{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Myth of Doing for God | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 218)","description":"Does God want me to do things 'for' Him? In this Spiritual Formation conversation, Brian Delamont unpacks the myth that our service somehow benefits God or earns His approval. More than acts of service or obligation, it's about the heart. Brian offers a question to guide our reflection this month as we consider our motivations and perspectives of God.  Isaiah 41:10 Deuteronomy 11:18-21 John 10:27 \u201cWhen I\u2019m doing something \u2018for,\u2019 do I picture that as I\u2019m doing God a favor or I\u2019m actually bringing something to God that maybe He can\u2019t do without me?\u201d Jeremiah 31:3 \u201cThe thought of me doing something \u2018for\u2019 God [is] because I\u2019m questioning whether His love really is unfailing.\u201d Hebrews 13:5 Mark 12:41-43 In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen \u201cCaregiving, tithing, parenting, mentoring someone, gifts of time and helps are beautiful ways of doing \u2018for\u2019 God that become these tangible embodied expressions of His love when they are done as an act of worship.\u201d James 2 Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 1:3-4 \u201cBefore I was capable of doing anything, before the creation of the world, God chose me, God chose to love me, God chose to love us.\u201d Colossians 3:23 \u201cGod is simply bigger than my understanding of Him. He is both grace and truth. He has fully paid for my salvation as the spotless Lamb of God, and He calls me to take up His cross and follow Him at exactly the same time.\u201d \u201cGod said, \u2018I want you to bring your tithes into the storehouse.\u2019 So they\u2019re doing what God said, but it\u2019s a completely different story being told in worship or not worship.\u201d \u201cGod does not demand that we do things \u2018for\u2019 Him \u2013 He\u2019s more than capable of anything that needs to be accomplished, in this universe and beyond \u2013 but, we see from the beginning of creation, God invites us to partner with Him in this flourishing that is His design. He wants our love, which also means that He wants our highest allegiance.\u201d  April Reflection: Does how I\u2019m feeling about God as I serve Him align with who He is, what He has revealed about Himself, and the witness of Scripture and the Holy Spirit? What\u2019s changing our lives:  Keane: Playing Frisbee with his sons Heather: Following the Artemis II space mission Brian: Anticipating a vacation  Weekly Spotlight:  Bucharest Christian Academy We\u2019d love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org Podcast Website: https:\/\/teachbeyond.org\/podcast  Learn about TeachBeyond: https:\/\/teachbeyond.org\/ ","author_name":"Transformed &amp; Transformational","author_url":"http:\/\/transformedandtransformational.libsyn.com\/website","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41000060\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/41000060"}