After a long time like 6 or 7 years I think I am finally getting a handle on what our approach to God should be! What as christians should our motivation and focus be in our relationship with the lord.

Most of the christians that I have ever known personaly are using God to serve themselvs in some way or another! God wants me to live a good life, or be successful. Heaven forbid if they go through any tough times, they then wonder has God forgotten me? Is he punishing me?

God has shown me this! We think that the world revolves around us, when in reality it revolves around God! The greatest thing in all the world is God himself, his majesty, holiness, purity, all his many atributes! Their is no bigger news, no one can even begine to compare to the lord.

We first need to seek the lord and ask/allow God to reveal to us some understanding of who he is, the magnitude of his holiness and all that he is. THEN we can make sence of the proper responce we as wretched sinners need to make to such a God that we serve.

To repent of all unrighteousness not just as a one time event, but a perminent condition of new character as new creations. What is important is that trough you others can come to know this awesome God through the testimony of your life. Then God will be glorified. And he indeed is worthy to be so! His being glorified by your life becomes your chief concern, since it is revealed to you that nothing else in the world is more important than that!

Also in heaven our reward is God himself. What gift or blessing is greater than God.Their is nothing greater than God! The reality of Gods awesome unspeakable greatness is starting to permeate my every moment. We need to be reminded of the God we serve! I am sencing that this is very pleasing to him and is indeed what he wants every follower of his to know. But most know not since they ask not!

What I would like to do is " test the spirits" and see if I am being unbiblical or deluded. I am posting this here since I do not know anyone fit to answer the question!

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Jon De Vet

I don't know if you have ever read the sermon 'Sinners in the hands of an angry God', by Jonathan Edwards, but he deals with this in that sermon.

As for being 'unbiblical or deluded', you'll have to ask someone more versed in the scriptures that I myself am.

But scripture does tell us in Rev 4v8-11 of the worship of God that goes on in heaven.

How much more us feeble beings?

God's glory was paramount to the Puritans, as you can see in their writings.

It was paramount to the apostles Rom 11v36.

It was paramount to Jesus, John 17v4-5.

It was paramount to God Himself, Isaiah 42v8


Glory to God.

God bless.

Ignitemysoul said

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Aaron Ireland

1. My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
’Tis His to lead me there--not mine, but His--
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

2. So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.



3. No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be oft-times great,
He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,
The way that leads to Him must needs be strait.



4. One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;
One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;
My God my glory here, from day to day,
And in the glory there my great Reward.

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Ron Bailey

Dear Ignitemysoul,

You have indeed been blessed. Jesus has revealed to you much truth, and it is biblical. Christ Himself was quoted as saying in Luke 9:23(NIV) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

As Christians who "come after" Jesus, we must take up our cross daily. Daily!! On the cross, Jesus gave His life to us so that we may have life. In return, when we take up our cross, we give ourselves to Jesus so He can work in us. Everyday we must give Jesus our heart, mind, body, and soul. This is true love. This is what we have been created for. We live for God!!

Paul confirms this in Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." We need to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. When we do this, Jesus is free to work in us. He is free to change us and transform us. And this is a daily process. We must die daily!! Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 15:31.

When we do this, when we offer everything to Jesus, He can work in us.

Do not work for God!! Let God work in you!!!

John 15:4 (NAS)"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."

When we give everything to Jesus, when we give up all control, all thoughts, all opinions, all possessions, all sins.....then Jesus truly becomes our Lord. He reigns as King over us. Then, Jesus is free to rule over us and use us for His good pleasure. Then we are made Holy and used as instruments for His good work. When this happens, God is glorified and people are saved. When this happens, our light, Jesus Christ, shines.

Praise the Lord that He has revealed all this to you. May He continue to bless you. May you be filled with His grace and His peace. May Jesus truly be your Lord.

In Christ,
Blake

PS...Have you heard of Oswald Chambers? You should read His daily devotional called "My Utmost for His Highest." I think you would like it.

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Blake Kidney

only the Holy Ghost can reveal such as you've recieved, a Gift. The Gift of Faith, which leads to sanctification.

I will praise Him with you right now.

You are under no delusion, you are under the Blood.

neil

Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord;
my spirit pants for thee, O Living Word!

-Mary Lathbury

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Ron Halverson