One Desire

"Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

and I was all torn up inside.

I was so foolish and ignorant--

I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever."

Psalm 73:21-26 NLT

I look at those who are lost, who are following their own way and it seems they have it so good.  Riches.  Success.  Adventure.  Lives of leisure.  It's easy for me to wonder why I stay on the narrow path, struggling through life.  I have none of the above as far as I can see.  God always provides what I need but there is never an abundance of money.  I wonder why my business endeavors don't flourish like what I see in the world.  My life is filled with all kinds of challenges and there is always so much work to be done.  It's natural to think that following Jesus is not all it's cracked up to be.

Then I notice what's going on in the Body of Christ.  Some are facing cancer.  Others bankruptcy and foreclosures.  A few endure the end of their marriages.  The atmosphere is rife with suffering.  What is the benefit of following Jesus?  Is this the abundant life He came to deliver?

In the same way the psalmist came to his senses, I must change my perspective and stop looking at this life through the lens of the world.  When I focus my attention on my greatest Treasure, my One True Desire, the Lord reminds me of the true riches I have in this life.

Security.  I remember watching a popular morning talk show where the host would often talk about a childhood memory of his mom fretting that they would end up in the poor house.  The man shared of his resulting worry that his family was always on the edge of losing their home and that the slightest sign of trouble would send them into oblivion, never to be together or happy again.

Children have a strong need to feel secure in their position, knowing that when they wake up tomorrow, their parents will still be there, taking care of their needs.  The same is true for me as God's precious child.  If I'm always worried that He might kick me to the curb, rejecting me from His kingdom, I will live with that nagging fear coloring my every waking moment (1 John 4:18) 

Thankfully, the blood of Jesus has made my place in the family of God secure.  As a result of what Jesus has done for me in dying on the cross, there is nothing I can do, or experience, or fail to do, that will make God stop loving me! (Romans 8:38-39) 

He is the perfect Father who will never grow tired of waiting for me to learn His lessons, or become impatient with my fears, or get sick of my wayward ways (Isaiah 40:28). His love constantly draws me toward Him and He is never repelled by the darkness of my heart.  Instead of being repulsed by my sinful state, Jesus' sacrifice makes it possible for my Father of compassion to go toward the suffering, comforting me like no one else can (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Even though it seems like those on the wide path of destruction live free from hardship, I have the advantage of security in God's kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ.  

Direction.  One of the most confusing times in life can be high school graduation.  What do you want to do with your life?  Where will you go now?  How will you use what you've learned to make something with your life?  It's easy to feel overwhelmed and confused.

Many times, I make poor decisions in order to avoid sitting stagnate, not moving forward when I get the feeling I should be driving on.  Unfortunately, the One who holds the blueprint for each life is often ignored (Jeremiah 29:11-13). If I were to consult the Lord, asking Him for wisdom in each situation I face, He would never disappoint (James 1:5-8).

As a follower of Christ, I have the benefit of a Good Shepherd who is always at work, guiding me with His wise counsel (Psalm 23:1-3).  While those in the world are forced to try to figure life out on their own, I can let the One who knit me together and recorded all my days in a book lead me where He means for me to go (Psalm 139:13-16).  I must never fail to realize such a benefit!

Even though it seems like those on the wide path of destruction have it made, I have the advantage of divine direction through faith in Jesus Christ.

Future.  The stock market crashed.  A man was the sole survivor in an accidnet that took his family from him.  The hurricane wiped out an entire community.  These are the times when people fall into despair, wondering what kind of hope they have in the face of such destruction.  

If this life was all there was, I would feel just as despondent, especially when going through hard times.  As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, however, I have so much to look forward to!  Not only is Jesus preparing a special place specifically for me in my Father's house, but I will receive a new body that is free from defects and will last forever (John 14:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4).  To make it even better, heaven will be free from suffering and difficulties, a place filled with joy and lit by the glory of God (Revelation 21:3-4, 11, 23,).

Even though it seems like those on the wide path of destruction live the sweet life now, I have the advantage of retaining hope for my glorious future, especially during the darkest times.

It's easy to get off track, turning my attention toward the seemingly good life lived by those in the world.  Once I come to my senses, however, I realize the benefits I possess as a follower of Christ.  I have security in my place in God's family, direction for my life, and a future that gives me hope.  It is then that I remember that God is my One Desire, my True Treasure!

As I begin this day may I keep my eyes focused on the Treasure I do possess instead of all the things I think I need but don't have.

When is it hard for me to keep from lusting after the things of this world?

How would keeping an eternal perspective change my outlook on life?   

Miraculous Rescue

"So Peter was kept in prison,

but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial,

Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, 

bound with two chains,

and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared

and a light shone in the cell.

He struck Peter on the side and woke him up.

'Quick, get up!'

he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

Then the angel said to him,

'Put on your clothes and sandals.'

And Peter did so.

'Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,' 

the angel told him.

Peter followed him out of the prison, 

but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening;

he thought he was seeing a vision.

They passed the first and second guards

and came to the iron gate leading to the city.

It opened for them by itself,

and they went through it.

When they had walked the length of one street, 

suddenly the angel left him.

Then Peter came to himself and said,

'Now I know without a doubt that the Lord

sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches

and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.'"

Acts 12:5-11

The woman's heart was suddenly changed and she gave her husband another chance.

The debt was forgiven, relieving the family from the financial burden and answering many prayers.

The son who had been deeply involved in the occult and addicted to drugs turned his life over to Christ.

The man had always believed there was no God, until God showed up and captured his heart.

God is sovereign, all-powerful, loving, gracious, merciful, just. . .but He is also supernatural.  His character transcends the natural world where everything can be explained by the laws of physics, mathematics, time or other scientific principles.  

When I drop a pencil, for instance, the law of gravity tells me that it will fall toward the ground.  If God so desired, however, He is perfectly able to supersede that rule and stop the pencil in mid-air.  God is not bound by His own creation nor the laws man has written to describe how His creation works.

As a result, there is nothing God cannot do.  As the angel Gabriel told Mary regarding her supernatural conception of the Christ child, "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)  This truth impacts my life in a powerful way.  There is no burden too great, no predicament too complicated, no circumstance too great that my God cannot rescue me from it.  God is able to supernaturally intervene in order to deliver me in many ways.

Unshackle

She always believed she was no good.  In her heart, she didn't think she would ever amount to anything.  I can't do any better than what I'm doing now.  I am incapable of rising out of the pit my life has become.  There's no hope for me.

I can relate.  For much of my life, I've struggled with insecurity, a low self-image along with doubt.  Deep down inside, I didn't think I was worth the struggle.  God, however, does think I'm worth a fight, and He pursues me until I surrender my life to Him.  When I do, He begins to supernaturally change the way I think about myself.  He shows me that I am precious in His eyes, created in His image and here for a purpose.  (Zechariah 2:8, Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16,Ephesians 2:10)

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I am infinitely valuable to my Father.  As a sinner who has fallen into all sorts of destructive ways of thinking, the fear, doubt, anger and disappointment land me in a kind of prison.  I am powerless to release myself from these chains of bondage that hold me back from becoming the woman God has created me to be.  Only God can free me from these areas of oppression.

An unshackled woman of God can walk freely in the grace of God, forgiving others as I've been forgiven.  A woman released from bondage can walk boldly into the future, free from fear and doubt.  A liberated woman can walk forward without the burden of anger, resentment or bitterness to weigh me down.  Only God can release me from my shackles by the work of His mighty hand.

God is able to supernaturally intervene in my life, releasing me from the chains that bind me.

Provide Direction

Younger generations of late struggle with a lack of direction or sense of purpose. In short, many young men in this modern age refuse to grow up.  Their mind-set is that of an adolescent where the main focus is of pleasure and avoidance of responsibilities.  So prevalent is this problem that psychologists have dubbed it the, "Peter Pan Syndrome."

While I may not suffer from this syndrome, I do struggle with a lack of direction at times.  There are situations which seem so overwhelming that I don't know how to get out of them.  Which way should I go?  I am in debt up to my ears, my marriage is not what I thought it would be, I am lonely with no deep human connections and my life is shallow and without meaning.

Only God can give me a clear sense of purpose.  I may not know all the steps I need to take, but He will lead me bit-by-bit in the direction that will get me out of the seemingly hopeless situation in which I find myself.

Peter found himself in an impossible predicament.  He was guarded closely by a soldier on either side, bound with two chains and locked inside a prison cell that was guarded by sentries.  What could he possibly do to escape?  It turns out, all he needed to do was follow the clear orders of the angel God sent to bust him out of prison.

While I may not have the privilege of being led by an angel, God does give clear direction through the guidance of His Holy Spirit.  When I listen for Him, I'll sense His leadership as He guides me through my day and the difficulties I encounter.  As a result, the insurmountable pile of debt will suddenly seem less of a threat.  Hope will appear in the midst of what had seemed impossible.  Friendships will be forged where once there were none and my life will take on great significance.

God is able to supernaturally intervene in my life, providing direction down the path He has for me.

Grant Freedom

She wasn't sure if she was good enough to make it into heaven so she did all she could to prove her allegiance to God.  She passed out tracts explaining the gospel to all she met.  She tried to do at least one good deed every day.  She looked for ways to help others.  Still, she was afraid she wouldn't measure up.

When I follow Jesus, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)   He doesn't expect me to constantly follow all the rules in the Bible, keeping a list in my back pocket for easy reference.  Instead, He wants me to follow Him. (John 15:5-8)  In so doing, I will not break any of the rules in the Bible and I will please God.  (Galatians 5:18)

Then I will be free of the burden of trying to be good enough.  The truth is this: no one who ever lived was good enough to make it into heaven based on their own merit.  (Romans 3:23)  My only hope of entering into a relationship with God and to live with Him forever is to accept the free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. (Acts 8:12)  Jesus took the punishment that was meant for my sin; for all the times I fell short of God's standard.  Because of His sacrifice, I am free from eternal death, and instead have eternal life to look forward to.

Due to this unimaginable gift, I am not only free from trying to earn God's love, but I am also liberated of the hold that sin has on me.  I am no longer bound to do as my nature dictates. (Romans 6:18)  When anger rises within, I have the option of letting God dispense justice so I can walk in peace.  For the times when I'm tempted to worry, I have the option of trusting God to take care of my needs.  As lust for an attractive man coaxes me to take another look, I have the option of submitting myself to God and the commitment I made to my husband.  The blood of Jesus gives me power over sin.

God is able to supernaturally intervene in my life, granting me freedom from earning salvation and the power of sin in my life.

There are many situations I face in my life that seem impossible.  With God, the supernatural Being to whom nothing is impossible, I can be released from the shackles that tie me down, receive direction to escape a hopeless situation, and accept freedom that I otherwise would never experience.  Only God is able to accomplish these kinds of miraculous rescues.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can walk in the light where Jesus is.

What impossible situation do I face without giving God a chance to work?

When do I feel hopeless instead of asking the supernatural God for help?