WHAT IF I GAVE IT ALL TO GOD?
Daphne Powell
Today’s Scripture: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11, ESVSV
Theme: Knowing God intimately will transform your life.
TALK TO GOD
When you have a problem, who do you call first? When you are having a great day, who do you want to tell first? God wants to have a relationship with us. Not just a “Ask me, ask me, ask me” relationship, but a relationship in which we tell Him the good and the bad. An intimate friendship where we spend quiet time not just reading the Bible or in prayer, but in conversation. In Genesis, God created man and woman and spoke to Adam and Eve. He walked with Enoch as a friend. He spoke face to face with Moses. From the beginning, He has shown that He wants to have a relationship with us.
What would your life look like if I you talked to God as much as your best friend? That would bring about transformation for sure. If we were talking to God about everything, do you think He would endorse the sin or heal the sin? Encourage or discourage our life choices? Help us to understand our talents or sit idle? Talking to God will change your Christian life.
OBEY GOD
When we wake up each morning, it’s not our intention to sin. I know I for one wake up wanting to obey, but the world gets in the way. We ignore the commandments; we don’t embrace the beatitudes; and we barely follow the Sabbath. The reason why we feel distant from God is not because of Him; it’s us. We shy away because of our sin; we feel embarrassed and unworthy. But He already knows.
When we obey, we grow closer to Him. What would your life look like if you obeyed God? Again, transformation for sure. If we are obeying God in everything we do, do you think He will lead us astray? Or challenge us to share our testimony? Help us to understand why it is important to plant seeds? Obeying God will change your Christian life.
LOVE OF GOD
When you look at your children, you don’t see their sin; you feel love. When you get a call, text, or hug from your child, you feel love. From the day you found out you were going to have a child, you started to have a love for them. We are the children of God. Every day, we should feel the warmth of the Lord, the delight He has when we talk to Him.
What would your life look like if I you truly felt worthy of the love of God? Transformation for sure. If we felt the love of God every day, do you think He would keep us in the dark or bright us light? Empower us to grow in our love for others? Help us to understand His love for us? Embracing the Love of God will change your Christian life.
Make It Personal: The other day, I was looking at my “to-do” list. It was full of work and tasks. No time for myself. No time for Him. Yet to get closer to Him, I must make time for Him. Being a Christian means that I intentionally follow Him. My unworthy feelings have gotten in the way of me truly embracing the relationship He wants with me. Think about that with me: the Lord wants a relationship with you and me, and we are not embracing it. I know this for sure, if we draw closer to Him, He will transform our lives.
Pray: Dear Lord, please understand that I want to grow closer to You. I know that You want what is best for me and that You want a relationship with me beyond Sunday. Help me abandon the guilt of sin and embrace the love You have for me. Draw me by Your Spirit. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Genesis 2:7-8, 16-18, 21-24, 3:8-11, 5:22-24; Deuteronomy 34:10; Matthew 22:36-38; 1 John 3:1
Weekly Memory Verse: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1, ESV