Do You Love God More Than You Love Yourself?

The quest to live a holy life does not seem difficult to understand. We are to love God, follow his commands, and love others. So, why is it so difficult? Well, it is so hard because we must die to self. We must put ourselves last and take all focus off what we want.

So hard to do, my friends. As we wrapped up our studying on, "Living Like You Belong To God," the thing that struck me the most last night was the phrase, "Do you love God more than you love yourself." Just take a minute and really think about that statement. Sure, if we were to answer that right now we would say, "Of course." Examine your actions, do they match up...are you spending more time focused on God than yourself. I would have to say I fail in this area. Maybe you do too. Never fear, let's get up, dust ourselves off and jump out from that mirror of looking at how everything affects me and what I want and desire and get moving in the opposite direction. The direction of loving God more.

Take some time this week to get with God, all by yourself, leave the distractions behind (no cell phone, email, etc). Lay out what a life that is completely focused on God would look like. What areas are you measuring up, what areas are you falling short? Take a good honest look, and don't get discouraged, you are taking a huge step in changing your mindset! Make a simple checklist for yourself of things you would like to do daily. Make it a realistic list (reading my Bible each morning for 15 minutes, praying for my day before I get out of bed, show love to a neighbor in need by the end of this week). You can add to this and increase your time spent with God as the days and weeks go by.

As you look at the check marks as the days and weeks go by, feel encouraged! You are well on your way to living a God centered life!