May the Lord smile on you
The Lord is pleased with those
who worship him and trust his love.
Psalm 147:11
The smile of God is the goal of your life.
Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, your most important task is to discover how to do that. The Bible gives us an example of life that gives pleasure to God. The man’s name was Noah. From his life we learn the five acts of worship that make God smile.
1. God smiles when we love him supremely.
Noah loved God more than anything in the world, even when no one else did. Noah consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with Him. This is what God wants most from you: a relationship. God made you to love you, and he longs for you to love you, and he longs for you to love him back. he wants you to know him and spend time with him. his is why learning to love God and be loved by him should be the greatest objective of your life. Jesus called it the greatest commandment.
2. God smiles when we trust him completely
Noah trusted God, even when it didn’t make sense. When God asked Noah to build a giant ship, Noah didn’t complaint or make excuses. It took 120 years to build the ark. He faced many discouraging days. He trusted God completely even though he has a lot of questions and doubts. Trusting God completely means having faith that He knows what is best for your life. You expect him to keep his promises, help you out with problems, and do the impossible when necessary. In what areas of your life do you need to trust God completely?
3. God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly
Noticed that Noah obeyed completely (no instruction was overlooked), and he obeyed exactly (in the way and time God wanted it done). That is wholeheartedness. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation and hesitation. Understanding can wait, but obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first. Obedience unlocks understanding. We please God by what we do, and not only by what we believe.
4. God smiles when we praise and thank him continually
God smiles when we express our adoration and gratitude to him. We praise God for who he is, and we thank God for what he has done. An amazing things happens when we offers praise and thanksgiving to God. When we give God enjoyment, our own hearts are filled with joy.
5. God smiles when we use our abilities
You may feel that the only time God is pleased with you is when you’re doing “spiritual’ activities like reading the Bible, attending church, praying, or sharing your faith. And you may think God is unconcerned about the other parts of your life. Actually, God enjoys watching every detail of your life, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. He doesn’t miss a single move you make. Every human activity, except sin, can be done for God’s pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise. Like a proud parents, God especially enjoys watching you use the talents and abilities he has given you.
God doesn’t wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you. He loves and enjoys you at every stage of your spiritual development. What God looks at is the attitude of your heart.
Taken from Purpose Driven Life.
God bless,
Maya