Don The Armour

I love this verse because it perfectly combines the two sides of our relationship with God. On the one hand, we can look to him for safety and comfort. He promises to be our refuge if we turn to him. But often today, we stop here at what God can do for us, and we don’t think about the rest of the verse: “For your name’s sake you lead me and guide me.” It brings us back to our life’s core purpose: to live according to God’s will and for his glory.

The first question and answer of the Westminster Catechism captures this perfectly:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Consider this especially when you pray. It’s true that we should make all of our requests known to God in prayer (Phi. 4:6), but take a moment to think about what God would receive in return for answering your prayers. If you pray for healing, would you use your newly healthy body to praise and glorify him? How will your answered prayers serve the Kingdom? Often this can be as simple as sharing the joy of what the Lord has done for you. Regardless of how we do it, we need to keep this primary goal at the front of our consciences to avoid becoming only consumers and to fulfill the purpose for which we were put on this earth.

Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God alone.