Prayer is about the glory of our God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus made this statement: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13). The focus of our praying must be the glory of God and of Christ. Many believers treat prayer as if they were a child requesting things from Santa. Prayer means that God gives me whatever I want. For others, it’s a form of self-help. Prayer helps me feel better about my problems. This creates a lot of confusion. People wonder why God hasn’t “answered their prayers.”
Idolatry takes over my heart when my focus becomes my glory, my personal fulfillment, my desires, my comfort, deliverance from mt problems. When I worship Christ, everything else pales in comparison. When I desire the glory of God my focus changes; my prayer life changes. I long for and pray that his name would be exalted and honored in my life, in his church, and among the nations.
As we enter a new year, may our focus in prayer be upon Christ and his glory, rather than our own pleasures.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
Some of the most familiar words of the Christmas story are those the angels spoke to the shepherds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is well pleased. How do we define "glory?" Is it one of those words that we communicate often without a real sense of its true meaning? The New World Dictionary defines "glory" as "worshipful, adoration, praise, splendor, beauty" and "glorify" by the words "exalt and honor God." The Dictionary of New Testament Theology defines glory as "God’s power, honor, and majesty."
Scripture tells us that Christ is the glory of God (John 1:14), creation reveals the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and Christ would be glorified in his death (John 17:1). We are admonished in I Corinthians 10:31 to glorify God in our eating or drinking or whatever we do. God is glorified in his Son, in his creation, in the redemption of sinners, and in the activities of his children when they live out the normalcy of life with a focus upon him. To glorify God means that my life is God-centered, God-focused, and God-exalting. John Piper states it this way: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
God is glorified in his Son as well as in the death of his Son and the redemption of sinners. Nothing is more important than Christ being at the very center of our lives. Paul was so consumed with the glory of Christ that he said, "Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
Celebrate Christmas by making Christ the center of your life.
Scripture tells us that Christ is the glory of God (John 1:14), creation reveals the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and Christ would be glorified in his death (John 17:1). We are admonished in I Corinthians 10:31 to glorify God in our eating or drinking or whatever we do. God is glorified in his Son, in his creation, in the redemption of sinners, and in the activities of his children when they live out the normalcy of life with a focus upon him. To glorify God means that my life is God-centered, God-focused, and God-exalting. John Piper states it this way: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
God is glorified in his Son as well as in the death of his Son and the redemption of sinners. Nothing is more important than Christ being at the very center of our lives. Paul was so consumed with the glory of Christ that he said, "Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
Celebrate Christmas by making Christ the center of your life.
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