“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching. Love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening. And live like it’s heaven on earth.” ~ William W. Purkey
Words to live by.
I’ve got the dance part down pretty well.
If you know me- you know that I’m a tiny dancer. I LOVE to dance even though I’m not professionally trained and sometimes not very good. When my kind’of music plays, I start moving to the rhythm and often not even realize it! Dancing like no one is watching!
Don’t we all do this in one aspect of life or another; subconscious movement, choices, decisions and priorities completed like no one is watching or like it doesn’t really matter? Cruising along on auto-pilot.
The truth is there is always someone watching!
And that someone is God.
Although, we tend to live our lives with Him as an afterthought; prioritizing above Him, making decisions without Him, living life to impress others or worse yet making ourselves the center of the universe.
Do you understand that when we do this, we are committing idolatry?
I find this quote by John Piper compelling: “True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things.”
ABOVE ALL THINGS.
Let’s consider God’s second commandment to his people - “You shall have no other gods before Me.” ~Exodus 20:3
Why?
God is jealous and desires our whole heart.
“You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” ~Exodus 34:14
God’s simple expectation- You treat Him as He should be treated- as the center of your universe. Above all else!
Honestly, this shouldn’t be too much to ask when you consider that He is the true center- He is the creator of everything. He is not bound by time or space. He is eternal, pure and holy and let’s not forget that He gives us our very next breath and eternal life!
Shouldn’t that make Him worthy of our exclusive praise, worship, and devotion?
So, why do we make our lives about everything else instead?
We are masters at self-denial and will not readily admit that we routinely place God last.
I recently heard a sermon from Chip Ingram on this very topic and boy did it strike home! He offered up five evaluation questions that tell who or what your center is- your circumference.
How would you honestly answer the following questions?
1. Who do you rely upon when things get tough, when you are under pressure, the world seems to be falling apart, and trouble is all around you? Who do you count on? Is it yourself, spouse, parents, money, position or God?
2. Where does your time, energy and money go? If we took a peek at your bank account, calendar, schedule or journal, what would we see? Would it shout the importance of God or tell a different story of what/who is most important in your life?
3. Who are you trying to impress? Family, friends, co-workers, schoolmates or a mate? Do you make decisions and choices with others in mind or with the goal of living for an audience of one? Doing things that if God were physically standing right beside you, He would be pleased?
4. What or who is the center of your life? Are you living for your spouse, your children, your job or even your church/ministry? All are good things, but they shouldn't be your center. Only God deserves to be the center as He is the only one that is constant, never changing, true, holy eternal and without stain.
5. What holds you up inside? How do you stay sane, happy and content? If we removed one thing from your life would you fall apart? Would you still be happy tomorrow if your financial situation changed? Would you be as stable if you lost a loved one? Would you still be content if your health declined? If you are placing your happiness and well-being in a person, circumstance or thing (here on Earth) you can bet eventually you will suffer grave disappointment.
Your answers to the above questions are an accurate reflection of your heart, your center, your circumference. The who or what you worship.
"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." ~Matthew 6:21
God wants our whole heart with zero competition!
He wants to be your first thought. He wants to be your true love. We wants your obedience and devotion. He wants to be the one you try to impress, the one you rely upon and trust when times get tough. He wants you to give Him His rightful place as the CENTER of your life.
He wants you to live your life dancing for an audience of one. Him!
Father, forgive us when we worship other things in our life. When we place you last and live for ourselves or for others. May we make you our true center. May we place you above all else and trust that when we do life becomes sweeter because our relationship with you becomes stronger. You are worthy of praise and all of creation should worship you and you alone!
"Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.” ~Deuteronomy 4:39