Journey to Easter – 40-Day Creative Lent Devotional – Day 19: Seeking To Please Jesus

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pleasing christ

 

Day 19: Seeking To Please Jesus

Opening Prayer

opening prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You now seeking Your guidance and wisdom. Today we reflect on seeking to please Jesus above all else. Help us turn our eyes fully upon You, our Lord and Savior, and desire Your approval over the praise of men. Search our hearts and reveal any area where we have strayed from living to glorify You.

By Your Spirit, stir within us a greater passion to obey Your will and follow Your ways. Teach us to set aside our own desires and selfish ambitions, and instead follow Christ’s example of humility and service. Fill us afresh with Your love so that pleasing You becomes our highest joy and chief ambition each day.

Come and renew our minds to think as You think, Father. Show us anew how to walk as Jesus walked – in step with Your Spirit, dependent on Your grace, doing only what we see You doing. We long to live for Your pleasure alone. Speak to us through Your living Word and transform our lives more into the likeness of Your Son.

In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.

Scripture Reading and Reflection

seeking jesus

2 Corinthians 5:9 KJV

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

1 John 3:22 KJV

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Reflection:

As we reflect on what it means to seek to please Jesus above all else, a few thoughts come to mind. First, pleasing Jesus should be our highest goal and ambition each day. So often our priorities become skewed and we end up living to please ourselves instead – pursuing our own desires, looking for validation from others, striving for achievements on our own terms. But Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Him without reservation (Luke 9:23). Pleasing Jesus means denying our sinful selves and surrendering fully to His will and purposes. It’s about obeying His commands even when it’s inconvenient or costly (John 14:15). It means living a life of humility, service and sacrifice as He modeled for us (Philippians 2:5-8). We must set our eyes solely on Him and His eternal perspective, not be conformed to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2). Pleasing Jesus also requires faith – trusting Him completely and believing He sees the whole picture, even when we don’t understand (Hebrews 11:6). It means obeying in faith, not sight, out of love for Him rather than fear or obligation (2 Corinthians 5:7). Though the path may be difficult, Jesus promises to reward those who earnestly seek Him (Matthew 6:33). As we seek to follow Christ more closely, searching our motives and allowing His Spirit to transform us (Romans 8:29), may our one desire be to live in a way that brings pleasure to our Lord. May He be honored in and through our lives as we embrace His call to deny ourselves daily and take up our cross (Luke 9:23). This is true repentance – turning from living for ourselves to living wholly for Jesus (Acts 20:21).

Hymn:

Living for Jesus

1 Living for Jesus, oh, what peace! Rivers of pleasure never cease. Trials may come, yet I’ll not fear. Living for Jesus, He is near.

Refrain Help me to serve thee more and more. Help me to praise Thee o’er and o’er; Live in Thy presence day by day, Never to turn from Thee away.

2 Living for Jesus, oh, what rest! Pleasing my Saviour, I am blest. Only to live for Him alone. Doing His will till life is done! Refrain

3 Living for Jesus, ev’rywhere, All of my burdens He doth bear. Friends may forsake me; He’ll be true. Trusting in Him, He’ll guide me through. Refrain

4 Living for Jesus, till at last Into His glory I have passed; There to behold Him on His throne, Hear from His lips, “My child, well done!” Refrain

Lyrics: Charles F. Weigle, Music: Charles F. Weigle

Creative Activities: 1. Scripture Writing

scripture writing   Write out 2 Corinthians 5:9 and 1 John 3:22 in your best handwriting on the Scripture writing page which you can download below. Please download the Scripture Writing Page below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only. Commercial use not allowed.

Download Scripture Writing Page

scripture writing printable day 19DOWNLOAD NOW

Creative Activities: 2. Bible Journaling

bible journaling

Now it’s time to creatively express the reflections you have had through Bible journaling. As you look over the Scriptures referenced, consider ways to illustrate concepts through symbols, colors and textures in your journaling. Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • Use drawing, doodling or collage to depict Jesus calling us to follow without reservation, obeying His commands out of love.
  • Illustrate through shapes and patterns what it looks like to deny our sinful selves and surrender fully to God’s will.
  • Doodle images that represent living a life of humility, service and sacrifice as Christ modeled.
  • Allow your pencil or brush to wander freely as you meditate on a verse about faith or obedience, depicting its meaning abstractly.
Give your creative spirit freedom to respond openly through symbolic art as God’s Word awakens fresh insights within. Take time to quietly listen to Him also through Scriptural meditation as your illustrations unfold. Let your journaling be an expression of worship to the One we seek to please alone.

Creative Activities: 3. Doodling

doodling

  As you continue reflecting on seeking to please Jesus, allow your time of relaxed doodling to further internalize today’s theme. With pencil in hand, meditate freely on the Scriptures covered while making random marks on the page. Creatively doodling provides an outlet for continued contemplation as you linger in God’s presence. Let your pencil wander without censoring or overthinking your marks. You may:
  • Doodle shapes or patterns that symbolize living to please Christ rather than self.
  • Draw scenes from Jesus’ life that portrayed pleasing the Father above all.
  • Sketch prayers and reflections as abstract symbols of surrendering to God’s will.
  • Let your pencil flow as you ponder a passage, depicting its essence through formless art.
Give your imagination freedom to respond through simple lines and textures without judgment. Doodling can unlock fresh perspectives as your mind and hand commune with the Lord. Use this time to silently listen to Him through His Word as your doodles take shape. Let your art be an open-hearted way to soak in God’s guidance quietly. Please download the Doodle Printable below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only. Commercial use not allowed.

Download Doodle Printable

doodle printable day 19DOWNLOAD NOW

Creative Activities: 4. Journaling

journaling

 

Reflect and Journal:

  • What do you think God is asking you to change or improve in your life so that you focus more on pleasing Jesus?
Please download the Journal Printable below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only. Commercial use not allowed.

Download Journal Printable

journal printable day 19DOWNLOAD NOW

Applying and Taking Action

applying and taking action

  Your reflections and creative expressions have hopefully brought renewed clarity around seeking to please Jesus above all else. Now it’s time to consider practical next steps:
  • What specific attitudes or behaviors do you sense God asking you to surrender completely to Him? Quietly commit this to prayer.
  • How will you reprioritize your day-to-day choices and schedule to ensure time with God remains a top priority?
  • Which relationships or commitments might you need to adjust to remove distractions from your goal of pleasing Christ?
  • What accountabilty partners can help encourage your spiritual growth in this area over the coming weeks?
  • How will you regularly check your motives, relying on Scripture and prayer to refocus on Christ amid daily pressures?
Most importantly, determine to walk in the power of Christ each day. Turn from yourself and embrace His strength, viewing each circumstance through His eyes. Your transformed life will point others to our hope – pleasing our Savior above all.

Closing Prayer

closing prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this time spent focusing our hearts and minds on You through exploring what it means to seek to please Jesus above all else. By Your Spirit, move what we have reflected on from our heads to our lives. Where You have revealed areas we still fall short, grant us the humility and courage to fully surrender those parts of ourselves to Your lordship.

Help us to consistently live in a way that brings You joy and honor. May pleasing You become our chief priority each morning as we step out in faith, and our deepest satisfaction each evening as we rest in Your peace. Keep our eyes fixed on Your eternal perspective instead of earthly pleasures that fade.

Guide us as we seek to obey Your specific leading in how to grow closer to You. Give us wisdom, determination and reliance on Your strength to apply what we have learned. May our lives increasingly reflect Your character and desire to do Your will.

We thank You that in Christ, You are already well-pleased. Help us walk worthily of the calling we have received in Him. May our obedience spread Your fragrance in this weary world.

In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

 

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