Are you bombarded sometimes with discouragement, self-doubt and huge trials? To tell you the truth, I have never met anyone who never experienced any of these! Why? Jesus made us aware that we have a “prince of this world” (John 12:31) NIV who is not acting to our own benefit, but to our self-destruction!
From early on, this prince wanted to take God’s place of honor. “I will be like the Most High.” (Isa 14:14) was his motto. He wants your worship. He wants you to put him first in your life.
“But,” you say, “there is no way that I will ever do that!”
Oh really. Well, that was my first reaction as well. However, I noticed that if I do not follow the apostle Paul’s advice, I do give glory to the devil. 1 Cor 10:31-32 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” NIV
If I do not give glory to God in all things, the few things I am so self-absorbed with give glory to the devil. There is no alternative! And the devil knows it!
Look at the devil’s schemes when he tempted Jesus in the desert. His final temptation shows his real colors: Matt 4:9-10 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” NIV
How often have I met people who joined a ministry to the glory of God, only to quit when trials arose in their lives! “I have problems,” they say, “and I do not have time to give to God for the moment.” This puts us exactly where the devil wants us to be! We have been disarmed. We have become discouraged. We have lost our purpose in life. We have started to give glory to the devil.
Any time we do not give glory to God in all things, the few things that we don’t give glory to God in turn against us and start to take over our lives. Our perspective changes, and instead of glorifying God in all things, we are starting to be so self-absorbed that we don’t see a solution to our situation, forgetting that God is the One who has the solution to all of our problems! If glory is not given to God in all things, glory is given to the devil.
Our daily decision when we wake up in the morning is: “Who will I give glory to today?” There are only two choices: God or the devil. If you say: “No way! I am going to give glory to myself.” You are falling right where the devil wants you and you are giving glory to his purposes.
“But what can I do to give all my glory to God only?”
The answer is found in 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” NIV
1. Resist the devil when you are discouraged and are in the midst of heavy trials. Don’t give up on God. Don’t give up the ministries through which you are giving glory to God. This is the exactly why the devil is trying to sift you. Don’t fall into his trap.
2. Stand firm in the faith. Look beyond your circumstances and know that Jesus has obtained your victory over all trials 2000 years ago! 1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” NIV Stand firm in the victory Jesus Christ has provided you.
3. Take comfort that you are not alone in this! Know “that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings”. Jesus promised Matt 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV He is the One who has the solution to your problems! He is there for you and has obtained victory for you. Claim it and trust Him. He loves you!
Who will you give all your glory to today?
In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org