- Journal about your thought patterns. Have you recognized anything yet that you have never noticed in your mind before?
- Pray. Tell your Father that you want everything in your life to be for His glory, not your own.
This week has been kind of just-scratching-the-surface talk about our thoughts. You may not feel like it’s been that way. God may be already working on some set-in-concrete patterns in your mind. But next week, we will begin talking through some difficult stuff. We are going to start digging deeper into specific patterns and strongholds that overtake us. In preparation for the rest of the study, we need to first talk about our motives.
Over the past several weeks, our pastor has been leading us through an incredible series. It’s called Extraordinary. And it’s all about seeking God’s glory… not our own. The only way to live an extraordinary life is to live with the sole motive of bringing Him glory.
Read this from John 7:14-18:
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
What. Would. Jesus. Do.
Even Jesus (who was in actuality God) gave the glory to His Father. In reading this passage, we see that nothing we do or say should be from our own authority. The only authority from which we should speak or act is God’s authority. Everything we do and say should be about bringing Him glory. Not ourselves.
So how are you doing on this one? It’s tough. So many things we want in this life. The world tugs at us every single day. Buy this. Do that. This will make you feel good. That will make your life easier. This fruit will make you like God. Yep, all the way back.
We instinctively seek our own glory. The only way to change our inner motives is to ask God to transform our thoughts (the deep stuff). And that’s what we must do. In order to change the rest of the issues in our thinking patterns, we’ve got to get this one right first.
So, what I am asking of all of us today… and for the rest of the study… is to commit to making everything about bringing God glory.
- Taking care of our families… for His glory;
- Going to work… for His glory;
- Focusing on our thoughts… for His glory;
- Seeing this study through to completion… no matter how hard it gets… for His glory.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Love this song by Starfield. We sang it Sunday (the last day of the Extraordinary series). Very simple lyrics. Sing it to your Creator as a prayer to Him. A commitment to make it all for Him.
To Make You Think:
- In general, would you say that your motives are more about bringing God glory or bringing yourself glory?
- What specific area(s) in your life have you not given up control over… that are still there because you desire to have the glory?
- Are you willing to commit to doing whatever it takes for the rest of this study to bring God glory?
- Really spend some time thinking and praying through the “To Make You Think” questions.
- Commit here and now to seek to bring God glory in all of your thoughts, words, and actions.
- Before you go to sleep, ask God to change your inner motives. Ask Him to remind you to stop when your thoughts drift toward bringing yourself glory. He must increase, but I must decrease. – John 3:30
Continuing on… 31 Days :: Day 8 – Reflection
Paula – this is a great series…I'm loving it! To help me stay accountable in my thought life and my actions
Karen, thank you so much!! All I can say is that it is DEFINITELY all God! 🙂 When we actually get to have that skype coffee date, I\’ll tell you more about it. 🙂
Sometime we don't want to admit to ourselves that we're not focused on Christ the way we should be. Secretly, until we 'give over' to the Lord, we all seek glory._The challenge is on to dig deep into your/my walk and cast aside the old man (woman). Satan will try to discourage, shooting arrows in every direction. _Hold fast! Stand firm! Our faith is in the LORD!_
Awesome! Thanks for the thoughts, Jenn!!
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