I’ve been learning so much about God and His desire for glory. Like why He allows bad things to happen to good people. Why He’s first and foremost for Himself. Basically why He rules and works the way He does. He is out for His glory. Say a loved one passes away or has a serious illness, isn’t that the time most people turn to God. They are so weak from emotional pain and stress that they need Him like they need oxygen. And in that time He comforts and heals broken hearts (Psalm 34:18). And even though life sucks and it’s not going the way it’s suppose to, God receives honor and praise. Twisted huh?
So I’m learning this all and my heart is craving to glorify my King. And even though this desire to be in constant praise of the Lord is genuine and real, I find my flesh twisting it for my own gain. God is out for His glory like I’m out for good fortune. success. marriage. doing what I want regardless of what anyone else thinks or says. I am out for my own “glory” in a way. Getting what I want. So I find myself trying to make a business deal with God. “Lord, if you give me this, I will give You glory.” Real, genuine glory huh? Or, even worse, people use it to justify sin. Premarital sex makes you worship God? Interesting. You should try married sex–the way God designed it. Smoking pot is so relaxing it moves you to glorify the Creator of it. Awesome…too bad its illegal. God receives no glory when you sin against Him. Your words of worship from an act of sin are like farts in the air. They are offensive to God’s nose.
And isn’t that kind of glory quite conditional. If I get what I want, then You’ll be praised. But true glory, the kind God is after, is most apparent when He says no. No, you will not get that job. No, you will not be healed. No. No. No. And my deepest desire is to be able to say in those moments, “Lord, You are still good. You are still faithful. I will continue to worship You.”
