Show Me Your Glory
Times of Testing, Transition, & Radical Obedience
“Father, glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You.” — John 17:1
Have you ever taken time to ponder what it means to glorify God?
I’ve heard it sang during worship, prayed from the pulpit, and even ask for it in my own prayer time, but recently I’ve been thinking 🤔 “What exactly have I invited by asking God to be glorified in my life?”
When we pray this, we’re not just asking for goosebumps in worship.
We’re giving God permission to write His story through our lives, even if it costs us something.
We’re saying, “God, if my life becomes the backdrop for Your power—do it.”
“If showing Your mercy means exposing my weakness, I’ll trust You.”
“If revealing Your strength means walking through fire, refine me.”
This is what it looked like for Jesus, and often, this is what it looks like for us too.
🔥 Glory Often Comes with a Weight
The Hebrew word for glory, kabod, literally means weight or heaviness. When God’s glory shows up, it’s not light or fluffy. It carries substance, and it often precedes a testing or revealing season.
Think of it:
Moses sees God’s glory on the mountain… then carries the weight of leading a rebellious nation.
Jesus reveals His glory at the Transfiguration… then walks straight toward Gethsemane and the cross.
The Church experiences God’s glory at Pentecost… then faces persecution and scattering.
In every story, glory and testing intertwine—not because God is cruel, but because His glory shines brightest in surrendered vessels.
🕊️ The Glory Is the Invitation
Praying for God’s glory isn’t necessarily a dangerous prayer—it’s a holy one. But it’s a prayer that reshapes our expectations:
We’re not just inviting His Presence; we’re inviting His purpose.
We’re not just inviting a holy moment; we’re stepping into His mission.
We’re not just saying, “Use me,” but “Be seen through me—even if it costs me.”
🔥This is where many believers get confused: we pray big prayers but don’t always recognize God’s glory when it comes wrapped in hardship.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you… but rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.” — 1 Peter 4:12–13
This is worth careful consideration 🙏🏼
The Glory of God is not just what surrounds the throne—it’s what transforms ordinary lives into living testimonies.
The Glory of God is His holiness on display through surrendered hearts.
🖊️ Journaling Prompts
Have you ever prayed for God to be glorified in your life? What did you expect to happen?
How has God revealed His glory through seasons you didn’t understand at the time?
What might it look like to trust Him if His glory means your obedience in hard places?
Passages To Meditate On
John 17:1 (CSB)
Jesus’ prayer before the cross
“Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you.’
💭 Thought:
God’s glory isn’t just revealed in victory but in obedience — even when obedience leads to the cross.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (CSB)
Glory on the other side of affliction
“For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.”
💭 Thought:
What feels heavy now may actually be preparing you to carry the weight of glory later.
1 Peter 4:12–13 (CSB)
Glory revealed through trials
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.”
💭 Thought:
Glory and suffering often come hand-in-hand — not to destroy us, but to reveal Christ through us.
Exodus 33:18–19 (CSB)
Moses beholds God’s glory before the wilderness journey
“Then Moses said, ‘Please, let me see your glory.’ He said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name “the Lord” before you.’”
💭 Thought:
When we ask to see His glory, He reveals His character — often before calling us into something greater than ourselves.
🌿 Tip for Meditation:
Read each verse slowly, out loud if possible.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what part of His glory He wants to reveal to you personally.
Notice where obedience, suffering, and glory intersect in your own story.
🙏🏼Father God,
We so desire to bring You glory. You alone are worthy of our praise. Your Word says that if we ask for the Spirit, You will give Him to us, empowering us to glorify You through obedience. And Your Word also says that LOVE is the way the world will know who You are.
Thank You for the privilege of showing others Your love by how we choose to live and interact in this broken world. Thank You for giving us everything we need in the Person of the Holy Spirit. When we are weak, Your power is made available. By the Spirit, we can obey even when our flesh screams “no.”
Holy Spirit, Helper,
We confess that we have not consistently walked in Your power. And because of that, we have not loved the way Scripture commands. Show us today one thing to lay down—whatever has hindered our relationship with You—so that there’s more room in our hearts for Your living water to pour. Thank You that as You refresh us, You also pour through us to refresh others.
Help us let go of everything that clouds our vision or dulls our hearing. Reveal any agreements we’ve made with fear, lies, or pride that have paralyzed us. As You bring these things into the light, give us courage to confess immediately, so they lose their hold under the weight of Your glorious light.
Let us behold Your glory… and accept everything that comes with that gift. Less of us, more of You. Teach us to take You at Your Word. As we study, make Your truth clear, stripping away every distortion so we can walk in discernment and confidence.
Help us heed our conscience and honor the personal convictions You place within us—not by comparing ourselves to others, but by choosing radical trust and obedience. May we treasure Your words, for they are life to our bodies, healing to our flesh, marrow to our bones, and light to our path.
Jesus, our Savior—The Way, The Truth, and The Life—
Thank You for giving us Your Spirit so we have everything we need to stay on the path, walk in Your way, and lay down our lives for others just as You did for us. You became like us so we would believe You understand our pain, and we can have confidence to endure because the same Spirit who raised You from the dead lives in us.
Forgive us for unbelief and disobedience. Our disobedience reveals where we do not yet trust or know You as You desire us to. Change that in us today. Like Abraham, who against all hope still believed, and who offered up Isaac in radical trust, let us hold nothing back when You ask for it.
Father, You are good. You are here. Your Spirit never leaves.
Let that be enough for us today as we choose life over death, blessing over cursing, so that we and our families will live to glorify You on the earth until Jesus returns.
In the beautiful name of Jesus we pray—Amen.
Let it be.