The Lord

Is God Truly the Lord of Your Life?

Have you ever stopped to consider if God is truly the Lord of your life? It’s a question that deserves our attention, especially in a world where so many things compete for our allegiance. As Christians, we may quickly answer, “Of course!” But the reality is, it’s easy for other things to creep into areas of our lives where only God should reign.

Let’s explore what it means for God to be Lord and how we can ensure He maintains that rightful place in our lives.

Understanding “Lord” in the Bible

When we see “Lord” in the Bible, it often refers to two Hebrew words:

1. Adonai: A general term for someone with authority.
2. Yahweh: God’s proper name, meaning “I am who I am.”

Yahweh is used most frequently, appearing 6,482 times in the Old Testament. This name reveals God’s self-sufficiency and independence. As J.I. Packer beautifully puts it:

“God’s being is a state not of rest but of activity. God’s phrase name is thus a proclamation of his Sovereign self-sufficiency and self-consistency. He is free and independent; He acts as he pleases; He does what he wills. What he purposes and promises that he also performs.”

Why We Need God as Lord

Psalm 145 provides insight into how we should respond to God as Lord. David writes:

“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1-2)

This passage highlights three key actions:

1. Extol: Raise God up in our speech and life.
2. Bless: Pronounce favor on God.
3. Praise: Spotlight God in our lives.

These actions should be part of our daily spiritual practice. Instead of approaching God’s Word as a self-help book, we should focus on knowing and worshipping God for who He is. This transforms our relationship with Him and impacts how we live.

Passing on Our Faith

Our relationship with God shouldn’t be kept to ourselves. Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” We need to be so consumed with God’s majesty that we can’t help but share it with others, especially the next generation.

Why God Deserves to Be Lord

God isn’t just a powerful being demanding our allegiance. He deserves to be Lord because of His character and actions:

1. He is love (Psalm 145:8-9)
2. He is faithful and kind (Psalm 145:13)
3. He provides for the weak and needy (Psalm 145:14-16)
4. He answers prayer (Psalm 145:18-19)
5. He protects those who love Him (Psalm 145:20)

Putting It Into Practice

So how can we make God the true Lord of our lives? Here are some practical steps:

1. Daily devotion: Spend time in God’s Word and prayer, focusing on who God is rather than just what He can do for you.
2. Worship: Regularly extol, bless, and praise God, both privately and with other believers.
3. Share your faith: Look for opportunities to tell others about God’s character and mighty acts.
4. Surrender control: Identify areas where you’re trying to maintain control and consciously give them to God.
5. Trust in difficult times: Remember God’s faithfulness and kindness when facing challenges.

Let’s close with David’s words from Psalm 145:21: “My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” May this be the cry of our hearts as we seek to make God the true Lord of our lives.