THIS! What freedom when we let chocolate do its own thang, coffee do its own thang and let God do His thang! Just as no one else can accomplish what you were created for, no one (or thing) else but God can do what only He can do. It's unfair to yourself and others to expect something in return that they can't give.
I don't think we realize sometimes we are doing it. We feel unloved, overwhelmed, empty, unimportant, boring, inadequate, forgotten, useless and we look for an out, an affirmation from somewhere out in the universe that assures us we are more than we feel. We look for ways to feel better about our life, or maybe find that escape to distract us from digging deep and dealing with what we are facing in our heart. I believe God intertwined into our souls, a seeking gene, so that we would crave something more than the sum of ourselves. We were created to seek Him and find our soul satisfaction in His love alone. Creation has a unique bond to it's Creator and there is no other oneness the same.
And yet we get caught up in the tangibles that give us quick answers and satisfaction. It's almost easier even though in the end, we make more work for ourselves to get out of denial and move into soul seeking, life changing affirmation of who in the world we actually are. Runaway Bride was one of my favorite movies during such a time as this in my own life. Sometimes you just get so caught up being everything to everyone else, you forget who you are. The Scriptures are also full of examples of people needing an identity evaluation. It starts when we are young, trying to fit in and sometimes we just never break the cycle of people-pleasing and avoiding the emptiness within us.
A quick fix in friendships, relationships, marriage, food, alcohol, medications, sexuality, jobs and even in serving others. If only I had....I would feel happier, stronger, important and accepted. Instead of enjoying these for what they are meant for, we turn these pleasures into plugs, hoping they will fill the voids and somehow make us feel whole, purposeful and necessary. True love casts out fear by truth in love. Just Jesus. Only God can affirm us, give us courage, hope, strength, joy, peace, deep soul satisfaction. When we find our identity and needs met in Christ, we find the truest of self. It's not who we are, but Who's we are. Once we can answer that question, depending on what the answer is, we will live in an anchored hope in a sure foundation or we will be found on sinking sand.
Friend, let go of the quest to find approval in others. Walk in confidence in the One who knows you, sees you and loves you unconditionally knowing Who's you are. He thinks you're pretty amazing. Who else knows you better? Who knows your thoughts before you speak them? Who knows your comings and goings, when you lie down and when you are awake? (Pslam 139) Who has the authority over all things and in Him is able to do anything? (Romans 8) When your Father is The King, that makes you co-heir to royalty and all the privileges that come with that are yours. (Romans 8:16-17) His riches are immeasurable. In Him, we are powerful, loved, whole, able and enough. We are complete in Him even when we don't feel we've got it all together. Most days we don't which is why we need Him every single day.
God loves you. God will not leave you or forsake you. He wants to give you the desires of your heart in the things that make you happy, but they all originate in Him and are gifted to you to be used for His glory, reflecting this amazing grace as witness to His beautiful love. Allow Him to gift you the gifts of this earth as extensions of Himself. Enjoy serving, relationships, foods, intimacy, travel, ministry, extra curriculars, working, responsibilities, your children. Just be careful that in them, you are not expecting validation, approval, or creating your identity in them. Our lives were meant for pleasure but they were also meant for purposes greater than our eyes can see. In the spiritual realm, we are constantly at war with the enemy and our flesh and sometimes that war can lead us into temptations outside God's will. Our enemy's hope is to distract us from the voice of our Father long enough to take us captive for a fleeting moment. Over time, we can find ourselves craving the desires of the flesh over the things of God. (John 10:10)
Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) daily and guard your hearts and minds as you seek The Lord and receive in Him who you are because you accept Him as your greatest heart's desire, purpose and provision. Seek first the Kingdom of God. (Matt 6:33) He is all you ever need. Receive His perfect love and freely enjoy the gift of salvation, walking in freedom now and for all eternity. (John 8:36) Receive the good things He has given you, for every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17)...especially Chocolate!
I don't think we realize sometimes we are doing it. We feel unloved, overwhelmed, empty, unimportant, boring, inadequate, forgotten, useless and we look for an out, an affirmation from somewhere out in the universe that assures us we are more than we feel. We look for ways to feel better about our life, or maybe find that escape to distract us from digging deep and dealing with what we are facing in our heart. I believe God intertwined into our souls, a seeking gene, so that we would crave something more than the sum of ourselves. We were created to seek Him and find our soul satisfaction in His love alone. Creation has a unique bond to it's Creator and there is no other oneness the same.
And yet we get caught up in the tangibles that give us quick answers and satisfaction. It's almost easier even though in the end, we make more work for ourselves to get out of denial and move into soul seeking, life changing affirmation of who in the world we actually are. Runaway Bride was one of my favorite movies during such a time as this in my own life. Sometimes you just get so caught up being everything to everyone else, you forget who you are. The Scriptures are also full of examples of people needing an identity evaluation. It starts when we are young, trying to fit in and sometimes we just never break the cycle of people-pleasing and avoiding the emptiness within us.
A quick fix in friendships, relationships, marriage, food, alcohol, medications, sexuality, jobs and even in serving others. If only I had....I would feel happier, stronger, important and accepted. Instead of enjoying these for what they are meant for, we turn these pleasures into plugs, hoping they will fill the voids and somehow make us feel whole, purposeful and necessary. True love casts out fear by truth in love. Just Jesus. Only God can affirm us, give us courage, hope, strength, joy, peace, deep soul satisfaction. When we find our identity and needs met in Christ, we find the truest of self. It's not who we are, but Who's we are. Once we can answer that question, depending on what the answer is, we will live in an anchored hope in a sure foundation or we will be found on sinking sand.
Friend, let go of the quest to find approval in others. Walk in confidence in the One who knows you, sees you and loves you unconditionally knowing Who's you are. He thinks you're pretty amazing. Who else knows you better? Who knows your thoughts before you speak them? Who knows your comings and goings, when you lie down and when you are awake? (Pslam 139) Who has the authority over all things and in Him is able to do anything? (Romans 8) When your Father is The King, that makes you co-heir to royalty and all the privileges that come with that are yours. (Romans 8:16-17) His riches are immeasurable. In Him, we are powerful, loved, whole, able and enough. We are complete in Him even when we don't feel we've got it all together. Most days we don't which is why we need Him every single day.
God loves you. God will not leave you or forsake you. He wants to give you the desires of your heart in the things that make you happy, but they all originate in Him and are gifted to you to be used for His glory, reflecting this amazing grace as witness to His beautiful love. Allow Him to gift you the gifts of this earth as extensions of Himself. Enjoy serving, relationships, foods, intimacy, travel, ministry, extra curriculars, working, responsibilities, your children. Just be careful that in them, you are not expecting validation, approval, or creating your identity in them. Our lives were meant for pleasure but they were also meant for purposes greater than our eyes can see. In the spiritual realm, we are constantly at war with the enemy and our flesh and sometimes that war can lead us into temptations outside God's will. Our enemy's hope is to distract us from the voice of our Father long enough to take us captive for a fleeting moment. Over time, we can find ourselves craving the desires of the flesh over the things of God. (John 10:10)
Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) daily and guard your hearts and minds as you seek The Lord and receive in Him who you are because you accept Him as your greatest heart's desire, purpose and provision. Seek first the Kingdom of God. (Matt 6:33) He is all you ever need. Receive His perfect love and freely enjoy the gift of salvation, walking in freedom now and for all eternity. (John 8:36) Receive the good things He has given you, for every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17)...especially Chocolate!
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