A Prayer to Bring Back Honor
By Chelsey DeMatteis
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2
In a culture that screams we need to honor the flesh, we as believers need to rein our hearts back to the truth of what God says about honoring, loving, and submitting to Him above all else. We serve a good God that desires good things for His children. While those "good" things are often laced with hard things, He lovingly sees us and stewards us through it all. He deserves our honor and praise.
While it seems hard to see the goodness of God while in the midst of difficulty, I believe it's one of the most important reasons why we must stay guarded by God's truth. For years of going through all kinds of things, these are scriptures that I've held tightly to.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2
For us to know what is good, pleasing, honorable, and perfect in the sight of God, we must have a personal relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. We can't love and honor someone if we don't know them. We can't trust the plans and provision of the Father if we know nothing about the character of His heart.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:26
We must die to self. Our flesh will always fail us. We are fragile and emotional beings that have been tainted by sin, and because of this, we often get bound to our feelings and allow them to trump God's truth. Keep your heart steadied here, GOD is the strength of our hearts, our portions forever.
“His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?” - Job 9:4
If you've never spent time studying Job, this is a perfect season to do so. When we look at Job's life, we not only see the sovereignty of God on display in a powerful way, but we also see why we're called to be fully submitted before the Father. Trusting in His heart and remembering that all things are sifted through His hands.
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” - 1 John 5:2-4
Scripture makes it very clear to us that those who love God seek and desire to obey His commands, out of our LOVE and honor for Him. God gave us commands out of His deep love for His people, we should never look at them as burdens.
As Christ-followers we must be informed on what teachings in the world are contrary to the heart of the Father and how they go against His Word. If you're looking to research what some are, here are a few big movements today that clothe themselves as the "church", though they are not rooted in God's truth: Prosperity Gospel, Word of Faith movement, and Progressive Christianity.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27
To be submitted to the Lord means we follow Him. This means we no longer live in the limbo of wishing that what our flesh desired could be truth, it means we've now reconciled to the Lord that we live fully for Him. Tethered to His grace and mercy as we walk out conviction and sanctification.
My prayer is that you and I will honor God by seeking to understand His heart for His people. As we grow in learning about His heart, reading His Word to see what He commands of us, and why He desires us to live fully surrendered to Him; we will see His loving correction and perfect guidance in all of our days.
Let’s Pray:
Lord, help me to seek your word no matter what my circumstances look like. Help me as I walk through hardship to still see your goodness. Draw me near and lead me by your still waters. In Jesus' name, amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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