As followers of Christ or even those of us who are searching, we want to experience God's presence in our lives. This is manifested in different ways. Sometimes we want to experience His power, His peace, His direction, His healing, His hope, or His wisdom.
However, no matter how much we want those things or even pray for those things, we still aren't experiencing God in the way we want.
Why?
Why aren't we experiencing Him?
We each have aims or goals. We have aims for ourselves, our families, our marriages, our kids. We want to lose weight, be healthier. We want to score that job promotion, get that raise. We want to take vacations, be more intentional. We want to have perfect grades. We want to be stress free. We want to worry less.
All of these are good goals and aims we should have for our lives.
But do we have a main goal, an only aim?
An only aim is an aim we will sacrifice anything for. We will sacrifice our money, our time, our life. It doesn't change with time; it defines our life.
In Acts 20:24, Paul states, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Paul's only aim was to spread the good news of Jesus. This was his only aim because he followed Jesus, and it was what was most important to Jesus!
In addition to asking ourselves if we're experiencing God's presence, we have to ask ourselves if our only aims are in line with what's most important to God?
During the final week of our Relentless sermon series, Ronnie gave us a list of seven questions to help us diagnose and determine the focus of our aims. ..
Do you seek God for His will or for Him to do yours?
Prayer: What would You have me do?
Mantra: God’s will be done.
Is your most common prayer “God, use me” or “God, give me”?
Prayer: God, how do You want to use me?
Mantra: God, use me.
Does your life center around Jesus or around you?
Prayer: How can I put You and Your Kingdom above me and mine?
Mantra: It’s not about me.
Do you remain faithful to what’s important or sacrifice for what immediate?
Prayer: What’s most important to You, God?
Mantra: I will not sacrifice what’s important for the immediate.
What’s your top concern - obedience to your Heavenly Father or what you want?
Prayer: Am I glorifying You right now?
Mantra: I exist for God’s glory.
Do you relate to others on God’s terms or your terms?
Prayer: What does love require of me?
Mantra: I will love others how Jesus first loved me.
Is reaching people for Jesus what you live for or something you feel obligated to do?
Prayer: With whom does Your love need shared or shown?
Mantra: My purpose is to carry on Jesus’ mission.
Do any of those questions resonate with you? Do any of them convict you?
Our only aims affect our experience of God's presence. If our only aims aren't in line with what's most important to God, we won't experience His relentless presence in the way we want.
This week, we challenge you to think on these questions. Do any of them resonate with you? Do any of them convict you? Allow God to transform your heart, your attitude, and your only aim to be in line with what’s most important to Him.