THINGS ABOVE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Colossians 3:2 (NIV) - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 

GOD tells us to set our sights on Him and not the “earthly stuff”. Couldn’t be clearer.

But how often do we get caught up in trying to resolve our DISCONTENTMENT with the “earthly stuff”

To find contentment, we chase the next thing; the newest technology, the next high, the next “best thing” and we often pursue it with great fervor!

We even say things like:

“If I only could get this _____________then I would be satisfied.”

“If I could pull together the cash for _________________ then I would be GOOD.”

“Maybe if I get… (high, drunk, lit, fried, baked, hammered, stoned, sloshed, mauled or tweaked) …things will improve.”

Sadly, and many of us know this, the earthly stuff, while fun for a while, doesn’t last. 

Jesus confirmed it.

Matthew 6:19 (ESV)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…

Paul put it this way…

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time (the world’s way): …all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants...Galatians 5:19, 21 (MSG) 

But boy we do chase them; those earthly “fixes” even though they never will satisfy.

I know I did.

Vegas, first class flights, complimentary this and that, prime steaks, and top shelf cognac. I chased it all; even caught some of it for a minute. But it didn’t deliver.  It never delivers.

Not SURPRISING when WISDOM says…

You’re addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.  Proverbs 21:17 (MSG)

Friends, contentment, and real happiness can only be found when our sights are on the things above, on the things of GOD; the sustained things.

And while I know that is a very elementary maybe even sophomoric reminder, we get it wrong so often. 

I know I still do.

We rely on this world, its system, and its promises to fulfill us and bring us contentment and it is just not capable of “carrying the mail” so to speak.

So, can I encourage you today?

Are you struggling with discontentment?

Have you been seeking it and not finding it?

Pause and set your mind on the things above and remember…

“The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with Him, the more the Spirit will make you like Him. The more you are like Him, the better you will understand His utter sufficiency... And that is the only way to know real satisfaction.” - John MacArthur

I love you all!

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