Looking for fulfillment or joy in 2023?

About 2,000 years ago, lived King Herod, a powerful leader in Jerusalem. He was a wicked leader, having power to kill as he decided, which he often did as he violently persecuted the believers in Jerusalem.

Herod had authority, and he demanded respect. When he spoke to the people of Tyre and Sidon, they shouted, “the voice of a god, not a man!” I have to believe they did so out of fear for their life. Herod must have relished in this praise, as God interceded.

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and was eaten by worms and breathed his last. Acts 12:23

Herod lacked humility. God humbles the proud. Herod took the glory, loved the praise given to him for his God-given position and talent. It wasn’t because Herod was some incredible leader that he held the position of king. He was in the family, so he was appointed. He did nothing to deserve the position. And, as for his public speaking ability? Of course the people praised him, because, if they didn’t, they would be put to death.

If anyone should have been humble and thankful for the life they were given, it was Herod. He “deserved” or earned none of it on his own.

Herod’s time on earth must have been empty. Constant glorification of himself, always trying to elevate with power, forcing people to bow, to like, to conform to his way of thinking. A life-long race to a place where one can never find fulfillment, one’s self. And, his life ended in this self-glorification.

The story of Herod has a great message for us to lean into in 2023. If we are looking for fulfillment and joy in this new year, glorify God with your life.

2 swing thoughts around glorifying God, that, if I can so boldly claim, will radically change your life and bring you great joy in the new year.

Swing thought number one.

To glorify God means to put everything I have into every endeavor before me this year. Work with excellence in every role, in every endeavor, in every job.

My role as husband. Work with excellence. Give 100%. My role as a father, it means much. Give it my all for my kids. My work, it is a blessing. Go hard. Work for Him. My interests, teaching, writing, running. Work with excellence in every endeavor.

Working with excellence glorifies God, as I use my energy, passion, talent, position from Him for Him.

Swing thought number two.

After I have put everything into every endeavor, worked with excellence, tried my best, God gets the glory for any results. I must take no glory. He gave me the positions, the desires, my relationships, any talent that I have. They are gifts from Him, and He gets all credit.

Victories will occur, sure. Expect success. But, even more certain, failures will occur. Negative things will happen. But, when you work to glorify God in all areas of your life, failures are not a reflection of you. God has a plan, and His plan for your life will be laced with what we would describe as “failures” to accomplish His will. His plan is perfect, and we can rest in that. His path for me is nothing that I can imagine. He must increase, I must decrease. I must fight the urge to take glory for any success in my life or bear the burden for any failure in my life.

That’s it. A simple shift in your mindset, removing you from the pressure of the sitting on the throne in your life and putting God in His rightful place will bring joy in 2023.

Glorifying God in life is a daily decision, a daily mindset shift. It requires one to wake up each day and give one’s life to Him. Live on mission for Him. Complacency, apathy, negativity, any lack of motivation will fade away as you live His script for your life. If any of those feelings occur, you are off base, focusing on yourself, not glorifying Him. Every one of us will find ourself sliding into those feelings occasionally, but let the mission of glorifying God right the ship.

Glorify God in 2023 and revolutionize your life.

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