Remember when you first fell in love with your mate? You thought about him when you were apart. You loved doing things together. Spending time with him was a delight. You talked about him to others and wanted them to meet him. You appreciated his good characteristics. You loved pleasing him. Giving him a gift made you very happy. Your lives were lovingly entwined.
God wants us to love him like that. Dutiful conformity isn’t what God wants from us. He wants our wholehearted love.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5

Because we love him so much, we want to please him.

“what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” Deuteronomy 10:12
“love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…” Deuteronomy 30:20

“serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity…”  Deuteronomy 28:47.  This verse has kept coming to mind the past several months when I’m choosing what to do next in my day,  Each day is a test to see if I’ll put priority on God’s work.   Moses spoke these words to God’s people in the context of warning.  They could serve God willingly when things were humming along – it’s actually a serious test if we’ll remember God when things are good!  But if they forgot to serve God in good times, they would be doomed to serve their enemies in hard times.

As the object of our affection, we recognize his glory and awesomeness. It fills us with true happiness to thank him for his qualities which we ultimately benefit from. When we thank our husbands for being a hard worker, we recognize their character, and its benefit to us. Wise is the man who praises his wife’s cooking because he benefits!  Happy are those who praise and thank our awesome God!

“revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God”  Deuteronomy 28:58

God is kind, merciful, patient, generous, giving, faithful, trustworthy, good, compassionate, caring, ready to help, on our side, working for our good, wise, and gracious.  We respect his power for he is:
Creator of the heavens and the earth, Ruler over the nations, the Beginning and the End, the Planner and Fulfiller, The Commander of Heaven’s armies, never twarted in his purposes, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

If we’d rather do something else before doing our God-given tasks, it’s time to check in with our hearts. What do we love more than God? Often, it’s ourselves. We get more pleasure from doing something for ourselves than from doing something for God. Doing the jobs God gives us should be happy-making. Even though our God-given jobs require a lot of work, effort, and time, we should feel favored that we are the ones God asked. We should get satisfaction from doing a good job for God. We should be truly happy to use our gifts for a higher purpose. We should feel optimistic about our future, knowing that we’ll be richly rewarded.

“serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity…”. Deuteronomy 28:47

What gets in the way of serving God gladly? For me, it’s getting sidetracked, being disorganized, and giving up. Writing is one of my God-given jobs. I write on my computer, but there are oh, so many distractions at my fingertips! Being a grandma is one of my God-given jobs. I have lots of grandkids’ birthday gifts to find, but I can’t think of the right gift, so I procrastinate. Being a friend is one of my God-given jobs. Friends need encouragement, but I don’t remember to check on them till I stop at night when it’s too late to call. Being a wife and guardian of dear Husband’s health is another God-given job. I need to cook healthy meals, but I don’t plan ahead. What gets in the way of your joy?

We all have jobs that have been entrusted to us. Along with the jobs, God gives us the wherewithal to do them. When our hearts are wholly turned to him in eager willingness, he pours out his strength so we can accomplish what he gives us to do. It isn’t drudgery when we’re focused on pleasing our Boss. It isn’t overwhelming work when we realize the resources he gladly gives. It isn’t lonely work when we offer our efforts to our loving, near God. It isn’t ordinary work when we remember what God can do with a boy’s ordinary lunch. It isn’t frustrating work when we bring it to the Untangler. In humble faith, I pray, “This isn’t working, I’m a hot mess, but I know you see and will help me. Please bring it to the right end.”
What gets in your way of serving God joyfully and gladly? Of serving with all your heart and soul? Of finding your life in God?

“love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…” Deuteronomy 30:20

“what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” Deuteronomy 10:12