It’s a question that some people never want to hear, much less answer. The truth is that our ‘natural man’ wants to please other men (man and men, in this case, represent mankind which includes women!) But if we are born-again of the Spirit of God, our spiritual man seeks to please God.
This is one of those ‘mysteries’ in the Bible that we need to understand going into the Revelation Days. The natural man actually wars against the spiritual man, and guess what? Sometimes it wins! Just ask me on days that I have circumstances in my life that are overwhelming! Better yet, ask those around me!
I’m just keeping it real here. Sometimes I give my ‘natural man’ permission to act out, and it’s not pretty. My halo actually slips a little. I’ll bet yours never does that, does it? 😉
Back to serious!
Early in my walk with the Lord, I heard Him ask me one day, “do you want to please Me, or man?” Believe me, when you’re asked that question, your first reaction is to quickly answer, “YOU, Lord!” But, even as I had that thought, I heard Him say, “don’t answer too quickly, because your answer will become the destiny of your life!”
No pressure. No pressure at all.
As I began to ponder the question, I came to understand that pleasing God may include some things I hadn’t previously thought. What if pleasing God included never being married or never having children? What if pleasing God included consecrating my entire life to His service alone?
From my childhood, all I ever wanted to be was a wife and a mother.
I recalled the Scripture: “seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Then my answer became clear: “Lord, if I never have anyone or anything in my life except YOU, YOU are more than enough. I choose YOU, Lord! If I am single my whole life, if I never have children, I choose YOU! If I have to choose between pleasing man (myself included) or pleasing YOU, I choose YOU! Today I choose the WHOLE desire of my heart is YOU, Lord!”
After that defining point in my life, I spent 10 years in inner-city ministry. The Lord truly tested the resolve of my made-up mind and found that I had meant what I said and it came from my heart.
If any of you have read my book, “More Than I Could Ever Ask,” you know that I worked menial jobs and did what I had to do to continue in ministry as a single woman. Oh, but then…..
God truly did give me the desires of my heart and more when Jim and I married and we subsequently were given 5 beautiful children to love and raise!
Back when God presented that perplexing question to me, I counted the cost and weighed my answer against the natural (wo)man’s desires and chose the spiritual (wo)man’s path. It has been many years since then, and I was over 40 when God gave me the fullness of my heart’s desires. Had I chosen my own path, I’m sure my life’s outcome would have been much different.
Today, I am teaching this principle to my own children, which God gave to me, and I pray that they too will seek to please God first.
Love,
Intentional prayers for you and Jim tonight .
Sister Lori, I believe following man is foolishness and pursuing a personal relation with God is wisdom! Great write-up! God Bless! Mike
Hi Lori, your program comes to us in Kelowna around midnite, so it is hard to get you folks, but when I do, it is so interesting. I did order the sample pac bucket, and sent my questions onward.
Regarding your blog, a thought came to me while lying in bed the other day, and it was a wee bit shocking for me….here it is…”if you want to walk in a higher demension with the Lord of hosts, then there is a price to pay”…”what do you spend most of your time doing”? Immediately, I thought of TV, since I am almost immobile now, TV has it’s advantages…then “what is your favorite program”? “Would you be willing to cast that at my feet”? Wow, what a question…one of my favorite programs is “Revenge”….that new series…keeps me revited to my seat…but not Godly, that is for sure.
Well, when I came down the stairs, guess what…the TV wouldn’t work…lolol, the Lord has a great sense of humor…”are you willing to keep it this way”? Or do you really need your programs”?
Wow, again, a big question. But even a bigger question is: “Gwendolyn, do you really want to walk in a new demension with Jesus”?
So time will tell how I handle this request…God bless, just thought I would pass it on, as I am one of those individuals that God did ask to stay single for HIM, and guess what…HE is a great spouse, providing every possible thing that I need…thank you Lord.
Be blessed, love your program…sis Gwendolyn
Lori, I read your book and had a hard time putting it down. Oh, my goodness, what God has brought you through, my dear. What an inspiration you are! I would love to see you have a show of your own for women.
God’s continued blessings on you, your loved ones, and your ministry.
Jeanette
Many of these thoughts are similar to my own testimony, Lori… It is SUCH A FREEDOM when we finally weigh the costs and come to the decision that His way is the ONLY WAY FOR US! Daily, I renew that decision – and I know you do also… Mimi