It's about you, Lord

Life can be like a roller coaster ride.  Some days are easy and some are difficult.  As we ride the crazy dips and curves of each day we have to make decisions on how we respond to circumstances that come our way.  For me, I typically face my difficulties with prayer.  I pray and cry out for God to take my challenges from me.  The other day I was praying and pleading with God to ease my pain and help me - fix it!  Look at my prayer.  What do you see wrong with it?  Here's what's wrong -my prayer was all about me.  Our prayers aren't for us - our prayers are to glorify God.  We think they are meant to be a "wish list".  When we begin to pray with our focus on our heavenly Father and not on our own woes, He will turn around all the things that are beating us down.  It is funny when we take the "me" out of our hearts, minds, and prayers, God does His greatest work.  Here is one of Paul's prayers found in the book of  Ephesians which focuses on glorifying God. "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." When we pray, it's about You Lord.

Each day I try to be faithful to my quiet time.  I open God's word and read.  Sometimes I read and it is like being next to a stream, with God's word pouring into my very soul.  "...delight is in the law of the Lord,  and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." Psalm 1:2-3  Unfortunately, I must admit sometimes I read and I feel like the leaf that is very dry and ready to wither away.  It is then I must press on.  For when I read, who is it suppose to be about.  Is it about me?  Should I be reading with the desire to climb the highest mountain because of my spiritual strength?  No, once again it isn't about me.  As I sit in the stillness and read, it is about Him.  My heavenly Father.  I sit and I read whether or not there is a stream flowing or the earth is dry - I read to bring glory to Him and to honor Him with my efforts.  When we read the Bible, it's about You Lord!.

My sweet husband told me the other day, he wants to finish his life strong.  When I think of doing this, I immediately think of serving.  I believe God calls us to not only strengthen ourselves spiritually, but to wake up and do something for His kingdom.  Life is short and we need to bring His love to a world that doesn't know Him!  It is hard to admit, but when I serve I like it when people recognize my service.  I want to make a great impact.  Do I look at how many people loved my blog?  Do I love the wonderful notes I get from those who it has touched?  Yes yes yes!  There I said it.  I once again make it about me.  However, when I serve it needs to be for my Savior - not me.  I want so desperately to be used by Him, but heaven help me when I am used to not take any credit.  When we serve, it's about You Lord!  Colossians 3:17  "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."