SUNDAY REFLECTIONS

Are we a people willing to live for the pleasure of GOD? I often wonder what makes GOD smile upon us? We as parents smile when our own children get things right and when they are grateful, so I wonder if GOD smiles when we get things right too.

To live wisely is to place GOD first………in your heart, your soul and your mind. HE should be your priority over all, over family, over friends and over job or anything else you do. Placing HIM first is a sensible way to live.

I think GOD smiles when we read and study HIS word……..when we open our Bibles first thing in the morning rather than turning on the news. We are showing HIM that our first thoughts are for HIM and not the world around us.

I think GOD smiles when we live a life that is other-worldly. HE smiles when we keep our eyes on the prize, to desire to one day be with HIM in heaven and to seek HIM everyday of our lives because we love HIM that much and want to be with HIM in eternity. We know the here and now is temporary and that the eternal is our deepest desire.

GOD smiles when the Spirit takes over and shows through us as the fruits of the Spirit. Some we get right and others we don’t, but the Spirit never leaves us which gives us the hope that we have……..a hope to be HIS people and to become just like JESUS. The Spirit continues to grow within us a little bit every day…….GOD smiles when we thank HIM for these fruits developing in our characters.

GOD smiles when we come before HIM in any condition we are in! We don’t need to be all cleaned up as some would say, because all we need to do is open our hearts before HIM, knowing deep down that HE is our answer for all that is troubling us.

GOD smiles when we live for others and not for ourselves, showing sacrificial love toward all who cross our path. Our self-centeredness is chipped away to a GOD-centeredness and so we begin to think just like HIM.

Living for others pleases HIM because JESUS did just that and we are to follow after HIM and become more like HIM every day. JESUS said “follow me.” We need to find out what JESUS would do, then do it!

So today on this Sunday……..do whatever you do that is GOD-centered……..then be still and know HE is smiling down upon you because you placed HIM first!