40 Days to a Meaningful Life - Day 7

Planned for God’s Pleasure ~

God takes great pleasure in you. He smiled at your conception and rejoiced when at your birth. He chose you before you even chose Him. How awesome is that?

Rick Warren says we exist for His benefit, His glory, His purpose and His delight. (Warren, 2002) We actually bring pleasure to God. His delight is in us. When you feel insignificant or unwanted remember how the God of this universe feels about you. There will be little room for feelings of insignificance. You are important to God! If you believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted Him into your life, you are a child of the most high King. What heritage could be better than that? Ephesians 1:4 & 5 says He chose us before the foundations of the earth and we have been predestined as His children according to His good pleasure. He thought of you before the earth began, adopted you into his family line and all because it makes Him happy. WOW! Who else on this earth loves you that much?

God feels pleasure and gave us this very gift as well. He wants you to enjoy life, not only endure it. (Warren, 2002) You were made in God’s image and therefore are able to experience pleasure and pain. God wills for us to live a full life full of pleasure, remember He gives us a hope and a future?

Worshiping is one way we bring pleasure to God. And the way we worship comes in many forms. Worship is a connection we have with God. It is how we live our lives, begin our days and place God in our hearts. We can worship God in what we say, do or think. God created mankind with the need to worship Him. Whether we listen to the still, small voice telling us the emptiness we feel needs to be filled by God and Him alone, is another thing. Finding substitutes for God comes quite naturally for us. We fill the spot where God should reside with ourselves and selfish desires, busy-ness that prevents us from truly entering in to His promises, and entertainment He Himself should not be subjected to but is since He lives in us if we are born again. Worship is truly a lifestyle so well put by Rick Warren himself.

Often we use music is a way to worship God. Styles of music are often scrutinized because of false beliefs that have been put on specific music styles. God designed them all so who are we to pin one style over another as being form God or not. Quite literally God created all music. Hymns, praise and worship, rock and contemporary music all have their place If music is offered in truth and in Spirit God is well pleased with this type of worship. He words are make a music scared or not, not the style. The type of music we listen to is usually a direct reflection of our own style or personality. Sometimes it represents our mood or an event that took place. Worship through music can be truly heartfelt and endearing.

Worship is not for our benefit as Rick Warrens says. When we worship, God is pleased and it brings Him great pleasure beyond what we could even imagine. Worship is for God and should always be to God. If you worship for any other reason, it is not worship done in spirit and in truth as stated in the Bible. Isaiah 29 describes worship that is half-hearted and hypocritical. When worshiping though music, you need to be aware of a few things. Listen to the words to the song and ponder their meaning.

Worship, being a part of our lives, brings God glory from sunset to sunset. Psalms 13:3 speaks of the Sunday school song many of you will be familiar with. “From the rising of the sun to the going down, the Lord’s name is to praised.” Worship/praise should be continually be in our mouths. This should be the first ting do do when your eyes open for more than two minutes should be to praise and worship God. Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God. (Bible, 2008) Even working is to be done unto God. Be truthful and honest at your work place and remember where you are or where you are going, do everything as if you were working for God Himself. Be thoughtful of God’s ways and heart. God says he takes pleasure in His people in Psalm 149:4. What a blessed message to receive and a lifestyle to live.