On Glorifying God

Justin had a doctor's appointment in the Seattle area yesterday so we decided to drive down as a family and take the opportunity to stop in and see new baby Jordy. On the way home I was reclining in the passenger seat - not unusual for me as I sleep during pretty much any car ride that lasts longer than 15 minutes. About a half an hour from home though, I woke up and since both kids were also asleep I decided to use the quiet time to think and pray.

At the forefront of my mind lately are future babies - so of course I was praying about them. But as I was laying there I also started thinking about my life and what I'm doing in it. I started thinking about what the Lord would have me do now and what He may have me do in the future. As I lay there with my eyes closed all of these sorts of jumbled thoughts began to take form in my brain.

In 1998, before I met Justin, I dated another guy that I really cared for a lot. He was, and is, a really great guy. Musician, talented, intelligent, funny..... a dreamer. He always sticks out in my mind, though, when I think about the will of God. You see, he was someone who was always seeking after the will of God. Looking back, I think he thought that when he somehow, someday found this elusive 'will' that he would then be happy. And when he was finally somehow in God's will, that God would then be happy with him. The thing is, he never seemed to find God's will. He was always just sort of wandering around in life going from thing to thing waiting for God to post a billboard telling him he was doing the right thing - his constant searching paralyzing him from really doing anything.

So back to my own jumbled thoughts.... I was thinking about God's will in my own life and about my own worship and evaluating it all. Do I worship God enough? Am I in His will? Am I glorifying Him? Admittedly, I was also thinking of some people in my life that are struggling. They are out of God's will - they are either knowingly or unknowingly being disobedient to God's commands and are fumbling around in dark lives because of it. As I lay there, though, I concluded a few things. In order of process they are:

1. God wants us to be joyful and live a fulfilled life... and to have relationship with Him.

2. God gives us commands and guidelines to live by because He knows that when we live by them we will experience true joy and happiness. He doesn't give them to us to make our lives miserable.

3. Obedience to God gives us the ability to experience what we were created for - relationship with God.

4. Living in obedience and taking joy in the blessings that follow is worshipful to God.

5. When we worship God in this way we reflect who God is. Others see God in us and therefor, we glorify Him.

6. When we live obediently, experience joy, worship God and glorify Him - we are living in His will.

My mind was refocused again on the abundant life I have in the Lord. I am so thankful that I don't have to be on a life-long search for some heavenly billboard telling me exactly where I should live, what I should do or what will come next. I don't have to prepare elaborate plans for myself on how I might serve God more. I don't have to come up with more creative ways to worship God, making sure I am utilizing all my gifts and talents. I just need to walk in daily humble and worshipful obedience to Him. And as I do that, He will show me the rest. And as He shows me (not one moment before or after and not in my own forethought or strength), I will do it. I will have joy......and I will glorify Him.