The Purpose Driven Life: Day 9 — What Makes God Smile?
March 2nd, 2007 · Posted in Books, Christianity, Practical Christianity, Purpose Driven Life · 1 CommentYou were planned for God’s pleasure is the first purpose in Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life. He continues expanding this theme in Day 9 — What Makes God Smile?
He begins day 9 with the sentence:
The smile of God is the goal of your life.
Using the story of Noah (Genesis 5-9) Warren gives “5 acts of worship that make God smile”:
1. God smiles when we love Him supremely.
God wants us to love Him above all else. Learning to love God and be loved by God should be the greatest objective of our lives.2. God smiles when we trust Him completely.
Regardless of all the arguments Noah could have given to not build the ark and gather the animals, Noah did not argue with God. He trusted God and obeyed God. God wants us to trust and obey Him.
3. God smiles when we obey Him wholeheartedly.
Noah did not offer partial obedience to God — he obeyed God completely — and did exactly what God told him to do. There are many times we may not understand why God is calling us to do something, (I am sure Noah did not understand why he was building the ark, gathering the animals, etc.) There are times we need to obey God — even when we do not understand.4.God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually.
God loves our heartfelt praise and appreciation for all He does for us.5. God smiles when we use our abilities.
God has given us gifts — strengths — and abilities. We make a mistake when we think that God is only pleased with us when we are doing something “spiritual” such as attending Church, reading the Bible, or praying. While these things certainly please God, God is also pleased when we use enjoy life and use the gifts He has given us.
God wants us to be like Noah. He wants us to love Him supremely, trust Him completely, obey Him wholeheartedly, praise and thank Him continually, and use our abilities. Doing these things will make God smile!
Lord — I thank You and praise You for all You have done for me. Help me to live a life that will make You smile! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:10 am
I love this book. All five of the above points come down to one thing for me. Including God in everything I do everyday; from the very important to the very mundane. God wants to be a part of our lives and it makes him happy when we invite him along with us on our journey.