Before I started following Jesus, I ignored spiritual thoughts and put great importance on worldly pleasure in guiding the decisions that I made. It has been a long process to overcome that tendency but by studying Scripture I have learned a secret that has helped tremendously. I still have pleasure in mind when I make decisions, but it is not for me that I want to be pleased. I want to find pleasure in the Lord with the choices I make. If I can do that, I know that I have made the right decision. The challenge I find as I practice doing that is learning to distinguish between faith and presumption. My zeal to please Him is not a guarantee that I will. It is in following the teaching of Jesus, surrendering to Him continually and abiding in Him that I can be certain of accomplishing what He desires. It is my earnest prayer that He will keep me ever mindful of His love because only out of a heart filled with that am I able to bring delight to Him.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
“The one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”
John 8:29