…Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:21

This verse shows us the four steps of how people fall away from God. First they did not glorify Him as God, next they were not thankful, third their imagination began to work against them, and finally their hearts were turned away from God. But when we flip these steps, we find the path to growing deeper with God – glorify God, be thankful, discipline your thoughts to meditate on the things of God, and let Him into your heart.

Let’s dig deeper into the first step. To glorify is to revere, prize, and value. God has magnified His Word even over His Name, Psalm 138:2 tells us. So when we follow, obey, seek, and esteem his Word over all else, we glorify Him.

In the Parable of the Sower, the man sowed seed on four different types of soil. The seeds sown among the thorns were choked out before they could take root and grow. When we do not esteem God and His Word above all else in our lives, our hearts become like the thorny soil. The Word may be sown, but the worldly things that we value choke it out before our hearts are changed by Him. We allow these thorns to grow in our hearts when we value the things of the world over God. Even in prison, the apostle Paul chose to esteem God over all else. By following his example, we can partner with God to clear out the thorns and allow His Word to take root in our hearts.

You may think that you want to hold onto these worldly roots or that your situation is too difficult to let go. But consider that our time on earth is but a fleeting moment. In 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul says, “For our light affliction is but a moment. It is working in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Paul went through many hard times, but he still chose to value and glorify God above all else. Your choices here will affect eternity. Isaiah 55:6 says, Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. God wants to know you and have a relationship with you here on earth as well as in eternity. We have a short time here on earth to choose to glorify Him; spend it growing deeper!