 We live in a world that is obsessed with "output." From the moment we wake up, we are counting: how many emails did I send? How many loads of laundry did I finish? Did I do the dishes? How many boxes did I check off my list? We often measure our day—and our value—by how much we managed to get done.
But if we look at the way God works, we find the truth: God isn't keeping a scorecard of your productivity. He is far more interested in the state of your heart and the "why" behind what you do. He cares about our motives. The Heart Matters 1 Samuel 16:7: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” While we are busy running a race to see who can finish the most tasks, God is watching the motives driving us. He sees if we are acting out of love, kindness, and obedience, or if we are just checking boxes to feel worthy or to impress others. When God leads our day, He leads it from the inside out. He isn't asking for a frantic, exhausted version of you; He is asking for an intentional, surrendered heart. Motivation Have you ever had a day where you did a million things but felt completely empty? That usually happens when our "doing" becomes separate from our "being." When we let God lead our day, our motivation changes. Instead of doing things because we feel like we have to, we start doing them because we want to reflect His love. Whether you are leading a big conference, a podcast, producing graphics, or simply trying to get through a busy Wednesday, the value of those actions isn't found in their quantity. It’s found in the love you poured into them. As Colossians 3:23 tells us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This verse shifts the focus entirely. It doesn't say "do the most things"; it says "do whatever you do with all your heart." LeadSo, how do we let God lead our day through our hearts? It starts with a morning pivot. When you wake up, instead of immediately reviewing your calendar, take a moment to set your intention. Ask God, "What is on Your heart today?" Drive to work, with nothing playing, no phone calls, just you and the Lord. When you operate this way:
If you got three things done with a heart full of love and integrity, that is a far more successful day in God's eyes than finishing twenty things with a spirit of anxiety or selfishness. Ouch, that hurts! It will take time and practice, but just start. Today. So, breathe deep. Stop counting the tasks, and start focusing on the heartbeat behind them. When your heart is in the right place, everything else will fall into its proper order.  Have you ever spent a whole weekend with a friend who does nothing but complain, only to realize by Sunday night you’re suddenly annoyed at everything too? Or maybe you’ve spent time with someone who is so joyful and encouraging that you leave feeling like you could conquer the world? It’s not just a vibe; it’s a reality. Who we hang out with actually changes who we are.
The "Mirror" 1 Corinthians 15:33 says "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" It’s simple. If you’re trying to grow in faith, kindness, or integrity, but your closest friends are constantly pulling you toward drama or negativity, you’re fighting an uphill battle. We tend to mirror the habits and heart-postures of the people we spend the most time with. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Think about what happens when two pieces of iron rub together. There’s friction, but the result is that both become more effective, not just one. A Godly influence isn't someone who just tells you what you want to hear; it’s a friend who calls you out (kindly), reminds you of what God says about you when you’re feeling low, and really prays for you. Not Just the People While your best friends are the biggest factor, "influences" cover more ground than just your contact list. Think about:
"Faith Squad"Don't panic; you don’t need to fire all your friends tomorrow, but you can start by pointing them toward Jesus. Look for people in your life who have the "fruit" you’re looking for. Then, don't be afraid to invite them into your life. It can be as simple as asking someone you admire to grab coffee or see if you can join their small group. Lastly, you might need to set some healthy boundaries with the influences that consistently drain your spirit or lead you away from your values. It is okay to say "NO' and take time if you need it. SupportWalking out your faith is hard enough. Why do it alone or worse with people pulling you in the opposite direction? Surrounding yourself with Godly influences isn't about being "holier-than-thou." It’s about building a support system that helps you become the person God created you to be.  The word sacrifice is mentioned many times in the Bible. The sacrifices that God commanded the Israelites to make in the Old Testament pointed to the cross and Jesus' sacrifice of Himself for us. Because of Calvary, the animal sacrifices are not necessary, but that does not mean that we should not still offer things to God.
Sacrifices we should make to God every day: ~ Thanksgiving ~ Psalm 107:22 - “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” God wants us to be thankful and to tell others of what He has done for us. (See also Psalm 50:14 and 116:17) ~ Praise - Hebrews 13:15 - “By him [Jesus] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” There is never a time that we should not be praising God in some way! I have heard it said that with every breath, we actually speak God's name. Just the fact that we have life is enough to praise the Lord about now and for ever and ever! ~ our body ~ Romans 12:1 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” God created our body just the way He wanted it to be so that we can use it to serve Him and glorify Him with it. ~ righteousness ~ Psalm 4:5 - “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” By living in a way that honors the Lord, our lives become a living sacrifice that pleases Him. ~ joy and singing - Psalm 27:6 - “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” Because God has delivered us from sin, the darkness of satan and his power, (and continues to fight for us when satan attacks us to get us off track and to keep us from praising the Lord), we have great reason to have joy! What God would rather us do than make animal sacrifices: ~ live in a way that is just and of honest judgment - Proverbs 21:3 ~ be obedient to what God has called us to do - 1 Samuel 15:22 ~ repent from sin with brokenness and humility - Psalm 51:6, 16, 17 Why sacrifice must be pleasing to God: God is holy and because of His holiness and sacrifice of Himself when Jesus died on the cross, He is worthy of and deserves our lives being a reflection of His holiness in all we do, say and think. Throughout the Minor Prophets we find that the people of Israel were living in sin by worshipping false gods, being immoral, and prideful, all while claiming to love God and enjoying all the things with which He had blessed them. They were making animal sacrifices to God but their hearts were not right with God, and the animals they were sacrificing were not according to the laws that God had given them. A sacrificial animal was to be perfect with no “blemish” or sickness, because it was a picture of Jesus, Who was and is without sin. God asks the Israelite people in Malachi 1:8 - “And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” In this verse God is trying to get the people to see the sin and foolishness of their ways. If they would not offer it to the governor or ruler of their land, because they knew it would not be worthy of his acceptance since it was sick, then why would they offer it to God? Just as God desired that their hearts be right with Him more than the sacrifices of animals that they made, He desires the same for us. If we were to dress or act better in the presence of our president than we do for God or going to church, then we may need to get some things right with the Lord! God deserves the “bestest of the best” from us! Even though it is not necessary for us to sacrifice animals now, how we live is a sacrifice to God, that should be pleasing to Him. We do still sin as Christians because we still have a sin nature until we get to Heaven, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible and prayer to help us live in a way that is glorifying to God. Is your life “a living sacrifice” that is pleasing to God and pointing others to His holiness? |
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