James Harper (1823-1913), in his Exposition in the Form of Question and Answer of the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism (1905), regarding the first question and answer of the Shorter Catechism concerning man's chief end, asks the follow-up question, one that has perhaps arisen in the minds of many sincere Christians:
"Q. 24. In order to glorify God must we be always definitely thinking of Him?
No. But the habit of our minds must be to turn with reverence and pleasure to God. As the needle to the pole, our hearts must be attracted to Him. I Cor. 10:31.*
He goes on to say this:
"Some worthy people have been perplexed about the direction given in i Cor. 10:31: 'Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Supposing this to mean that in all our acts we must have conscious reference to God, they have felt that either the precept is unreasonable, or that they must be destitute of true spirituality.
Touching this difficulty it may suffice to remark:
1. That the injunction in question requires that we have the thought of God consciously very often present in our minds;
2. That, therefore, the habitual attitude of our minds should be toward God;
3. That yet we are not required to be incessantly thinking about God. Our mental constitution forbids this. But a subconscious reference to God is possible and obligatory. A man may be controlled in his conduct by some desire even when the object of desire may be for a time forgotten. For instance, one starts upon a journey to a certain place, and every step he takes is controlled by the desire to reach that place ; and yet his mind meanwhile may be directly occupied with a thousand incidents and scenes which present themselves in the way."