God Pleaser

Christians are of various kinds.

Some believe in Christ, pray to Him and also to other saints whose faith allows them to follow any kind of doctrine.

Some pray to Him alone, yet carry on their life by their own knowledge.

Some pray to the Lord, read the word of God and live life without the word of God impacting their life in any way.

Some pray to Christ, do things in His name, preach the gospel, pray for others, quote bible verses and take only that part of God's word which pleases their minds (especially promises)

There are also rare kind of Christians who follow the Lord wholeheartedly like Caleb did (in the Bible), in whose life God's word is the foundation. That is why Jesus said...

John 8:47 (New American Standard Bible)

He who is of God hears the words of God...

These are the people who live life wholly by God's word. Be it promises or commandments, both are taken in the same way. They yield to God's discipline and correction with the same openness without compromise as with claiming God's promise.

May we become the kind of people whom God is pleased with, who takes His word wholly and not partially, who does not manipulate to take His word to shape our life...but allow His spirit to change our life to match His word.

Obedience

Whenever the Word of God asks us or exhorts us to do something, we need to just obey it. Delayed obedience is disobedience. The Word of God says, that obedience is better than sacrifice. Sometimes we may desire to do great things for God, such as fulfilling vows and sacrifices. But God is not pleased with sacrifices, but obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22 (New International Version)

But Samuel replied:

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

We may argue with God or even make justifications for not following His Word. All this is a mere waste of time and show an attitude of not surrendering to His way. It is better that we come to the issue straight and admit to Him that there is disobedience lurking in our hearts. And if we desire to please the Lord, we rather not take the Word of God lightly. But heed quickly and ask God the grace to do His will...

Convinced of His love

If you have wondered in your heart why you should follow the Bible? Why should you stick to Biblical principles in your life? Then perhaps you are one among those who believe that following God and His ways as written in His Word (the Bible) are hard.

People who want to live by God's Word by following God's commandments and applying bibilical principles in their lives, are the ones who fully realize the value of the blood shed by Jesus on the Cross for them. They are ones who are born-again by God's Spirit, who have set their heart to please God in every step and walk of life. Those folks are God's children who have experienced God's love, His forgiveness, His grace and blessings so much in their lives that they try live their best for Christ(through the grace of God).

That is why there are able to say like Apsostle Paul that the love of Christ compels them to live a life pleasing God.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

Are you someone who want to live for Christ by following God and His ways as written in His Word? If your heart is set to do thus, it is because of the love of Christ which compels you to do so...

Praise God for He helped us taste Him and His love for us because of which we are determined to do all that He wants us to. Amen.

Loyal?

Nobody can be like our Lord when it comes to faithfulness. Loyalty is one thing which is hard to find in this world. For all the love the Lord showers upon His creation, what is that one thing that He expects from us? The Word of God says,

2 Chron 16:9 (NKJV)
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Our Lord looks for loyalty from us. The question we need to ask ourselves is - Are we loyal to Him? Do we go to Him in prayer to seek Him, love Him better and know Him more?

May the Lord find us to be as faithful people, we who are called by His name.

Prayer:
"Lord help me be faithful to you and never let me pass a day without you...for in you I find my completeness."
Amen.

Dwelling our Minds

Have any of us ever been in a situation where we allow our minds (or thought process) to take off for a day? Nope. I don’t think that happens, except when we fall ill and when we are too tired to think. Most of the time when we are awake we are thinking. We think of the tasks that we do or need to do, things that happened or are going to happen, people, life, plans, problems, concerns, etc.

Our mind is full of thoughts. I have always wondered what kinds of thoughts are healthy and spiritual and will come under God’s approval. For our thoughts determine the way we feel, in making decisions, molding attitude and framing our perceptions.

King David prayed [in Ps 19:14 (NASB)]
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

What a prayer to imitate. I have made this my personal prayer too. But before I start meditating I need to be cautious about what my mind is dwelling on every single day. It may be day to day affairs or ordinary things; the things which I allow my mind to continuously dwell upon do matter.

When pondered this I found the answer in Philippians 4:8(NASB)
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

This scripture sounds like a simple exhortation but when looked at with pause and consideration it is quite powerful.

When taken lightly one can say, ‘I am thinking right or good.’ But considered again in the light of God one can know the truth. We can always realign our thoughts with the above scripture, especially with the thoughts we often dwell on…

When decisions cost...

As children of God, we know that we need to please the Lord by the way we are and the way we live. Even the Word of God encourages us that we need to find what is pleasing to the Lord.

Eph 5:10 (NIV)
and find out what pleases the Lord...

By simple reasoning we can say that the way to please God are by our speech or talks, our character, personality, attitude, thought process and the way we live by our daily choices and decision-making. The Word of God has a guideline for each aspect for our being and living, so that we can indeed reflect Him and please Him.

So let us focus on each issue of our life in the forth coming devotions so that we will together be able to find the ways to please God...

Proverbs 16:7, (NIV)
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

Oh! What a privilege to live that way. So let us decide to please Him no matter the cost...