Who's Your Audience?

Confession time - I just got off the phone with someone who handles customer service.  I was soft spoken and calm, but the words I said were not nice.  The only person who knows just how ugly I acted is the poor individual who had to deal with me on the other line.  Unfortunately for me, there is someone else who was watching and listening to every word I said, my audience of One - My Lord, who sees my actions, hears my words, and knows all my thoughts.  Psalm 139: 1-3 "You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

Oh God help us to recognize how to live our lives more pleasing to you.  Are we always aware of the presence of our Holy God?  Do we know He is listening, He is watching and He is praying we will chose to live our lives pleasing to Him?  When do we slip in a coma and forget God is present?  Is it when we are at our work place?  Is it when we are aggravated with our husband or children?  Is it when we are in public places and become annoyed with others?  What triggers us?  If we are alone - He sees our thoughts. Jeremiah 23:24 "Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them declares the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth declares the LORD."   If we are with others and not honoring Him - He sees our ways.  Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  If we are with a trusted friend, and gossiping - He hears our words. Psalm 139:4 "Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely."  Friend, if you are swimming in sin be reminded God is right there with you.  What a wake up!  He is always in the audience! 

God can also see past all our outward pretences!  1 Samuel 16:7 "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  Proverbs 17:3  "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart."  He knows us completely.  We must begin each day with a reminder of Who our audience is!  If we seek to please others we will always be miserable.  We must seek to please Him.  Proverbs 16:7 "When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."  Who are you striving to please?  Where do you hunger for acceptance?  Be mindful others may judge you, but as long as you are receiving a standing ovation from your Heavenly Father and a host of angels, the others do not matter.  Let me say that again, THEY DO NOT MATTER!  We must please the Father, our only audience and as the story of our lives unfold we will see His beautiful hand in all we do and then prepare our hearts for the ultimate "happily ever after".  2 Timothy 4:8 "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  Revelations 22: 12-13 "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."