I must be honest. I love to hear praises. As much as I say it and don’t know how to handle it, I do like to hear good words. I like to receive pats-on-the-back. I like to hear “well done.” It’s not that I live for that. If that were the case, I’d be in hot water. I’d be in bad shape because living for accolades is an empty pursuit. For several reasons, but the biggest being I should be living for God’s glory not mine. To take what is and should be His and to accept it as my own is robbing Him of what is rightfully His. As Tripp says:

I was designed for it. I have missed the point without it. What is it? Living every day for the glory of the Father.

When I seek the approval of men; when I accept the accolades of men; when men’s applause motivates me, I have stolen that which belongs to God alone. Psalm 145 is filled with “Bless the Lord.” “Great is the Lord.” “The Lord is…” The only solution to my arrogance, to my ascendancy, to my puffiness is to acknowledge God gets the glory not me. My purpose is to give glory to Him and not take credit for myself. My purpose is to exalt Him not myself.

“Father, you and you alone are to be honored and glorified. You and you alone are to be lifted up and exalted. Forgive me when I become a glory hound.  Forgive me when I take credit for your work in and through me. Each time I pray I close with ‘May you be given all the praise, glory and honor.’ Let them be more than mere words I finish a prayer with. May they be heartfelt and ‘lived out’ words.”