Learn What You Are Here For

One of the poisons of the heart is selfishness. We were born as “me-monsters.” We learned as babies how to get attention and secure whatever we want to make us comfortable. It’s something we don’t automatically unlearn. We grow up thinking that life is about pleasure. That means we must always be comfortable, happy and fulfilled. Isn’t that what we want for our children? Wouldn’t that be what God wants for you?

Actually, life is about God’s pleasure. Oh yeah. I forgot. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Rev. 4:11)

You weren’t created for yourself. Your life will turn around when you see God as the center of the universe, not you, and you begin making decisions and plans around God’s pleasure and not your own. As you grow in spiritual maturity from reading your Bible each day and praying, you will grasp all that this means.

But for now, realize that selfishness is living life as a practical atheist. God is not in all your thoughts. You are in all your thoughts. Selfishness manifests itself in unthankfulness. Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to be thankful. Make praise a daily priority.

To get started, you may want to have a journal or a page on your computer to go to each day and write five things you are thankful for, and consciously thank God. At first, you will likely thank God for the things around you that make you comfortable—your family, your job, your health, food on the table, etc. But then, branch out into marvelous aspects of God.

Look at Psalm 103 for inspiration. David praises God for forgiveness of sins; for God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies; for good things to eat; that God is slow to anger; and for God’s righteousness.

Turn your eyes upward. Look out the window and notice how faithful God is in causing the sun to rise each day and set each evening. He does it without fail. He gives the birds and squirrels food to eat every day, for His pleasure. He made sea creatures in the ocean depths that no man has ever seen, for His pleasure.

But He made you as part of the highest form of earthly intelligence to praise, honor and serve Him. That’s your purpose. How did He make you to do that? That is for you to discover. What can you do to bring Him glory? Ask Him. Start on a new adventure of selflessness with an aim to be an instrument to bring glory to God, verbally and with your life.