This blog is a part of series of blogs I’m writing on 11 Life-Changing Lessons on Leadership, Relationships and Personal Life.
Glorify and Enjoy God While Serving Him Forever
(adapted from the Westminster Confession)
As I mentioned in Lesson 1, all the thoughts in this series came out of a season in my life where I was fighting cancer. For some silly reason I kept thinking about that childhood prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” And, as I mentioned in that first blog, I never really liked that prayer. I get it, but it’s a bit morbid for children. When I faced cancer, I really don’t think I ever thought I was going to die, but it did cause me to create these eleven life-changing lessons on leadership, relationships and personal life – just in case. These were the lessons I wanted to pass on to my children most importantly, and then to anyone who would listen. The last one is the most important for me personally.
Glorify and enjoy God while serving Him forever is a great phrase. That is my goal and hope for my life and I hope you will consider that phrase for your life as well. A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a young millennial man who was raised in a Christian family. In fact, he went to a private Christian school from kindergarten through high school. He gave me a line that stung me, “I used to be into my faith, but it’s just not important anymore. I would imagine it will become more important when I’m older.” What I don’t think he saw was my eyes welling up, close to tears. My tears were for what I think he is missing in life. How sad that he knows the Way but has chosen to do his own thing and keep God at arm’s length. There are probably a hundred reasons why this young man is straying from the Way, but what I could immediately see was that he was floundering with his life and settling for second best. I know we all need to find our own path with God, but what saddens me is when people know the Way, the Truth and the Life and they don’t take time to glorify and enjoy God while serving Him forever.
This past week in my small group, we asked this question: “If you looked in the rearview mirror of your life, where have you seen God at work in your life?” I made a quick list of over 20 experiences where I sensed God carrying me over a rough patch or through the valleys and over the mountaintops. I named experiences where I believe God revealed His will for my life. The experience was humbling and gratifying.
If you looked in the rearview mirror of your life, where would you see God at work in your life? (How about listing at least three experiences?)
This may sound like an oversimplification but those who daily strive to glorify and enjoy God while serving him forever are the ones who I believe are living life to the fullest. It’s not about talent or beauty or even money, it’s much more about a surrendered and committed life to One who gave you life. Please don’t settle for anything less than a fully committed life. It will align your leadership, relationships and personal life in a way that brings you true meaning.