DENYING MYSELF BY GIVING GLORY TO GOD

This week, I am exploring what God says about setting my mind on things above.  As I enter prayer now, I reflect on God’s instruction: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” 

Lord, I desire to focus on You.  Allow my mind 

to be transformed by the reading of Your Word. 

Let me consider the Word of God from Romans 4:18-25: 

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. 

Abraham had hope because he believed God.  God promised that he would be the father of many nations, even when he didn’t yet have any children.   

In what did Abraham have hope?  His body was old and weak, and his wife was way past childbearing age.  But because God had proclaimed this promise to him, He believed God and was strengthened in his faith. 

Through this time, which must have been difficult, Abraham gave glory to God and was persuaded that God had the power to do what He promised.  Therefore, this faith was credited to Him as righteousness. 

Lord, please help me to have faith in your promises  

as Abraham did.  I desire to have  

Your righteousness in me also. 

When I believe that God delivered Jesus over to death for my sins and raised Him to life for my justification, I get excited!  It is amazing to think that God has that much love for each of us, so I just want to praise Him all the time! 

Lord, thank You for blessing me with the gift of Yourself. 

I desire to know You even better; help me to draw close to You and give You glory and praise.   

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.