#i also just think brain\eph should be more popular

[ar-mage-ddon]

the fountain at dawn

( EPHEMERWEEK 4: promise )

[yourgodmoments]

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

A famous refrain from the Rolling Stones’ song Satisfaction. Dissatisfaction plagues the minds of every human being at times. Someone else is always richer, more cool, more beautiful, more popular, has more stuff, etc. Nothing of this world ever satisfies us in perpetuity. We just know that life would be better if it was different somehow; yet we have a hard time putting our finger on just what that difference is.

That is how the god of this world would have us be. If we are dissatisfied with life, we are playing into his hands - searching for something (sin) to calm our inner struggle. But for the committed Christian, this should not be the case:

“You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Ex. 20:17 AMP

If we are obeying this 10th of the Ten Commandments, we won’t be running around with a sick soul and a rattled brain. God, (through the apostle Paul), tells us what we must seek:

Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy, regardless of my circumstances]. Phil. 4:11 AMP

…godliness is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God]. 1 Tim. 6:6 AMP

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Heb. 13:5 NLT

Paul came to a spiritual state whereby he drew upon his Savior, to bring him a spiritual satisfaction so that his life transcended all physical desires. He walked a godly walk, rooted in his having faith in a faithful, loving God. And that is the key for all of us as well, i.e. to embrace our incomparable divine gifts.

We do that by whole heartedly pursuing and pleasing our God by emulating His Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit - clinging to the heart instead of the flesh:

…if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. Rm. 8:13 AMP

In this pursuit, we continually refresh our soul by focusing on the magnitude of what God has done to bring us to Him for all of eternity, (for those who want it). He wants to care for our every godly need. He loves us unconditionally. Receiving that love requires obedience to God’s word to the best of our ability and leaning on the blood of Jesus when we fall short.

God’s grace abounds for us in so many ways:

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Eph. 1:4 NLT

“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which you have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” Jn. 17:24 AMP

God created us for salvation in Christ: and here we also see Jesus praying for our eternal journey with Him. Jehovah wishes for all to come to Him in Christ, and take on the mantle of being His child:

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will… Eph. 1:5 NASB

What awesome things God has done for us. Yet, that doesn’t mean that life is easy. Misery loves company; which is why the world is always trying to get you in its clutches. But we have the deck stacked on our side. We have Jesus!

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Jn. 16:33 NASB

In order for all of this to work however, demands an attitudinal adjustment. If God has our lives handled, we can take our focus off of ourselves and do God’s (other-focused) work, which brings us joy in our commission of it:

“‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mt. 22:37 - 39. NKJV

When we hit a glitch in life, we want to look at the roots of it, see what God’s lesson is, and ask for His help in dealing with it:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result. so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Jas. 1:2 - 4. NASB

Remember that whatever comes against us, Christ will get us through it - all made possible at the cross. He, like His Father, is a promise-keeper, bringing hope that does not disappoint.

God is in control, molding us to be more like Jesus every day, right up until we graduate. Amen.

With regards to our provisions, they all come from God, thus they are good and perfect:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Jas. 1:17 CSB

And if perfect, we want to be in a state of continual gratitude to Him.

How long will God keep loving and caring for you?

“I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you. Is. 46:4 CSB

Forever…

Whatever we find ourselves doing, thinking about, or praying for, we know how to tailor them for our own good and for that of our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as all of the potential ones. We do that by letting God be our total guide. I say ‘letting,’ because God does not violate our free will; which is why we want our will to align with HIs. That’s what happens when we put Him first:

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” Jn. 15:8 NASB

God has always got you covered:

“…for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Mt. 6:8 NASB

All He wants is your gratitude for His immeasurable grace towards you - a gift freely given that you did not earn. You are in HIs grace when you walk His walk; and you won’t be sweating the earthly stuff, because you know you’re in His hands.

Be happy too for your brother or sister’s providence. Celebrate with them. Envy has no place in the soul of a Christian. The only status that counts is that which you have with God.

God has created you for your unique slot in His universal plan. He has equipped you for it in every way, and is going to love you always, as He brings you out to your eternal paradise. If you’re living your life with these thoughts, you will have satisfaction…

Goodnight and God Bless.