Are You Giving Him Your Best?

Kelly Franklin
Freedom Christian Center

When it comes to your relationship with Christ and your time spent with Him personally, I want to raise the question to you, “Are you giving Him your best?” Often, we know what to do, but the problem is getting around to doing what we know. So what is holding you back from spending time building your personal relationship with the most important person in your life, Jesus Christ?

I think this is an important question to consider, “Are you giving Him your best?” I believe with all my heart that God deserves the best from us because He loves us the most. God is all about relationship. His heart has always been about building a relationship with us, his people. Your relationship with Him began when you chose to put your faith in in Jesus Christ, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins. According to John 1: 12--You became a child of God. What an awesome privilege to be in relationship with the creator of the universe; the one who created you in your mother’s womb; the one who knows you the best and has the best for you in mind. Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we have.

So, what is hindering you from giving God your best on a daily basis? What activities are you giving your time and energy too? What are your priorities? Where can you make adjustments? Are you willing to sacrifice your wants to build your relationship with God? What we value in life is where we focus our attention and greatest efforts. I believe that the things we consistently do daily will shape our lives the most.

As a believer in Christ, having a daily time set aside to build your relationship with Christ through reading the Bible, prayer, and praise is vital to reach the destiny that He has called you to. So what is keeping you from giving God your best?

It is my prayer that you not only answer this question but that you choose to grow in your relationship with God, for He deserves our best!

We want to hear from you: Visit MyHOP on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/myhop and tell me What is the number one thing that steals your time from Him? I want to pray with you and stand with you.

A Thankful Heart

Gary Stebbins
Church on the Rock - Melbourne

Several weeks ago I came into one of our early morning prayer times at church. All was well, or so I thought. As we were praying, Pastor Tony happened to glance out one of our windows. Something did not look right and indeed it was not right.

During the night someone had stolen three of our air conditioners. After processing the initial shock and implications of such a problem, my immediate response was thanksgiving. Now I was not thankful that someone had stolen the A/C units, but my heart was filled with gratitude over the goodness of God. Yes, this was a problem, but God has been so faithful to us for many years. It would be very difficult for me to express in words how truly gracious God has been towards us.

As we continued to pray that morning I felt God say that there would be a silver-lining in this cloud. My immediate response as I prayed was not justice, but praise and thanksgiving. The Lord reminded me of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing in everything give thanks: (WHY?) FOR THIS is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The following Sunday I challenged our church to live the next week without grumbling and complaining, but instead express gratitude and thanksgiving to God.

I believe thanksgiving should be a significant part of our prayer life. God is not asking us to be thankful for trouble when it comes, but to be thankful for a God who will walk with us no matter what difficulties might come our way.

I love David’s prayer of thanksgiving in Psalm 138, and in verse 8 he says …“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; your loving-kindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of your hands.”

Wow! God is concerned for what concerns me. He hears my prayers. This fills my heart with thankfulness towards Him.

May God fill your heart with thanksgiving and may the expression of gratitude become a significant part of your prayer life.

Are you rejoicing?
Are you praying?
Are you giving thanks in everything?