Purposing to please God

Sometimes I get so consumed with little things that just don’t matter much at all in the big scheme of things. Meanwhile God is busy keeping the universe in perfect balance just so I can live here. That’s an amazing thing to consider, isn’t it? Even the little things God does are too big for me to really comprehend.

One of the things I realize in my own life is how much, like it or not, I actually end up living for the applause of men. I think this particularly true for men because we’re wired to be competitive, and most of us are groomed in some way — by family, culture, or both — to have an intense desire to be liked . . . to fit in . . . to belong.

I am more convinced than ever that I need to be focusing my life on being holy and pleasing to God — in the very way I live. That includes my relationships, my actions, and even my thoughts. I have a long way to go, but at least I’m on the journey.

Are you going through life like you’re on a treadmill, running here and there, jumping through hoops and trying to please people? If so, it’s time to stop the madness. Nothing you ever do will be good enough. Accept that as a fact, and move on down the road. People will always disappoint you at some juncture; you will always disappoint them at some juncture too. That’s just the way it is.

God is the one who we should strive to please. It is He who made us. We belong to Him.

As you go through this week, my prayer is that you will be constantly amazed by the little things that show how much He loves you. Sure, you may feel frustrated sometimes when things don’t go your way. You may even feel disappointed that God doesn’t always answer your prayers in the way you’d like.

But remember this: He is the one who loves you with a love that won’t let go. If you are seeking His purposes, He will reveal Himself to you. And in the midst of that revelation, you will get a sense of His presence and peace that compels you all the more to live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received.

Commit to make this week a series of seven days in which you are focused on pleasing Him. The applause of men is temporary; the applause of Heaven is eternal.

Now, which would you rather have?

Have something to say? Your comments are always welcome.