What pleases us?

Do you ever get "cravings?"
I do.
Sometimes I have felt so strongly that I NEED something.
I can become obsessed with wanting it.
It may be a small thing like chocolate/food...or it could be overwhelming NEED to go shopping because surely there is something out there that will fill this emptiness in me.

We are all at different places, but the tricks of temptation are the same.

Gen 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
Lie #1= Are you sure this is really wrong????

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
Lie #2= What God said is NOT true. It really won't hurt you at all to sin.

5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Lie #3= The truth is- it will be a GOOD thing for you to sin. It will make things BETTER!

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

All temptation takes this same road- satan has NO NEW TRICKS!
Do you think Eve was satisfied after she sinned?

I want, I need. These are thoughts that we need to keep in check. They may be the temptation to a trap.

Surely this will please me! But does it?

Do we really feel satisfied after indulging?

Could it be the temptation of a relationship that is drawing you? If the "friendship" has to be a secret- watch out ladies- satan is lurking!
Not all things that we desire are dangerous or sinful. But watch for the thoughts of "need" and "must have."

Ask yourself, why?

I love to shop, and chocolate is my friend! But when I start using these things to fill a need that God wants to fill, it becomes sinful.

(I use the example of chocolate, but sometimes it's just food in general!)

The whole thought for this post came from a phrase that has been going over and over in my head. It is one that John Piper wrote,

"we are far too easily pleased."

I know that I am far too easily pleased. I will settle for a "quick fix" of fun instead of lasting joy that comes from my times with the Lord.

It's like being parched, thirsting so desperately...

but then when offered a bottle of water,

we admire the label and the bottle but never open it and pour it into our mouth to receive the refreshment and nourishment that we need.

God has so much more for us.

We are far too easily pleased.

Another quote by John Piper that I look at every day:

"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him."

As I'm writing this, this song just happens to be playing on my computer,

let it be the prayer of your heart, it's mine today.

None But Jesus

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forevermore