Grant Taylor: I want God to bless this team so much people will talk about what He did. But it means we gotta give Him our best in every area. And if we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him. Either way we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes. So I'm askin' you... What are you living for? I resolve to give God everything I've got, then I'll leave the results up to Him. I want to know if you'll join me.
From Facing The Giants
If we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him.
I watched Facing the Giants for the first time a few days ago. By the time I dropped the DVD into the player, I'd already had a rough day and the insecurities of life were threatening to flatten me with the force of a steamroller. A couple of times I was tempted to turn the movie off. I really wasn't in the mood to watch a happy-ending story where every prayer is answered. Real life isn't full of easy fixes, and that's certainly not where my life felt like it was heading that night.
Until I saw this scene:
I was so moved and convicted. This scene grabbed my heart and helped me realize I've been looking at my circumstances from the world's perspective.
Am I giving my very best to God? No matter what the outcome appears to be?
As the movie continued, I considered how my thinking has somehow deteriorated—again— into being outcome based. I marveled at how often I think thoughts such as, I could be more obedient if only God answered my prayers.
Yet, the next powerful scene in the movie shows I need to reverse the order of that thought for it to be Biblical. God might answer more of my prayers if I was only more obedient.
(Note: unfortunately YouTube doesn't have any clips of this specific scene.
Fast forward to minute 5:30 to see this scene for yourself.)
If we win, we praise Him. If we lose, we praise Him.
God has told us in His word that His will for our lives includes being thankful for all circumstances (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). Wouldn't thankfulness to God include praising Him for what He is doing, for who He is, for the circumstances He has given us?
During this busy holiday season, I'm determining to give God praise no matter what my situation, no matter how I feel. God owns me (I Corinthians 6:20) and He deserves my praise. Even if everything I encounter during this season is more difficult than I'd like, I am committing to focus on the One who will one day wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). That seems like a pretty good reason to praise Him right there!
Will you join me?
God,
I praise You for who You are, and what You are doing in my life. I thank You for these busy days. I praise You because You promise to never leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Please help me keep my eyes on You and my heart focused on giving You praise—no matter what.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
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2 comments:
Awesome post, my friend. This one convicted me, in ways I needed.
Thank you for an amazing message!!
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