“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” …. John F. Kennedy.

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     These famous words have been echoed throughout history in political campaigns, tv shows, and even as part of the song “Cult of Personality.” Stop and think with me for a moment. What if changed the words a bit to this: “Ask not what God can do for you, ask what you can do for God.”

     Many Christians today live their lives acting as if God were the servant or child and they assume the role of master or parent. Honestly, I believe all Christians do this from time to time. Friends, when we do this, we are living our lives upside down and robbing ourselves of His blessings. God gives us so many promises in His word; if we live in service and obedience to Him, He will guide our lives and give us His best. We live with a genie in a bottle mentality; rubbing our bottle when we pray, hoping God will pop up and grant us all of our wishes and solve our problems. However, when things are going well, we want God back in the bottle and up on the shelf, because we don’t have time to be bothered doing what God wants. We serve an all-powerful and all-knowing God that loves us beyond all measure. If we would seek His will and live our lives in service to Him instead of living like we know what is best for ourselves, our lives would be better than we could ever imagine. If we could see God’s true plan for our lives and if we were to fully commit to Him, we would wake up every day and say, “Ok Lord, whatever you want and whatever your plan is, I’m ready and willing." Or, as Moses said: “Lord, here am I.”

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So, what does the Father say about those who follow Him with a servant’s heart?

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalms 37:4

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“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk  and not faint.”   Isaiah 40:31

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 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”  James 1:5

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“The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”  Psalms 23:1-3

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“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

James 4:7

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“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”          Psalms 50:15

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“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (provisions) will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6

We serve a great God and a wonderful Heavenly Father. Remember, we are a child of the King and He saved us from the bondage of sin. Let’s find joy in doing his will. God is not a harsh ruler but a loving Father.

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””

Romans 8:15

Try this week to live by serving God first as much as possible with your life and remember this promise:

 “And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”  Malachi 3:10

Have a great week!