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Can God Get Glory from My Life?

    by Dominique Henderson

How Great is Our God - Part 1
Date Posted: January 25, 2009

This past week was very busy for me. My little sister exchanged wedding vows this past weekend and I joyfully assisted in whatever way I could in helping with the arrangements. The ceremony was wonderful and all went well from the standpoint that I could see. That is just how life is with its ups and downs. It brings moments of elation--seemingly more than one can handle at times. For example, I remember that as the sanctuary door opened I was taken aback by how beautiful my little sister looked. Tons of moments flashed before my eyes as I pondered childhood memories, but yet and still those moments were years and years away and passed as if a vapor before I knew it. I wondered how it would be with my own two daughters as I looked at my dad and his facial expressions. It all just makes you want to enjoy life while it is happening and to savor each moment. As I awoke to a new week and a new morning, still with slight discomfort from a ruptured C4 in my neck I didn't know what this day had planned for me. With out notice, I received a call about a potentially unpleasant situation at one of my rental properties. And on top of that I had a lot of contacts I needed to make for my business and some time I needed to spend with my wife and kids because of last week's hustle and bustle. Whew...I could have easily started dreading my Monday at this point although I'd had such a good weekend with the wedding and all.

So before my attitude started to plummet, I decided that after fixing breakfast I would watch some Christian television. Joyce had a very encouraging word for those of us needing to be grateful for what God has done for us. She brought out how easy it could be to take for granted where we are in life--whether we like that position or not. In summary she expressed that no matter where you find yourself in life, you need to thank God for that position. Easy to say but so much harder to live. (I know because I had almost started to dread my Monday!) Well thank you for the words of wisdom, Joyce, I can only pray that I can incorporate them into my daily routine. Then I shuffled through my TIVO and finished watching a TBN episode that Donnie McClurkin had hosted. I was able to be blessed through the song ministry of Kim Burrell and others. And even though I switched programs on the television it was amazing how God showed me the correlation or the take-a-way, so here it is.

In life we have these moments that we think define us--events. For example, we get a good job paying excellent money or we buy our dream home or some other event that involves a momentary satisfaction. Often we find ourselves allowing these events to provide us with a temporary happiness. But the reality is that we cannot live on that temporary feeling. For example, had I allowed the weekend weeding to supply my happiness, my temporary happiness would have gone out the door when I received the call about my rental this morning. I would have substituted the temporary happiness for the feelings that this new event had brought along. You see unless we allow God in all of his greatness to be the source of our happiness, to be our event, then we will continue to be in a state of looking for the next temporary event. I believe that is why you always hear people say the following, " I will be happy when...." I am guilty of this myself at times. And I make this mistake, when I don't allow my focus to remain on God and his greatness. Can you imagine how perplexing it would be to you if your children didn't trust you? Perhaps this is what God feels like. Just imagine someone with all that power trying to get a human mind to understand how extensive his resources are? And that if we could focus on how magnificent he is, then we would have no worries or concerns? (I know I didn't articulate that well, because I can't fully comprehend it in my own mind!) Remember Peter when he walked on water? Peter was fine as he followed Jesus' command to come. He had put his trust and focus in the words of Jesus--what an awesome place to be. However, we know the story ends in Jesus having to save Peter. And from what? An event. The bible says that Peter took notice of the strong winds and got afraid and began to sink. His focus moved from Jesus to something else. I implore you to read the entire 14th chapter of Matthew so you'll understand this next point. But Peter, like you and I, had just got a temporary happiness from the previous event. Jesus had just fed thousands with a few loaves and two fish. The excitement of that event had carried Peter to the point of asking Jesus that he walk on water. If only he had continued to focus on Jesus and trust in Jesus' ability to provide and sustain. Can we learn from our brother Peter today and keep our focus on our great God? When problems in your life threaten to shift your focus from God, just recite this: HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!

Lord I find it difficult to trust you because of how life treats me sometimes, but today I ask for the strength to focus on how great you are in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen


Suggested readings: Matthew 14:14-32

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Biography Information:
Dominique Henderson is a believer in the one and only Son of God - Jesus Christ.  After being a believer for many years, he didn't begin to realize the purpose God had for him until the age of 30.  He has a passion for fellow musicians and worship leaders that have allowed Satan to distract them from their God-given gifts.  He now lives day by day following the lead of the Holy Spirit--not perfectly but diligently. He enjoys writing and spending time with his wife, Briana, and their three children.
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