100%, 100% of the Time

I often pray specifically for God to use my words and deeds to glorify Him. Doing so reminds me that I have an opportunity to either glorify God or myself at any given moment. These are mutually exclusive decisions. I can’t bring glory to myself and God at the same time (Matthew 6:24). I have to make a decision. When my car breaks down on the freeway, when my school loan bill comes in the mail, when I find out that a friend has died, when I spill coffee on my brand new white Vans; in all of life decisions, no matter how big or small, I have an opportunity to glorify God in how I respond.

How do I do that? By realizing and remembering that God is always at work (Philippians 1:6). God never promised to make our lives easy, but rather to always be with us (Psalm 46) and answer us when we call (1 John 5:14-15). God has made us for a purpose; a purpose that extends far beyond just living. We are His instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:12-13) and ambassadors on the earth (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). For those of us who are in Christ, we have the amazing privilege and opportunity to be used by God (Philippians 2:13). He doesn’t need us, but chooses to use us.

For many of us, including myself, that’s easy to remember in a general sense, but we stop there. Generality becomes our means of justifying selfish living (living for anything other than God is ultimately selfish). I’ve found myself being okay with saying the dumbest things just because I think that I’m generally good. Overall, my life glorifies God so a few demeaning comments here and there don’t hurt. Wrong! The Bible doesn’t say in “most” things glorify God but rather in EVERYTHING (Colossians 3:17). 

I’m learning that the little things matter to God just as much as the big ones. I have to see every aspect of my life as being important to Him and I need His help in order to do that. I need to continually ask God to give me the eyes to see what He sees in me, others and the world. Only He has the power to awaken my spirit to His plans and purposes (Ephesians 5:8-16).

I love the song Awakening. The chorus is a beautiful prayer that really connects with me as I ask God to use everything in my life for His glory. It sings:

For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

May that be our prayer today, this weekend and forevermore.
God use me, every part of me, for your glory forever and ever amen.