So, I’m in Hebrews 11 during my Coffeetime with Jesus this morning. In verses 5-6 I read: “It was by faith Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying – he disappeared because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”
As I read the passage, this thought comes: “At the end of my days I would love to be known as one who pleased God. I would love for others to say, ‘In his life and the way he lived his life, Mike pleased God; he pleased the Lord by not settling for less than all God had for him.’ And in living this way, Mike brought glory to God and connected many people to Him.”
Then I read verses 32-33: “How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice and received what God had promised them.”
Then this thought came: Lord God, by faith these beloved ones were pleasing to You and did not settle for less than all You had for them. I want to live that kind of life, with that kind of faith and I want You to do whatever You need to do in me so that I can.
Come Holy Spirit, and do whatever You need to do in me so You can do whatever You want to do in me. Come Holy Spirit and show me if there is any way I have been settling for less than all Father has for me.
In those places where I have been settling for less, grant me the gift of repentance where I need to repent; I want to repent Lord and strip off the weight of sin that slows me down and trips me up.
I want You to change the way I think where the way I think is not helpful to living a life pleasing to You. Change my thinking in every way where it does not agree with Your thoughts, with Your ways of thinking.
And increase, upgrade my faith that in all the days that are left for me in this world, so I might live a life that is pleasing to You; a life that brings glory to you; a life that does not settle for anything less than all You have for me. In Jesus’ name I pray this from my heart. Amen!
