Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, November 16, 2016

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“Even every one that is called by my name: For I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7).

So here’s the thing: not many people understand why they are here. Maybe you are one of them. Perhaps you cannot figure out why you keep moving from one bad relationship to another. Perhaps you cannot understand why every job you get is more like a dead end street. Perhaps you sail aimlessly through your days (and nights) trying to figure out why you’re unfulfilled. Could it be that you simply do not understand your calling? And when I speak of your calling, I am talking about the most basic sense of the word. No, I am not going to string together a bunch of fanciful phrases, speak loudly and passionately about your purpose, or tell you to touch three people and say…[you fill in the blank] to get you engaged and the sell you something overpriced. I need you to pull in closely and hear the whisper coming from the page. Are you ready? If you want to end the cycle of (un)fulfillment, aimless living, and having more questions about your life than answers, you must understand and embrace that you were created by God to bring Him glory. That’s it! The million dollar answer today is bringing God glory.

How does the sun glorify God? The sun warms the earth and plays an incredible role in plant growth (at the very least). How do natural fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables glorify God? They provide vital nutrition to all who consume them. How does the sky glorify Him? It provides a vast playground for all of God’s flying creatures, manifests the expanse of His creative power, and even displays the amazing covenantal rainbow following heavy rain that reminds us of God’s promises. All that I hastily mentioned, and more, consistently function within the realm of their calling and thus provide benefit to God’s created order.

In the same way unintelligent nature honor God by fulfilling their roles within the larger scheme, you, too, can honor God. How does a human being bring best bring glory to God? You do so by first making it a habit to ask God that question as many times as it comes to mind, every day. Ask God how you can serve Him. Ask Him what He wants you to do for others. Ask Him what His plans are for you every day. Submit your plans for His approval or rejection. Seek His guidance from the Bible. Ask Him to teach you to apply what you read to everything you do. Let the light of your deep connection to God shine from your life to the point that, those that see you cannot help but marvel at how good God is. Surrender your will to God, to the point that people will be amazed how much you are transformed from day-to-day. People will marvel at how well you do your daily tasks. They will marvel at the amount of sage advice you provide. If you remain submitted to God’s leading, people will marvel at how well you handle the trials you are called upon to endure.

If you want to be fulfilled, make it your daily focus and study to honor God in all you think, say, and do. Sound too simple? Give it a try. Let God pour His wisdom into your mind and be amazed at the clarity you will experience.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)