Monday, July 25, 2011

Living for God's Pleasure and Not Mine......

As I was doing my devotion last night, I ran across the verse Ecclesiastes 2:11.  "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."  This brought me to my knees.  Literally falling on my knees by my side of the bed, clasping my hands, and saying "Lord, I know you have great plans for me.  I want to do good for you.  I want to do all things for Your glory Lord but sometimes life just gets in the way."

How many times have we had that feeling that all we are doing on this Earth will be forgotten after we leave?  I would hope that the legacy of our children would be a testimony to how we lived and loved in our lives.  We work so hard to be good parents and make sure they have everything they need.  We want the best for them.  We want the best schooling for them, the best friends for them, the best of everything.  But in reality are we doing it for God's glory or our own?  I find that it is a fine line.  Yes, God gives us our children to raise but only for His glory.

Lately I have been starting to go back to school to get my master's degree in teaching.  It is something I have always wanted.  I know that when I have my master's, I will be better secure in my job when I do end up going back to work.  Prayerfully I consider this with my Lord and Savior and He has allowed me to start the process although slowly so it doesn't interfere with my Bible study time and the family that we are raising.  I know it will take a long time but I am hoping I am doing it all for His glory.  I don't want to do anything in my life that I know may not have the Lord's stamp of approval.  I know that He has a time for everything in my life and He knows when the best time is for me to accomplish those things.  He opens doors and windows and closes doors at the same time.  We just have to look to Him for discernment.  I feel that I am always looking for His discernment in things but do I really listen?

After all I am here for His pleasure, not mine.  I am here on Earth to live for Him and help Him in His work on Earth.  He wants testimonies all over our world and wants my little life to be a testimony to whomever I come in contact with throughout my life.  I love that He has everything in control.  I need to remember that when I set about doing tasks, no matter how small.  "He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."  Ecclesiastes 3:11

He loves us and is pleased with us when we live for Him.  One day we will be face to face with our Savior and I often wonder what that will be like.  I most likely will fall on my knees in front of Him.