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I do not want my life to ‘speak for itself’ for that would bring glory to me. Rather, let it ‘speak of God’ that it may draw unto Him all who stand witness.
—For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge. (Psalm 71:5-7 NIV)
What gives me hope is the fact that We have an unchanging God amidst our changing circumstances. This is why I can always stand on what He says.
—Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8
The excellent and godly man ends up in the service of kings simply because he has long resolved to serve not ordinary men but the King of kings.
—Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people. - Proverbs 22:29 (NLT)
The greatest command ever given was hinged NOT solely on action but on motivation. It didn’t say ‘OBEY God’ but rather ‘LOVE God’. He knows we can obey for many different reasons, but loving Him is the only motivation that leads to joyful and willing obedience.
—“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - from Mark 12
God’s grace amidst our deepest failures
Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child. 2 Samuel 12:24 NLT
David had just done what is detestable to God - the man of God, the worshiper king, the one after God’s heart. It was unthinkable that he of all people would do something more immoral and heinous than his subjects. And yet after all this, God uses the once adulterous relationship to bear the wisest king to walk the earth, the king who will make a glorious dwelling place for the Lord.
God can really turn our worst mistakes into the greatest of miracles because of his power and because of his grace. David’s deepest failure became the birthplace of God’s glorious work.
Lord, thank you for who you are. I praise you for who you are, for how good and mighty you are. Who can fathom your grace? Who can see the depths of your mercy? Who can measure the breadth of your might? I have hope because I know my God can use all things for his purpose and for his glory - not even my greatest sin and failure can hinder it. For you, my God, are greater still. What can separate me now? :,|
As I grew in my walk with Jesus, I moved from believing that God would use me greatly to acknowledging that I’m being used by a great God. The key difference is how my notion of greatness shifted from myself to Him.
—He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. - John 3:30 (NLT)
Lord, let my ability flow from my intimacy with you. What good is my ability if I don’t enjoy intimacy in your presence?
Our passion for God is not gauged by how spiritual we think we are. Rather, it is measured by how we respond to Him no matter what we feel.
God is like a lion, he need not be defended. Defending the gospel simply means clearing the smokescreen so people can see God for who He really is.
—but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy; always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. - 1 Peter 3:15
