Day 13

Chapter Thirteen: Worship That Pleases God

God wants all of you. -Rick Warren

There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to worship and friendship with God. One thing is certain: You don't bring glory to God by tring to be someone he never intended you to be. God wants you to be yourself. -Rick Warren

This is wonderful news! To have this level of acceptance by someone who knows me better than myself...someone who knows all of my flaws, created all of me specifically to be who I am...wants me to be just that.

When you praise God even when you don't feel like it, when you get out of bed to worship when you're tired, or when you help others when you are worn out, you are offerning a sacrifice of worship to God. That pleases God. -Rick Warren

I can really see now the idea of "living sacrifice" by the above description. I have fallen into a rut numerous times regarding going to church on Sunday, and even then...going to church on Sunday and not applying what I had "learned" on Monday morning. God hates a hypocrit...and a liar. I need to watch for those things in my own actions.

Point to Ponder: God wants all of me.

Verse to Remember: Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Question to Consider: Which is more pleasing to God right now--my public worship or my private worship? What will I do about this?

I need to work on both...I know that God wants to have a personal relationship with me...and that is private [to me anyway]...however I also think that they should be tandem with each other, meaning...I should not be afraid to worship publicly. By thier actions you shall know them...

If I am loving God with all of my heart soul and strength I will be worshiping him publicly and privately. Though right now...I am developing that personal relationship with him and that is important to me...

I think that my public worship may be more pleasing...because it is showing that I am not afraid to worship him, and I am not tied to this world so much that I am held back by fear of what others think of me.

Day 12

Chapter Twelve: Developing Your Friendship with God

You are as close to God as you choose to be. -Rick Warren

This chapter was good to read because I often find myself questioning many things about my faith, about what God does and why. This chapter explains that God doesn't need us to be perfect just honest...even if that honesty includes doubt.

To be God's friend, you must be honest to God, sharing your true feeling, not what you think you ought to feel or say. -Rick Warren

This actually lifts a great weight off of my shoulders. I sometimes try too hard to say the right thing, or express myself in certain ways that I think God would prefer...when in fact he would just prefer my honest bumbling than some eloquent speech.

Point to Ponder: I'm as close to God as I choose to be.

Verse to Remember: James 4:8a Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.

Question to Consider: What practical choices will I make today in order to grow closer to God?

I have already decided to change the way that I pray and talk to God. I have been reminding myself to talk to God throughout the day...just as if he were my own personal confidant, because He is.

The other thing is to just say what I need to say, without reservation...because he already knows me, it makes no sense to try and say something that I don't really feel.

Lastly, I want to begin treating my family as gifts from God...I have been pondering a lot on the fact that God will not bless me with anything more important if I cannot take care of what I already have...I want to be motivated in taking care of my family so that I am not hindering them and myself from being closer to God.