Finding Your Creative Bones® 365-Day Devotional © 2023
Do you reserve glory for God, or do you seek glory?
So that no flesh might have glory before God. But God has given you a place in Christ Jesus, through whom God has given us wisdom and righteousness and salvation, and made us holy: So that, as it is said in the holy Writings, Whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1.29-31Bible in Basic English (BBE))
Do you seek glory for your accomplishments and successes? We should not seek glory for ourselves. This is a paradox when we want to succeed with our work, creations, and families. Does one rule out the other?
When we consider that God loves us immensely, does that include loving us into success with whatever we do with our lives that is of God? It is reasonable that God would want us to flourish. Love leads to supporting and cheering the loved one on.
It is how we handle the success that becomes the issue. Do we boast and brag about our accomplishments? Do we go on and on about what we did? Do we flaunt our wealth in a way that degrades others? Do we share our successes and give credit for them to God?
The key is in how we respond to success. Are we responsible, or is God? Yes, we do the work, but do we do it alone? Could we have done it without the blessings and people who helped along the way? What if we hadn't had the coincidences and the aha moments? What if another person's smile or a family member's kiss had not occurred at just the right time to keep us moving forward in difficulty? Would the result have been the same?
Prayer:
Loving Lord, I know you love me, and I return your love to the deepest level I can as a human. You have enabled the successes in my life, and I want to take this moment to glorify you for your accomplishments. I could not have had them in my life without you. If you had not strengthened me to overcome my fear, I would have been afraid in a corner. I would have had no knowledge to succeed if you had not encouraged me to understand the importance of education at the correct times from the right people. I would have been no help if you had not brought excellent and kind people into my life to join my work journey and family. I would not have been successful for these and so many other reasons. Yet I have been successful with and for you, Dear Father. I offer you all of the successes in my life, whether work or family. I am humbled at your display of love throughout my life, and I am grateful for this chance to offer my love and praises to you, sweet Father. Amen.
a tangle originated by Zentangle, Inc.
Word of the Day
GLORY
Read the scripture in context on the Bible in Basic English (BBE) website.
A good word today, Cindy. While we want God to bless us with success, we often forget to thank Him for the abilities and wisdom He gave us to have success! That thankfulness is giving glory to God. - Angie Vallejo
I always enjoy the prayer at the end of you blog Cindy. I know God is with me throughout my successes and I always praise and thank him.
It is how we handle our success that becomes the issue. I agree. Gratitude and Love are keys.
Paradoxes and creativity and divinity: such an intriguing place to spend time - your post definitely has me in deep contemplative mode. I also don't know how you will recognize me - I'm Julie JordanScott :-)