A David Psalm
6-7Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
It amazes me that this message comes from Psalms - that the idea that we need more than what we have to be happy is not new. That the idea of having more or newer "stuff" will make me happier is as old as the bible itself. We all know this idea is completely false - we all know that the the desire for more and newer stuff only leads to a temporary happiness. Once that temporary happiness leaves us we're just left with a need to have even more and newer stuff.
As renters we think, our life will be different once we own a house. Then when we own a house we see its imperfections. Maybe that first house was too small, or on a busy and unsafe street. So, we move to a new house - until we see what our friends have - and get one with a view, of the ocean or the mountains. There are hundreds of scenarios that play out something like this. All the while we miss the blessings that God has given us in the place where we are living.
For me, Lent, as a time of sacrifice, is a time to get perspective. A time to realize that all lives will have imperfections some kind of lacking. Maybe I don't have a great house, or a flashy car, or the latest smart phone, or the title I've been chasing at work. There are a lot of things I don't have. Lent for me is a time to remember that you need none of those things. A time to realize that the God has already given me the important things in my life: the love of my church family, the peace of knowing there's a plan for me, and the list goes on. It's during this time that I realize that I have more Joy in an ordinary Christ-filled day than any more stuff could bring.
Dear God, thank you for your blessings. Thank you for your love, and the love you bring into our lives. Thank you for your miracles of healing and peace of recovery. Continue to show us that we don't need "more." Help us share the message that idea that "more" or that any "stuff" will bring happiness is a trap. A trap that snares addicts, because the idea of "more" is the progressive disease that makes addiction possible. God, help the addict that still suffers understand that "more" is not the solution - that "more" is "more" trouble. God, help the addict that still suffers understand that You are the solution - not "more." Thank you for Psalm 4 verse 6 and 7 that it can remind us of what you have in store for us. All this we pray in Your name - Amen.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
It amazes me that this message comes from Psalms - that the idea that we need more than what we have to be happy is not new. That the idea of having more or newer "stuff" will make me happier is as old as the bible itself. We all know this idea is completely false - we all know that the the desire for more and newer stuff only leads to a temporary happiness. Once that temporary happiness leaves us we're just left with a need to have even more and newer stuff.
As renters we think, our life will be different once we own a house. Then when we own a house we see its imperfections. Maybe that first house was too small, or on a busy and unsafe street. So, we move to a new house - until we see what our friends have - and get one with a view, of the ocean or the mountains. There are hundreds of scenarios that play out something like this. All the while we miss the blessings that God has given us in the place where we are living.
For me, Lent, as a time of sacrifice, is a time to get perspective. A time to realize that all lives will have imperfections some kind of lacking. Maybe I don't have a great house, or a flashy car, or the latest smart phone, or the title I've been chasing at work. There are a lot of things I don't have. Lent for me is a time to remember that you need none of those things. A time to realize that the God has already given me the important things in my life: the love of my church family, the peace of knowing there's a plan for me, and the list goes on. It's during this time that I realize that I have more Joy in an ordinary Christ-filled day than any more stuff could bring.
Dear God, thank you for your blessings. Thank you for your love, and the love you bring into our lives. Thank you for your miracles of healing and peace of recovery. Continue to show us that we don't need "more." Help us share the message that idea that "more" or that any "stuff" will bring happiness is a trap. A trap that snares addicts, because the idea of "more" is the progressive disease that makes addiction possible. God, help the addict that still suffers understand that "more" is not the solution - that "more" is "more" trouble. God, help the addict that still suffers understand that You are the solution - not "more." Thank you for Psalm 4 verse 6 and 7 that it can remind us of what you have in store for us. All this we pray in Your name - Amen.
Thanks for letting me share.
No comments:
Post a Comment