Do your everyday actions and attitudes glorify God? We are repeatedly reminded throughout scripture to glorify God in ALL that we do. Our blessings are gifts from our heavenly Father and not due to our own striving and they should glorify him. It should be our primary objective in prayer that God would be glorified throughout our latest challenges and of those around us. No matter the outcome of our suffering the focus should be that God’s glory would be shone through. Perhaps this is visible through our peace during a difficult trial or an incredible resolution or healing, but regardless that God would be glorified. I think often about how I endure trials and whether I am throwing a temper tantrum that does not glorify God. This has been my story under severe trials of the past and I don’t want to relive that spiritual immaturity; I want to show my trust and strength in God no matter my worldly circumstances.

Galatians 1:5 To God be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Many years ago when I was trying to recover from divorce and piece my life back together I was not emotionally in a healthy space. I was weak and I didn’t feel like I was capable of handling the trauma that I needed to overcome. God gave me a picture during that time of a path through the sky that showed me if I simply kept my eyes on him that I would be kept safe. It was easy to stay focused and look straight ahead at Jesus, heaven and the beautiful blue sky. The peace of remaining in this space was more than enough to encourage me to comply. Only then did I realize that every enemy or irritation I had in the world was shooting arrows at me from afar; they were coming from every side and every direction, but I had been utterly unaffected by their attack. The arrows were simply bouncing off of me and I hadn’t even noticed the battle waging against me because I was so focused on God. It has been many years since this picture entered my mind, but it sticks with me because it was just so obvious where my priorities need to be…then and now…securely fixated on my Lord. If we keep our eyes on God, the battles raging around us are diluted in their severity. We can trust that God has a purpose in our sufferings and glorify him through the entire circumstance. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Let us glorify God through our challenges so that God gets our utmost gratitude whether we are blessed or burdened. Our love for our Lord cannot be circumstantial it has to be true no matter our environment. Let us be a beacon of light for those that don’t know God. What a great testimony that someone’s longing and curiosity for a personal Savior was sparked through our peace in the eye of our storm. To God be the Glory….lest we forget.

This post was partially inspired by my church’s sermon last Sunday at Cedar Springs Community Church. Click here to listen to the full “Living for the Glory of the King” sermon.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.