Day #9: Tuesday, January 12th

Wanna Make God Smile?

Scripture References:  Ps. 119:135 MSG, Matt. 22:37, Heb 11:7, Ps. 119:33

Devotional

Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live." (Ps. 119:135 MSG)

Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it." (Eph. 5:10 MSG)

It is possible to please God and we should pursue doing it with all our hearts.  There was a man who made God smile and his name was Noah.  “But Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.” (Gen. 6:8 LB). Because Noah brought pleasure to God, you and I are alive today.  Let’s learn from Noah’s life what brought pleasure to God, making Him smile.

God smiles when we love Him wholeheartedly.
Gen. 6:9 says that, “Noah consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with Him.”  This is what God wants most from you - a relationship.  God made you to love you, and he longs for you to love him back.  Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” (Matt. 22:37) 

God smiles when we trust Him completely.
Noah pleased God and trusted God, even when it didn’t make sense.  Heb. 11:7 MSG tells us, “By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land.  He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told….As a result, Noah became intimate with God.”  Although Noah faced the challenges of never having seen rain before, living hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, and rounding up animals and caring for them, Noah didn’t complain once or make excuses.  Trusting God completely means having faith that He knows what is best for your life.  

God smiles when we obey him without question.
“So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” (Gen 6:22 NLT) That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation.  And God doesn’t owe you an explanation or reason for what he asks you to do.  Understanding can wait but obedience cannot.  And whatever you do, obey the Lord with enthusiasm.  Notice the attitude of David, “Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord.  As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey.” Ps. 119:33 LB

God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually.
Noah’s first act after surviving the Flood was to express his thanks to God by offering a sacrifice.  We offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. (Heb. 13:15) 

God smiles when we use our abilities.
You may feel that the only time God is pleased with you is when you’re doing “spiritual” activities like reading your Bible, attending church, or praying.  God enjoys watching every detail of your life, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. Every human activity, except sin, can be done for God’s pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise.  When you consider your abilities know this, that there are no unspiritual abilities - only misused ones.  So, start using your abilities for God’s pleasure.

Make pleasing God the goal of your life.  There is nothing God won’t do for the person who is wholeheartedly passionate about pleasing Him.

Prayer

“Lord, may my life bring you pleasure today.
Just like Noah pleased you, I desire to love you with all my heart.
I will trust you completely in everything that you lead me to do today.
I will obey you without questioning your plan for my life.
I may not see the whole picture but I will do whatever you ask with enthusiasm.
And I will remember to praise you every step of the way.
My goal is to please you today and every day of my life.”