BENEFITS OF LIVING FOR GOD (PARTIAL LIST)
Psalm 4:3, 7-8 NKJ
3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
One of Satan's biggest lies is that living for God makes no difference. But remember, Satan is a liar and does whatever he can to distort the truth. He cannot force anything on us, so he uses deception. The more we know of the scriptures, the greater our ability to refuse and resist the lies of our enemy.
Our verses for today list some of the benefits of living for God. The reference to the godly is the person who is determined to live with a consciousness of God and a desire to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. Godly living, also the word godliness is used, has benefits in this life, and as Paul wrote in 1 Timothy, the life to come. Our verses for today reveal four benefits of living for God.
God sets apart for Himself, him who is godly. God does not ignore the one who is living for Him. To be set apart is to be treated differently than someone who is not living for God. God's love does not exclude anyone. He loves the world, but those who are devoted to Him see benefits that those who ignore or reject Him never experience.
Another benefit of godly living is the confidence that the Lord will hear when I call to Him. This is big. The apostle John wrote about the confidence that we have before God when we are living for Him. Confidence that stems from believing in Him and doing those things that are pleasing to Him. When we are living this way, our heart does not condemn us, and we have confidence with God. Confidence that He is with us and hears us when we call on Him.
God gives the godly gladness in our hearts. This is a gladness that is not dependent on circumstances being favorable. Those without God are glad when their possessions increase. But the joy that comes from God is there even when nothing good is happening around us. This helps us stay stable and less prone to mood swings that are subject to the ups and downs of life. For example, many people become down or anxious on Sunday night. The weekend is over, and the thought of going back to work or school is daunting. But when the joy, the gladness, of the Lord is present, Monday does not appear as foreboding. We can actually handle Monday with gladness.
The set-apart ones also have the benefit of peaceful sleep. And that is a major benefit. If we believe that God knows us and that we are set apart for His goodness and grace, that trust gives us a sense of peace. This is a good promise to take hold of. We can pray, "Lord, You make me live in safety. I am protected by You and can sleep peacefully."
These benefits are available to anyone who determines to live in such a way that God is pleased. Please note, I did not say living perfect. If you miss it and make a mistake, don't allow fear to dominate you. Ask the Lord to forgive you. He will, and you can get right back on track living with the benefits of the godly.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You that I can live a life that is pleasing to You. You have equipped me and strengthened me to live strong for You. You have set me apart. You hear me when I call to You. You have put gladness in my heart that is strong and consistent, and I sleep the sleep of the protected. Thank You!