Often, growing up; I heard Christians say, “I was created to Glorify God.” Yet, as I grew in my faith, I came to realize there was nothing inside of me that could Glorify God. Nothing that I could do to increase His Glory, for He did not need me. If anything, the harder I tried, the more I brought only shame or sorrow to Him. My own guilty hands had nothing to bring that could Glorify God for He was holy and fully Glorious. I, on the other hand, often wanted too much, desired too much, and became entangled in my own self-centered desire for self-exaltation or comfort. God said, “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7). So, how can we Glorify God with our life?
Yet, He also said, “ I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42: 6-8).
Therefore, the glory is His Alone and really never is accomplished by me. It can only be displayed by emptying of me, so His light might shine for to all who do not know Him. So, again how can we Glorify God with our light?
Glorify God with Our Praise
The way in which we glorify God in our life is through praise. As David wrote: “Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord among the heathen and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation…and sheweth mercy to his anointed” (2 Samuel 22: 50-51). Does that mean we praise Him because of the miracles He performs in our lives? Certainly, but it goes much deeper than that. How do we respond to trials, fears, pain and setbacks? Do we praise Him and trust Him when everything seems to be upside down or undone in our lives?
As Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:12-14: “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Because God reached forth, not withholding His most precious Beloved Son, and willingly paid the price to redeem us, shouldn’t we trust Him with every detail of our life? Even the details that we may not understand.
Glorify God with Our Joy
How can our joy depend upon our circumstances, when He is our joy? When Jesus prayed for us in John 17, he prayed to the Father, “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” What was His joy? The cross that lay before Him certainly was not a joyous act. Yet, He saw beyond that to one day when He would gather every one who accepted His gift of salvation to Himself. What about us? Do we see the crosses we bare in light of His transforming grace and love within us? We should. He who loved us so much as to willingly bare our sins on the cross, to be the perfect sacrificial lamb would never allow ANYTHING in our life that is not for our good.
Whether it be for transforming our heart, so we might see Him clearer or if the trials are for the good of the Kingdom to draw others to Himself, we should with joy praise Him amid the raging storms in our life. There is no greater way to Glorify God, than to trust Him in the storm.
Glorify God through Broken Vessels
If you light a candle deep within a clay vessel, there is little light that shines forth; unless that vessel is broken the light cannot illuminate the surrounding room.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4: 6-10).
When others see God’s glorious light shine forth through our humility and our broken, contrite hearts; they are drawn to Him.
Glorify God with hearts of Love
When praying to the Father on our behalf, Jesus also said in John 17:22-23. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
As He transforms our heart to love others as He loved us, we Glorify God through that sacrificial love. It is His Glory, not ours.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Recently released Books Available
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ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY
A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.
WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”
Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.