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What dreams and desires get in the way of more fully embracing Jesus and others?
I prayed that the Lord would help me to desire to embrace Him over other things that were creeping into my heart. He reminded me to remember. Revival in our hearts always starts with remembering the truth. He brought to mind how he rescued me and how He rescued his people out of Egypt. Sadly, it is also true that His people rebelled against Him by worshipping idols and complaining in the desert.
“I don’t want to be like your people who complained and rebelled after a rescue, Lord.”
I opened my bible to this…
“Fear not, nor be afraid;
Isaiah 44:8
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”
In my last blog post, I said that a basic definition of contentment was that it’s the state of being happy with what we have in life and who we are. This is partly true, but as a follower of Christ, I want to live at an even higher level of contentment than that.
More importantly for the Christ follower, contentment is also being most content with Jesus.
There is a spiritual component to contentment that goes beyond just hanging one’s head and accepting life as it is. The follower of Christ takes delight in the most important thing he or she has…Jesus.
At the beginning of this series I said I’d be trying to tackle questions like, “As a Christian, is it OK for me to want more?”
The answer to that question really depends on what it is we want more of.
What I’m sure of is this:
Believing and acting on the idea that something else, a fantasy, desire, or dream, is better than Jesus’ embrace, is not part of an abundant spiritual walk with Jesus.
What sort of dreams or desires get in the way of you fully embracing and loving Jesus and others?
I personally struggle most with intangibles like wanting peace, comfort, and ease. I want life to go smoothly. Perfection in these areas is a fantasy world because life isn’t comfortable, smooth, easy, and peaceful all the time. When I desire ease more than loving Jesus and others, I get irritated with life’s challenges and prone to complaining.
Back to God’s people complaining and rebelling:
“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-3)
Christ was the “Rock” that never left His people and sustained them as they wandered in the wilderness.
He’s ours too.
Just this week, I was struggling with an attitude. Like a defiant toddler, I didn’t want to let go of some dreams and ideas that were ruminating in my head. Dreams and ideas that had temporarily become more appealing in my heart than Jesus.
Out of desperation for change, I consumed Psalm 119 and I prayed over these verses:
Psalm 119: 17-19, 25, 29, 32, 39, 44
“Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!“
“My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!“
“Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!“
“I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!‘
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.“
“I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever…”
The more I meditated on these verses, the more I longed for God to spiritually deal bountifully with me (vs. 17) in order that my heart would be changed. He answered my heart’s desire beautifully!
I believe it is alright to carefully and prayerfully dream and desire as a Christian, even to dream and desire for more or different. These dreams must always be aligned with what we know to be appropriate from God’s Word for His people. They also must be prayed over and held loosely.
I think my basic desire to finish rehabbing and simply decorating our old farmhouse is appropriate. We moved a few years ago to be closer to the church and we want to practice hospitality in our home that is unencumbered by an unattractive mess. As I wait for that to be finished, I must be careful that I don’t get too caught up in the pursuit of perfection over practicing hospitality or missing the heart of it or the heart of Jesus.
The questions I’m asking myself right now are:
Are my dreams and desires more appealing to me than Jesus’ embrace?
Am I embracing the dream or Jesus, the dream-giver?
After establishing that answer, I’m moving on to the next level of contentment:
Am I thinking correctly about God, the truths of who I am in Christ, and what I have in Him?
And…do these truths impact my perspective of life and my level of contentment?
If I answer no, I go on to the next level:
Why? Am I ignoring God’s working in my heart to look to Him for something?
Am I holding onto sin or false belief?
I know — there are a lot of questions there, but the answers can help us to see reality and the shocking truth that sometimes we can be discontent with what Jesus offers us.
Will you carefully and prayerfully pursue godly dreams and desires with me as I turn to the highest desire, our Rock?
“Hear my cry, O God,
Psalm 61:1-3
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.”
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Linking up with these awesome bloggers this week!
Did you ever do Jen Schmidt’s Bible study “Just Open the Door”? She had a chapter about the difference between hospitality and entertaining that I think might interest you. I found a blog post by her on Lifeway: https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/how-is-christian-hospitality-different-from-entertaining
Hi Ruth-I haven’t done Jen Schmidt’s study. Thank you for sharing that article! I’m so encouraged anytime I read material on the true heart of hospitality. I want to be mostly concerned with loving and welcoming people into my home rather than concerned with material things. Thanks!
Amen! True biblical hospitality seeks to serve and honor our guests rather than to seek praise from them.
Oh Amy, these are great questions. Its perfect timing for my life.
Thanks, Suzanne. It’s great timing for me, too!
Amy, you bring up some great points. As I read your post, I realized that it’s in those times when my desires are misplaced that I have heart and attitude issues. Ouch. I’m also pondering my answers to the questions you asked. Such good ones! This post is challenging, but it’s also spot on and something I need to read.
Jeanne-we can take heart when we feel convicted that the Holy Spirit Himself is working in our hearts to place our hopes fully on Him. Thanks for stopping by!
Amy,
Like you, I have asked God to give me peace and ease. I’ve even said I’d settle for uneventful and boring over riding a drama rollercoaster. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said contentment is found in the truth. The more I’m in God’s word, I find the more contented I am. Pursuing dreams isn’t bad as long as we don’t put them before pursuing Jesus.
Blessings,
Bev xx
May we experience the peace, not that the world gives, but that Jesus gives. Blessings to you as you look fully to Jesus for peace and joy.
These are great questions for us all to ask ourselves, no matter our dreams. May our hopes and aspirations always align with God’s will and purposes.
And if they aren’t aligned with God’s will and purposes, may He align them. Blessings, Joanne!
Thank you, Amy, for the food for thought-true contentment-being most content with Jesus-ouch. Why do I think anything this world can offer would bring me more contentment than Jesus?
Thanks for visiting, Donna. I think the bells and whistles of the world distract us for a while, but our Good Shepherd’s voice penetrates our hearts and draws us back to gospel sanity!
Amen Amy, this is such an encouraging read. I’m blessed to have read your words today sweet friend.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee #15,16&28
Thank you, Paula!
I think it is important to examine our hearts before the Lord, Amy, and see if there is anything that is hindering our relationship with Him.
I love the Psalmist’s words, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalms 139:23-24. Thanks for visiting!
Amy, you’ve shared a great list of questions that point us back to Jesus. Love this post!
Thanks for linking up with Grace & Truth!
Thanks, Tammy!
Thank you Amy, I will read and re-read your blog post. I’m learning a lot from this and it helps me realize I’m not alone in my struggle to listen to His voice, rather than to my own voice, will, thoughts. The Bible is such a great resource. I have started learning certain scriptures and weaving them into my prayer. That’s how I straighten my mind.
And yes, I listen to your podcast.
You are definitely not alone, Aritha! God uses His Word in our lives powerfully. Thank you for reading…and listening!