For God’s glory (CASM 42)

When we say I’m doing this or that for God’s glory or God to be glorified, we have a preconceived idea of what that means or looks like. It could be for an individual or group to come into a personal or deeper relationship with Jesus. Maybe it’s a goal, dream, or desire to come to fruition. It can be tangible or intangible. Generally speaking, we expect that it will prosper and hopefully quickly. What if it doesn’t?

Is it still for God’s glory

If you don’t get that job or promotion, is it still for God’s glory? Haven’t gotten that breakthrough in a relationship, is it still for God’s glory? An unfulfilled goal or desire, is it still for God’s glory? When you give it your all and come up short, is it still for God’s glory? When life takes a different turn and you come upon challenges, are you still praising His name as you did in those instances of no challenges?

If you faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10 KJV

Emotions and feelings are the culprits that cause us to waver in giving God His due glory. We look to them for guidance. Guess what they tell us? You’re not good enough. You’ll never make it. It’s too hard. You should’ve never put yourself out there. We open ourselves up to spiritual attacks and question God’s love and plan for us. YES, it’s still for God’s glory. Stop forgetting we serve the risen Savior who conquered death. The grave couldn’t hold Him from accomplishing His will. He has great plans for us beyond what our finite minds can dream up. Those amazing people in the Bible that responded to God in faith had the same concerns, feelings, and thoughts that we have and they trusted the sovereign God anyway. The breakthrough for me was not praying for the circumstance, but for me to no longer hinder my obedience.

Accepting God’s glory

When God changes our plans it’s not to punish but to protect, position, and promote. Sometimes it seems that we are going backward. God is timing it just right to move something or someone out to move you in. It can be to check our maturity level. Unfortunately, sometimes we genuinely are not spiritually, mentally, and physically ready.

How God determines His glory is truly for our good and it can mean major changes to our end goal. If we get out of our feelings and look over our life, we would thank God for not giving us some of the things we thought we wanted. We would glorify Him for answered prayer and blessings beyond what we wanted. Let us choose to glorify Him by accepting the changes to our plans because He rewards those that diligently seek Him by faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6 KJV

Impactful prayers

When the Holy Spirit revealed to me that my prayers were basic and surface it caused me to do business in the deep with Jesus. I realized that even if the Lord had given me everything I prayed for, I would still find something to complain about. I was the problem. My attitude, thoughts, perspective, needing to be in control were keeping me from glorifying the Lord. Throwing myself at the feet of Jesus through my tears, admitting that I can’t do it and I don’t have any control. I will continue to willfully sin and rebel against you. I have a horrible outlook on life. Hurt and pain are driving my decisions. I’m selfish and look out for myself. That impactful prayer broke through the bondage and that’s when I started living and not merely existing.

Impactful prayers show that we trust God. It doesn’t mean that we have it all together or that we may not be scared. What it means is that we are willing to do and take the next righteous step for the Lord. It means we are done living below what Jesus expects for us. No longer doing what we think and reaping the same lackluster results. Impactful prayers bring freedom and peace within the chaos. Impactful prayers produce new vision, movement, and purpose. I desire for your prayer life to explode with great power because you have chosen to do business with God in the deep.

In conclusion

Let’s not focus on the could’ve, should’ve, or would haves of life. God can turn all of it into something amazing if we choose to look for it. I know life can be challenging, but if that’s all we see, life will continue to be an uphill battle. It is a conscious choice to see God and glorify Him in all of life’s twists and turns. I’m looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me, and I hope you are as well.

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