Faith-Lift Friday(5/9/08)
Encourage others and yourself! Share a scripture, quote, devotional, lyrics, or anything that has blessed you and strengthened you in your faith.
A few weeks back in my bible study we studied about being content.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
While the whole lesson was wonderful and you can read it here Be Content - Lesson Two - March 28, 08
The application I thought was just so perfect and wanted to share it all with you. So here it is.
APPLICATION
Pay attention this week to your desires. Take note of the “triggers” or “influences” (external and internal) that cause you to seek satisfaction in anything or anyone other than God. What captures your attention and lures you into its embrace, or calls unceasingly to your soul? Are there things you easily submit to that might not be God's best for you? What are the “no contest” desires that have become ingrained and acceptable patterns of behavior? Do these desires rival God's place on the throne of your heart? Dig deep and discover the root of your happiness and your dissatisfaction. Is your contentment linked to circumstances, the behaviors of others, your own ideas about life, or having your own way?
Most of all, spend time doing business with God. Haul every bit of discouragement, disappointment, unmet expectations, each devastated dream, and all of your unfulfilled desires out of the dark recesses of your heart and into the light of God's glory. Examine the things you feel entitled to, frustrated about, or are just plain hurt and angry over. Why are you dissatisfied?
Discontentment is sin. Being discontented implies that God is not enough. Glory, what more is there besides God? He is love, light, immortal, eternal, unchanging, perfect, holy, just, true, good, great, faithful, merciful, upright, righteous, and that is just for starters! He alone is wise.
Let's get honest and ask ourselves the real question. “Do I really believe that God can fully satisfy me?”
Maybe our challenge is actually unbelief. Is it possible that we know all about God yet do not know Him intimately? We may have consumed mass amounts of information about God,
Pay attention this week to your desires. Take note of the “triggers” or “influences” (external and internal) that cause you to seek satisfaction in anything or anyone other than God. What captures your attention and lures you into its embrace, or calls unceasingly to your soul? Are there things you easily submit to that might not be God's best for you? What are the “no contest” desires that have become ingrained and acceptable patterns of behavior? Do these desires rival God's place on the throne of your heart? Dig deep and discover the root of your happiness and your dissatisfaction. Is your contentment linked to circumstances, the behaviors of others, your own ideas about life, or having your own way?
Most of all, spend time doing business with God. Haul every bit of discouragement, disappointment, unmet expectations, each devastated dream, and all of your unfulfilled desires out of the dark recesses of your heart and into the light of God's glory. Examine the things you feel entitled to, frustrated about, or are just plain hurt and angry over. Why are you dissatisfied?
Discontentment is sin. Being discontented implies that God is not enough. Glory, what more is there besides God? He is love, light, immortal, eternal, unchanging, perfect, holy, just, true, good, great, faithful, merciful, upright, righteous, and that is just for starters! He alone is wise.
Let's get honest and ask ourselves the real question. “Do I really believe that God can fully satisfy me?”
Maybe our challenge is actually unbelief. Is it possible that we know all about God yet do not know Him intimately? We may have consumed mass amounts of information about God,
memorized His truths, done every Bible Study we could, attended church all of our lives, and still not have an authentic, deeply fulfilling relationship with Him. When was the last time you were thrilled by God? If we know God intimately we will love Him and, consequently, strive to obey Him. Do you long to please Him in all that you do and think? Loving God leads to a walk of radical obedience (John14:21, 23).
How do your desires align with God's Word? Perhaps a sister in Christ could help you wade through the rubble and point you to His truth. If you need help, ask. God promises grace to those who humble themselves. Besides, when we confess our sins to one another, healing can occur. (James 5:16) And healing means change. Can you say “Hallelujah!”?
Let's cry out for God to do a deep work in our hearts. Ask Him to reveal any idols we may have crafted to fulfill our longings that only He can satisfy. Pray for God to show us what we settle for by failing to press in to know Him intimately, or what we are substituting for an authentic encounter with God.
How do your desires align with God's Word? Perhaps a sister in Christ could help you wade through the rubble and point you to His truth. If you need help, ask. God promises grace to those who humble themselves. Besides, when we confess our sins to one another, healing can occur. (James 5:16) And healing means change. Can you say “Hallelujah!”?
Let's cry out for God to do a deep work in our hearts. Ask Him to reveal any idols we may have crafted to fulfill our longings that only He can satisfy. Pray for God to show us what we settle for by failing to press in to know Him intimately, or what we are substituting for an authentic encounter with God.
3 comments:
Have you done the "Experiencing God Study"?
I've been doing Hebrews as a personal study. One of your comments reminded me of another part of Hebrews that was interesting.
"Let's cry out for God to do a deep work in our hearts. Ask Him to reveal any idols we may have crafted to fulfill our longings that only He can satisfy."
Heb 3:6 but Christ was faithful as the Son in charge of God's household, and we are his household if we hold on to our courage and the hope that we boast about.
Do we have Jesus living in a dirty house?
We need to remember that God lives in us, we are his house. How much dust and dirt do we leave scattered around because we don't want to take the time and energy to clean it up. As our faithful Revealer, we can come to Jesus and ask Him to show us what areas of our spiritual house needs some elbow greese. It was very convicting to me to think of Jesus living in a house that had dust and clutter all around.
Happy mother's Day.
can we say 'Hallelujah' indeed :)
Thank you for sharing. I am just finishing up 'Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World' and am looking for a new study. I'm going to look into this--it's lovely.
(Oh and my older daughter loves the song playing--'Holy is the Lord')
Happy Mother's Day!
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