Prayer Journal

Friday, December 12, 2003

Whether we admit it or not, most of us are in the men-pleasing business. And many of us search for that particular thing we think will please God. Could it be good works or high attendance in church or perhaps benevolence toward others? Sadly, many of us fall short of our goal because we fail to realize the reason we were saved in the first place. God doesn't want what we can do; he wants us.

Most churches have studied or are now studying the purpose-driven life (1). Paul had a similar driving force in his life; he sought to know what God thought and then acted in a way he felt God would be pleased. Good idea! He confirmed it to the Ephesians when he said that salvation came as a result of God's grace and not anything we do to earn it. (Eph 2:8-9)

Paul knew he tended to get off-track the longer he failed to call on God. So he spent substantive time in prayer, depending on the Holy Spirit to help keep him in line. More than once he asked God to search his heart and clean him for service. If it was good enough for Paul, it should be good enough for us.

Are your motives sincere? Are you pleasing God with your life? Would he be pleased with where you might go today and what you will do? If you have doubts, I suggest you do what Paul said: ask God to check your heart out - then align your plans and desires with his.

Automobile owners know the problem with wheels that are out of alignment. In that case, the steering wheel tends to turn one way or the other requiring the driver to compensate in order to keep the car going straight. Allowing such a problem to continue might result in driving a car into a ditch or worse - in the back of someone else's car. We'd better get that problem fixed before we get in a fix!.

When we allow God to align our life and ask for his help driving our life, we have the assurance the Holy Spirit will help keep us on track. Doing anything less, we fail to have a purpose-driven life and instead have a strife-driven circus! Oh well...

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

1) The Purpose Driven Life; Copyright 2002 Rick Warren - Zondervan Publishers
2) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2003 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved

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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers

* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself