As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:2)
The greatest evidence of new life in Christ is the change from living the way we want to living the way God wants. This is not a shallow or temporary change but a deep change that affects the rest of our lives.
Early in my spiritual walk, Psalm 37:4 became my life verse: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This sounds like a good deal—you can get the desires of your heart. But God soon changes your desires away from “evil human desires” to align them with his purpose and pleasure. His will becomes your desire.
The enemy of your soul wants you to think that the fun will be gone from your life when you no longer try to please yourself but surrender to God. But that is not true. Not only have I escaped the pain that results from living for human gratification, but I have also experienced the benefits of receiving the favor of God as I have sought to please him. Wonderful opportunities for service have opened to me that I could not have orchestrated. I have met choice people of God I could not have arranged to meet. I have traveled around the world on ministries I could not have planned. God’s will for me has brought more fun and rewards than I could have imagined.
Today, choose to do what pleases God rather than what pleases you.
Ken Heer was an ordained minister with The Wesleyan Church prior to his death. He served as a pastor, educator, and church leader for more than fifty years.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
