Abba, May I Have…...?
Scripture: Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) - “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
I once suggested to a lady who lived alone that she consider getting a “low maintenance” pet, perhaps a cat, to keep her company. I secretly hoped that she hadn’t seen that placard in Big Lots that said, ‘Dogs have masters; cats have staff!’ She candidly responded, ‘You know, I much more prefer the IDEA of a cat than actually getting’ one—they’re so cute and cuddly-lookin’ in pictures! This woman had made an honest assessment of her desire for a feline houseguest.
Many people, sadly, are not as honest with themselves about their desires as that dear lady was. They’re desirous of the IDEA of a thing, moreso than its REALITY! The God of the universe wants to help us choose wisely in the area of our desires. In chapter 37 of Psalms, He describes how verse four is not merely a “blank check” for having our every worldly desire fulfilled. Rather, He prioritizes our pursuit of divine eternal pleasures that cannot be shaken, regardless of what is happening in this world! Hebrews 12:27. While Psalms 27:4 and 38:9 highlight the importance of the nature of our desires to our Lord, a careful reading of Mark 10:35-45 magnifies the seriousness of assessing our personal desires. Both our motives and a counting of the costs involved should be honestly weighed, lest we find those desires misaligned with the BEST HE has for us!
Prayer: Dear Abba, in Your omniscience, You know that our human desires are often fickle, short-lived, and can even be self-destructive, if unwisely and prayerlessly pursued. Help us to restructure our desires, so as to prefer Your best for us; grant us Your grace to dispense with the rest! Thank You, in Jesus’ name; amen!
(By Denise Diggs)
I once suggested to a lady who lived alone that she consider getting a “low maintenance” pet, perhaps a cat, to keep her company. I secretly hoped that she hadn’t seen that placard in Big Lots that said, ‘Dogs have masters; cats have staff!’ She candidly responded, ‘You know, I much more prefer the IDEA of a cat than actually getting’ one—they’re so cute and cuddly-lookin’ in pictures! This woman had made an honest assessment of her desire for a feline houseguest.
Many people, sadly, are not as honest with themselves about their desires as that dear lady was. They’re desirous of the IDEA of a thing, moreso than its REALITY! The God of the universe wants to help us choose wisely in the area of our desires. In chapter 37 of Psalms, He describes how verse four is not merely a “blank check” for having our every worldly desire fulfilled. Rather, He prioritizes our pursuit of divine eternal pleasures that cannot be shaken, regardless of what is happening in this world! Hebrews 12:27. While Psalms 27:4 and 38:9 highlight the importance of the nature of our desires to our Lord, a careful reading of Mark 10:35-45 magnifies the seriousness of assessing our personal desires. Both our motives and a counting of the costs involved should be honestly weighed, lest we find those desires misaligned with the BEST HE has for us!
Prayer: Dear Abba, in Your omniscience, You know that our human desires are often fickle, short-lived, and can even be self-destructive, if unwisely and prayerlessly pursued. Help us to restructure our desires, so as to prefer Your best for us; grant us Your grace to dispense with the rest! Thank You, in Jesus’ name; amen!
(By Denise Diggs)
Archive
2022
January
Dissing Double MindednessCome-to-Jesus MomentNew Year, Same God!Is God Real?O Me of Little FaithNot Another Password!Lamb of GodA Tale of Two SongsGod WinksJesus Working Through MeA Real Friend with BenefitsGod is Trying to Tell Us SomethingEven the Lord, RestedGod’s Word to the RescueLiberty and ConscienceHaving a Made-Up MindMarch Like a SoldierThe Reality of UnityLostMiracle on the Roman RoadA Reference Point, Not a ResidencePromised TranquilityListening/Obeying ChristOf ValueHeart FlowThe Implications of “Won’t He Do It”
February
March
STANDING IN VICTORYSelf WillWho are you?Wait a MinuteNOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 1)NOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 2)NOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 3)God Given IdentityHe Knows Our Heart!Witnessing FalselyBut God; the Believer’s SemicolonGod’s Fingerprint – The Living WordHeart OwnershipDeception Among BelieversAn Extraordinary ManEven IfHe Saw the Best in MeNot Quite, Almost, Nearly \"NOPE!\"Jesus’ Teaching About WorshipTHE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PRAYER (Part I)THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PRAYER (Part II)Fruits of the SpiritDifferent Time but Same AgendaI Am the GreatestTrusting the FatherListen, God is Speaking to You
April
What’s in A Name?I’m DelightedWhat a Friend We Have in JesusGod Promises a Life of New BeginningsChrist Formed in YouSlow to SpeakThe Eternal God is Our RefugeHis Marvelous Grace and Omniscience!Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!WHEN FAITHFULNESS BARES IT\'S THROAT!Things Change in His PresenceESCAPE THE WOE!Declare the Lord’s Immutability!WAS THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, A DONE DEAL?Jesus Needing a Drink"Yisemah Adams" And The Day Of Many 'Likes'"Yisemah Adams" And The Day Of Many 'Likes' - Part 2THE Greatest TRUE Story (Part 1)THE Greatest TRUE Story (Part 2)He Dropped the ChargesWho’s the Big Deal!Don’t Just Marvel: BELIEVE!Treasures Found in Your Dark SeasonsOpen the Eyes of My HeartDAYS AS HANDBREADTHS?
May
Awaiting A Divine SequelWorship - Being in the Lord’s PresenceOpen the Eyes of My HeartJESUS SAVIOR, PILOT MEDoubt Your DoubtsGod Directs Our PathsLifeLiving as Children of GodHe Foreknew MeThe Act of LoveBEFORE 'YONDER'BEING USED OF GODOur Lord, the Master Engineer of Every ThingWhen Faithfulness Bares Its Throat (Part 1)When Faithfulness Bares Its Throat (Part 2)The Act of LoveYour Close Friendship CircleI Got Everything I NeedI Won’t ComplainONE MIGHTY SOUNDLESS SOUNDYOU ARE WITH ME
2021
January