Living for God

I can’t do it; they’re going to talk about me! 

LIVING FOR GOD

That desire for God that arouses every day, but constantly you ignore it. That conviction of sin, knowing that what you’re doing is not leading you into the right direction, but you do it anyway. The urge to start going back to Church, but laziness takes over on a Sunday morning. The thoughts about getting serious about starting a prayer life and getting to know God’s word, but it seems a bit embarrassing because everyone around you is going to laugh it off with confusion at your attempt to change. Is this you? Or has this ever been you?

We’ve all been in a place of discouragement about living for God properly, whether that’s when we first took our walk with Christ seriously, or whether you haven’t properly accepted Christ into your heart yet. We have difficulty in the body of Christ remembering WHO we are living for, because of the amount of temptation we allow ourselves to get dragged into which leads us astray from what God instructs us to do in His word. {But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  1 Corinthians 10:13}

We often hear the terms ‘God fearing’ man/woman, and I’ve had a lot of people ask about this in confusion of thinking this means we should be scared to talk to God as our Father. This is so far from it! Fearing God (for me) means that we make the conscious decision to pursue God in holiness and stop pursuing the sin that Jesus delivered us from. {Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. Galatians 1:4} ‘God fearing’ comes forth from a heart that is focused on keeping God’s commandments and not using the excuse of ‘grace’ to continue to blatantly disobey what God has told us to do through His perfect word because we are aware of the judgement that only He as the almighty can execute.

When the fear of God is installed in you, you are constantly thinking about the fact that JESUS IS COMING BACK and that there is no time to waste, living in our flesh rather than being led by the HOLY SPIRIT! He is your biggest push of guidance when you’re stuck in a situation where you are trying to live for God – constantly check what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. Jesus left that gift for you for a reason ; to protect you from the things of this world, and to help you make wise decisions which will ensure you are constantly in alignment with God’s will. {But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26}

Jesus Himself directly teaches when on a mountain about ignoring the hatefulness that will surround you when you choose to give your life to Christ. ‘God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things about you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.’ {Matthew 5: 11- 12} Jesus reminds us of the reward that is coming for choosing to live for HIM, to follow HIM, and to sacrifice what we’re used to for HIM. He says to be happy, joyful and glad for we know that this life is only temporary and that we live to represent the Kingdom of God. God rewards you for blocking out the opinion of others and focusing on what He has called you to do in order to serve Him fully and give glory to His name. This is mentioned again in Luke where Jesus warns us – ‘You will be hated by everyone because of my name.’ Jesus knew people were going to talk about you, gossip about how you’ve changed and how you think you’re now better than them.

With pursuing Christ comes CHANGE. A renewed spirit and a new creation are made. {Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17} Don’t be surprised when people have something to say about you and the way you decide to change your lifestyle, because Jesus reminded us already to keep our hearts and minds set on the coming of His Kingdom, not on the opinion of man.

Stay encouraged in knowledge that this life of chasing God is going to be worth it. When you choose God over this world, He promises to protect, refine and keep you.

 I’ve always kept this one thing very close to my heart – one day I’m going to stand before God and not man. God is going to open the ‘book of life’ and ask me about each thing I did or didn’t do. NEVER do I want to be stuttering before God because I know in my heart that I was distracted by this world or the fear of living for Him boldly overwhelmed me. I want to come before Him in reverence knowing that I can say ‘God I wasn’t perfect, but I done my best to live FOR YOU and to share the good news about your Son through my lifestyle’. Who are you living to please? God or humans?

A prayer to help!

Heavenly Father,

I come before you knowing that a lot of the time I don’t allow you to be the leader of my life, and this causes me to fall into sin. But I know that you sent your perfect Son Jesus to save me from the evil of this world, and that I can now rest in your good plan for my life. Lord, help me to step out in boldness and to have the courage to change things about my life that are not pleasing to you, and to take up my cross and truly live for Christ. I know that in doing this, you will reveal my purpose in serving your Kingdom, and you will hold my hand in each step of living for you. I pray for the strength to endure this walk knowing that you uphold me and protect me from the hate of those who do not understand your love yet. Father, thank you for your love and for being my constant source of strength and knowledge.  Help me to be aware of the second coming of your Son. Ensure that I am awake and alert in pursuing a life of holiness so that I am ready for when He comes back.

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.