Purpose #1 - Planned for God's Pleasure

Revelation 4:11
You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.

We were created to bring enjoyment to God and to live for his pleasure. By worshipping him we bring him pleasure.

Psalm 147:11
The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love.

Anything we do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship, it's a lifestyle. Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God. We can accomplish this by doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by having continual conversation with Him. We seem to think that worship is just about music but how could those who are non musical ever worship? I think it's easy to get caught up in how worshipping the Lord makes us feel (for me it's especially in music) but it's not about me and how I feel! It's not for my benefit it for God's!! How many times haven't I walked away from church and said "I didn't get anything out of church/worship today." When we realize that it's for God's benefit not ours we should never be able to say this.

Colossi ans 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Romans 12:1
Take your everyday, ordinary life---your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life---and place it before God as an offering.

So the smile of God becomes the goal in our life. More than anything I want to meet Jesus one day and see a big smile on his face as he tells me how much pleasure I brought him. God smiles when we love him over anything else, when we trust him completely, when we obey him wholeheartedly, when we praise and thank him continually, and when we use the abilities he's given us.

Hosea 6:6
I don't want your sacrifices---I want your love; I don't want your offerings---I want you to know me.

Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Psalm 119:33
Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey. (spoken by David)

Psalm 69:30-31
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord. (spoken by David)

Psalm 37:23
The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.

The fact that every thing I do, except sin can be done for God's pleasure if it's done with an attitude of praise has been a very freeing experience. When we realize this we can use every task, every conversation, every moment to please God. It's about continually living our lives like He is right beside us. It's not spending time with Him for 1 hour a day, it's walking with Him all day. I often have felt guilty for not spending time with God each day but I am when I include Him and talk to Him constantly throughout the day.

Our focus has to change from "How much pleasure am I getting out of life?" to How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?"