living for Christ through everything

I know one thing that I have NEVER asked myself was "If I love Christ, how can he be magnified in my behavior this afternoon, this evening, this week?"  Piper poses this question as a challenge to those who need a little boost in our walk with God.  Life is not easy, and God knew that.  However, that does not mean that we do not strive to be the best that He wants us to be ALL the time.  Actually, sitting here thinking about it, I need to put this question next to my door as I walk out for the day.  I need to be constantly reminded that how I react or behave or even think, reflects how I can magnify God.  I'm going to be honest.  I had some pretty impure thoughts run through my head on the way back from my class this evening.  But, in order to get rid of those thoughts, I put on the radio to the local Christian station and I blasted it so I could focus on the words and drown out my thoughts.  I can tell you, it is not easy being a Christian that struggles with sin but how I respond to that sin is what either brings me closer to God or further away.  My reaction was to listen to God more and my thoughts less.  I have not always done this.  There are numerous times I have drown out God and let my sin consume me.  But, I am glad that this was not the way that I went today.  In fact, I heard God more today than I have this past week.  I really think I needed that to show me that God always needs to be the center of my life, even in my thoughts.  So, I will challenge myself and you that we all need to be asking that question about how to reflect Christ through our reactions, behaviors, and thoughts everyday of our lives.  Let's see what happens when we allow Him to take control of our lives and see what we are more proud of.  The sin that consumes us?  Or the God that consumes us?  I'll let you decide.