in life. And I have peace with the Creator, knowing that I am living out the purpose I was created for--not going against His ideal for me. If I were to live in such way that doesn't glorify God, I suppose that would be rebelling against God. Hmmmm...that makes me think of Romans 1. People who rebell against God's original design--reprobate mind.
Don't want to be there.

Di

Is your back door closed?

Interesting and challenging question posed this weekend at a very good Horse show called, "Sermon on the Mount".
Is your back door closed? Meaning, are you totally committed to following the Lord? Or do you leave that back door open just in case you want out?
Are you fully committed to God and sticking it out with Him? Or will someday you walk away from Him?
Better close that door today! If you leave it open the temptation to walk away will always be there. It's like keeping the opportunity to turn away from God as an option in your life.

Close the door and throw away the key. And don't look back.

Tomorrow

If I am so focused on what I want for tomorrow, then I will miss out on the blessings I have today.

Grace that teaches

This word, "GRACE" keeps coming up in my life. I think there is something beyond what i have already learned that God wants me to get. This week in my study of Titus it came up again. I have read this verse over and over again. Actually I memorized it in AWANA when I was very young...but for the first time the other day it jumped off the page into my heart! Ever had that happen?!
Anyway, I was asking scripture, "How does grace teach me to say "no" to ungodliness? I am still thinking on this. I kind of think maybe it has to do with His grace motivating me and working in me and through me. But I am thinking I am missing something still.
Would appreciate your input.
Di

Why do I have to always go first?!

For me, sometimes, I get upset when I have to be the one to confess first in a conflict, either with my husband or someone else. I know that this actually God's refining of my character...I am sure there is pride He is trying to cut away and replace with humility. I was reminded of I Peter 5:5 today. It says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Pride is probably the root sin for all other sin we show outwardly. Pride keeps us from hearing another person. It keeps us from being teachable and reasonable. Prides stands in the way of submitting to others opinions and preferences. It's what is at the heart of thoughts like, "I know better how to handle this." It's also the root reason we work harder at being understood rather than trying to understand.
I have been thinking about this today and wondering what changes would need to be made in my life if I were to put on humility. First, I think I would be willing to say about a challenge I am having with my child, "I think I will wait until I talk to Paul about this. His thoughts and understanding are at least as important as mine, if not more." I would find myself working alongside my husband as a teamplayer, rather than opponent. I wouldn't throw accusations at him...or believing it is his fault when something goes wrong with one of our children. I wouldn't stand in the way of his leadership at home. Instead I would work to protect it, support it, and encourage it...not resist it. (Whether I believe he is handling something perfectly or not).
But the number one thing that stood out to me was, I would be graciously and willingly confess my sins to him--first.
In light of I Peter 5:5, the sooner I humble myself, the sooner I experience God's renewed grace. The sooner I run to the foot of the cross, the sooner the gospel is shown in my life. If I will confess then I will no longer have to worry about my own reputation anymore...or defending myself. Instead I will be flooded with God's mercy.
I was challenged today in a book I am reading with this, "Am I running the gospel race? Or playing the blame game?"

Di

Only One thing--Really?!

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his holy temple." (v.4)

Borrowing a little from a devotional I read today. This verse just really stood out to me.
This verse convicts me here...David says that he desires only one thing. To dwell with the Lord all His days. I don't know if I can say that. Some days I think I can, then other days...well, life gets BIG to me...and I have tons of requests of the Lord. Now this verse isn't saying we shouldn't make requests, that's not the point of this verse. The point is to illustrate, that David's one real true desire is to dwell with the Lord...that that is enough for Him. If God doesn't provide anything else...dwelling with Him is enough and it is the one thing that is needed. Reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha, when Jesus says, "Mary has chosen the one needed thing."

So, the question that I hear in this verse is, "Do I truly believe God is all I need?"

Quote of the day

"Oh! Who is a God like unto him, that forgiveth iniquity, and casteth the sins of his people into the depths of the sea? I shall not always live thus, the land to which we are going is far different to this wilderness through which he is now leading us. Then we shall see his face, and never, never, sin."
~John Newton