June 16, 2014
C.S. Lewis said, ""Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” God has placed in us a deep desire for satisfaction and joy.
OUR DESPERATE SEARCH
We look everywhere in the world for that which will fill our souls. Sex, food, money, relationships, prestige and reputation, power, comfort…the list is endless. In fact, it includes everything and anything in this present world that we might see as a substitute for intimacy for God. Most of our financial troubles come because we are spending more than we should to try to gain this elusive joy.
But we will never be happy in this way. We are searching in the wrong place. King David knew this and reminds us of the answer:
How blessed is the one who You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. (Psalm 65:4)
What we are longing for is God. Nothing else will satisfy except His presence. But when we discover intimacy with Him, we are COMPLETELY satisfied. There is no need for more.
THE ENEMY’S RELENTLESS ATTACK
Satan does not give up, of course, and tempts us with every allurement possible to pull us away from the ""simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus Christ."" It is not an easy thing in this life to maintain this focus with all the competing voices...but it is totally possible or else Paul would have erred in his command to us to ""pray without ceasing."" James would have asked us to do the impossible in his admonition to ""draw near to God and He WILL draw near to you.""
OUR FOCUSED ATTENTION
So how shall we then live? Make it the deep ambition of your life to refuse everything but Him as your soul's source of satisfaction. Meet with Him early and often. Fight against the cotton candy allurements of the world and long, like a newborn baby, for the ""sincere milk of the Word."" Be relentless in your pursuit of God. Ask Him daily to teach you the great art of knowing Him. Abide in Him and you will find your soul continually and increasingly satisfied in ways you have never imagined.
April 24, 2025
This is only possible with God’s aid. He tells us to draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us. But that approach begins with a plea for His help in this foundational task. It is our most important step of every day and throughout the day. We must be aware of God.
April 15, 2025
A simple, life-changing formula to keep a clear heart and be mightily used by God … for you are never more like Jesus than when you forgive! Perhaps we all need to begin today.
April 11, 2025
Are you coming to God like this today? If not, what adjustments must be made to enter into His presence with such humble joy?
