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Friday, July 20, 2007

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

22 comments:

Ashley said...

I needed that today. Thank you. I love your blog!! :)

Gracie said...

Very interesting post- Made me think.... Thats saying alot seeing how it is summer!

holy chaos said...

"In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still"

alright, this is the second time in two days that i have read these specific words that Jesus is still here in the chaos!

as you can guess by my name, there can be just a little bit a chaos in my life!

i love your blog. i always feel uplifted after visiting here.

Shelly said...

Ohhh....that song just...I don't even have words. But yea....LOL!

Thank you for sharing this one...I'm going to hope to let the Lord speak to me on this one "We are far too easily pleased...'

whew

Middle-Aged Moi said...

Oh, that was sooooo good! I have the shopping AND the chocolate problem. Sometimes we need to step back to see what we really NEED. And it's not shopping or chocolate.

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

What an inspirational blog you have!

Thanks for stopping by my "home" for a visit...I hope you'll come back again soon!

Anonymous said...

Awesome song Sue, I may have to share that one as well. Thanks for the reminder on what really matters!

Rhonda said...

Sue - I so enjoy your writing. Those quick fixes can certainly feel like needs sometimes. But those times with the Lord really do feed me and are definitely more lasting.

Anonymous said...

Love your thoughts here especially, "We are all at different places, but the tricks of temptation are the same."

Your blog is always a pleasure to visit.

Susan said...

Really good things here in this post. I appreciated the Piper quotes.
Susan

Monkey Giggles said...

Thank you Sue....for yet another wonderful post. When I was little my father taught me the difference between my "NEEDS and "WANTS" as a little girl...everything was a "NEED"
Now as an adult, wife, Mommy...I realize there really is not much I "NEED" God, has been so good to me...But I still have to remember the words of my Father (heavenly) and (earthly). Have a wonderful weekend. SMiles going out to ya. (heck, hugs too :) )))))

Scarlet said...

This is such a good post because it hits home. The worst part about giving in to temptation is that after a while the bad thing doesn't appear to be so bad after all. You become desensitized. This isn't good because you can't repent for something you don't feel is wrong, and that's a huge trap. You left me with something to think about tonight.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Thank you Sue, for stopping by. I'm so glad you are enjoying my blog & I will have to check yours out more often too. I love this post! It's so true!

Rhoda
SOuthern Hospitality

AbbyLane said...

ok more than once the Lord speaks something to me through what i am reading in my devo book, and then i get online and there it is on your blog!! crazy!! He is using you!!

ps. one of my FAVORITE songs...
have you heard "Still"? it's great too :)

Me said...

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

I just love that! What a wonderful song too! I am so grateful that God is continuing to share this message with me.

Thank you for this, Sue!

Unknown said...

Wandered by via Scarlett. Nice place ya got here. ;)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post! So true in us all at one time or another, anything that takes our hearts away from the Lord...He is #1.
Blessings to you!

Susan said...

Hey Sue! Thanks for popping in today. I confess, I am far behind in bloggy ville! Life has overcome my writing and my journaling and my bible study and my...well...you get the picture! Actually, I'm writing a bunch to "The Girls" (my small group of BFF's) and I could/should blog some of it. Blessings...

Connie Barris said...

May our hearts be filled with Him...for content... is a place we reach only when we experience true and everlasting joy..

this was awesome...

I have a friend that always says, "Go ahead and buy it, you deserve it"... whether I can afford it or not...

usually it's a not....

thanks for this post

concerned parent said...

Ok I needed that today, thanks for a great post.
love the video too

Profbaugh said...

Love, love, love the song! Hillsongs rocks!!

~Cheryl
St. Louis

Alycia said...

I am just catching up with your blog and am so thankful to have the time to do so :) Beautiful post and it truly spoke to my heart ~ thank you for pulling this together. Blessings to you today!

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