Isaiah 43:16–21 (NRSV)

19 I am about to do a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

20 The wild animals will honor me,

the jackals and the ostriches;

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

21 the people whom I formed for myself

so that they might declare my praise.

The highest form of purpose in life is to declare God’s praise. The prophet tells us that this is why God made us. So, is God a narcissist? Does God need people around him to make him feel better? Well, of course not…

We are made to praise in order to fulfill our life’s highest purpose and not to fill a void of God’s. Jesus asked us to “seek first the kingdom” and then promised everything else would fall into place. This is what the prophet is conveying.

Our priorities indicate our praise.

Our habits shape our lives which in turn identifies who, or what, we worship.

What do your priorities and habits indicate about you and your faith journey? If someone were to follow you around for the day and record what you do and when you do it, what, or who would rise to the surface?

I realize that I just went from writing a blog post to meddling…but it’s just between you and God. And no time better than today to do an honest assessment of what your life is proclaiming as important and therefore praising.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit I desire to live in such a way as to praise you with my words, deeds and motives. But you also know that they very thing I want to do I cannot or do not. Please help grow my faith and desire for your power and not my own to direct all that I am.