Many of the founders of our country were Christians, and part of our inalienable rights is “the pursuit of happiness.” I used to think that wasn’t a Christian philosophy, but the Sermon on the Mount is showing me something quite different. We have a natural longing to be happy, a longing God gave us — but we often seek it in a worldly way and come up empty. God gave us the book of Ecclesiastes to illustrate this. Solomon built fabulous homes and gardens, had slaves to care for his every need, and a whole harem of beautiful women. He writes: “I denied himself nothing my eyes desired.” Yet, he found this:
The Rolling Stones found the same, singing a song that resonated with millions of young people:
In my guide, “A Woman of Contentment,” I share how Solomon finally found the secret. It cannot be found “under the sun,” for one must look up, beyond the sun, and set his affections on Christ and things above. This is the secret we are will explore this week in the Beatitudes, and I can’t wait to explore it with you.
Sunday:
1.What stands out to you from the above and why?
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you?
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
Monday: Hearts Ready To Be Hungry
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be?
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
- Refresh: What does blessed mean?
- Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satsified? (So interesting)
- Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like.
Tuesday: Tozer on Why Some Christians Move Forward and Others Stay Stuck
My grandson, Stephen, who is three, says one of these things at least ten times a day:
I’m soooo soooo soooo hungry.
Or:
I’m soooo soooo soooo thirsty.
We need to be so so so hungry to be righteous.
When we receive Christ, God cleanses us and imputes to us the righteousness of Christ. It is a gift. Yet we are also called into righteousness, which involves our response. We die to ourselves and live to Christ, and as we, we become more and more like Jesus.
I remember asking my friend Leslie Vernick why some Christians are able to do this better than others and actually move past their besetting sins and heart idols — and others are stuck. She quoted A. W. Tozer, saying it has to do with our predominant desires. Is it for righteousness? Is it for more of God? Tozer prophesied that the church was going to become lukewarm because they saw God as a means to an end, a means to get what they really wanted, instead of really wanting God Himself. That prophecy has been fulfilled in the western world in the last century. Colin Smith quotes this prayer from Tozer:
Oh God, I have tasted Your goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more . I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want You. I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Your glory, I pray that I may know You indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul “Rise up my love and come away.” Then give me the grace to rise and follow You, up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
7. Meditate on this prayer and make it your own. Either write it out or simply pray it with your whole heart and check that you did.
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share?
Wednesday: Hunger Versus Appetite
Again, I’ll use my grandchildren, with whom I’ve had much time this summer. This is Claire and Sadie, who unlike Steven, are never hungry and stick thin. We are happy to get any food in them and often cater to their very few likes: grilled cheese, hot dogs, mac and cheese and apples… Their mother makes them try bites of other things we are serving but they nibble, turn up their noses, and say, “I tried it and I don’t like it.”
The good news is that while hunger is natural, appetite can be developed. Early in my life, I read the Bible like I ate kale — I knew it was good for me, but I didn’t crave it. But then I began to experience its wonders, and I developed an appetite for it.
In the same way, dying to self is hard, but I endeavor to do it in obedience to God, Yet I am also finding that with every death comes a resurrection that brings life, liberty, and, yes, happiness! So I am developing an appetite for righteousness.
9. Comment on the above.
10. What do you learn from the following psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2
B. Psalm 63:1
11. We also develop an appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you learn from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5
B. 1 John 3:18-19
C. 1 John 3:24
Thursday-Friday: Colin Smith on Happiness and Idolatry
(I made a mistake and gave you the wrong link. Listen to the first — not that the second isn’t good, but it isn’t Colin Smith on the Beatitude we are studying. I now don’t know how to get rid of the second link!)
12. Listen to the following and share your thoughts and comments.
Saturday:
13. How has God worked in your life through this Beatitude?
116 comments
1. What stood out…we truly don’t find satisfaction ‘under the sun’. I think of the woman I work for. She is a successful Doctor, an accomplished pianist, an athlete, an aviator who helped build her own plane. She has more talent and brains than any one person should have. But she is always looking for something more. I know she’s trying to fill her “God shaped vacuum”, and have told her so. But she keeps trying under the sun.
2. In the last, I’ve looked to food, and recently to losing weight. It is a circling of the drain. It never changes what’s going on inside of me.
Yes, Mary.
It is good to eat right in obedience to God, and even to find joy in getting more healthy, and yet, not to make weight our identity! We can pray for one another!
Not that men don’t have this, but I can’t think of a single woman who doesn’t! Yes, let’s pray for one another.
Lord, please turn our eyes, our hearts, and our appetites to You. That we would be so enthralled with You that we aren’t focused on food or on our coping methods, but on Your glory and grace.
Yes Lord.
Mary, me too-ugh-such a slippery slope and so true. Yes, let’s pray for one another- every day this world presses into us with a false Gospel.
Thank you, Rebecca. The above prayer is for you, too…
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
How EVERY Sunday I come here and God’s presence is so evident. He puts me in wonder with His kindness and sovereignty in my life especially when I can’t hear Him and feel He is far, but He is always near! Just last night I had a discussion with someone close to me who brought up Solomon to justify her actions and I responded, if you get that do you think you will be fully satisfied? I asked her that because I’m right there with her! I know how my heart is bent that way too and how the things I thought would satisfy me and the things I might think today will satisfy me won’t and that He TRULY is the only one who can. I certainly haven’t arrived but I think it took this trial I am going through right now to break me and bring up yuk inside-but more than that, truly surrender and desire Him more. He helped me see the ways I was finding satisfaction in security and comfort for I feared if it were taken away my world would crumble. Now if it were it would be painful indeed but I have Him and He is my strength – He is my security and comfort & joy-which WILL stand regardless of any type of storm.
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction?
Food, children who are successful and who desire God, happy marriage, financial security, etc.
How has that worked out for you?
It is a disaster. First, it takes me away from the One who truly satisfies. Secondly, it always turns around and bites me leaving a wound that takes time to heal but can also lead to other long lasting consequences.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
Right now.
Rebecca — you are one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, so you are such salt and light to all of us. Thank you!
Rebecca, I so agree with Dee!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? The pursuit of happiness … I have always thought the same as Dee. My thoughts were that it is a shallow ideal sought by foolish men. Meaning … “happiness” is fleeting and often found through the lens of “the heart desires what the heart desires” … deceitful wants gained lead to what many define as “happiness” but then it slips from their grasp when the next thing comes along. BUT if you spin your perspective to see “happiness” through the lens of Christ then I start to see the point being made. Pursuit of happiness could even (with the right definition and motive) be synonymous with pursuit of God.
2. Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you? Approval. My heart has been cut to the quick the last couple of weeks. My current situation has me constantly (at ‘home,’ at work, visiting family…) under disapproval. People constantly criticizing me, telling me to do things different, ignoring me, misunderstanding me, blaming me … but every morning as I drive the 45 minutes to my current job I hear Keller talk about if my heart knew the Gospel criticism wouldn’t bother me because my identity is in Christ. And I know this is a process and journey that won’t be perfected on this Earth BUT it also convicts me! Is my heart content in HIS acceptance?! Is my identity in HIS love for me or my reputation as a good nurse/person. It has been a severe crescendo to my life-long struggle… it has challenged my thoughts to not mentally rebuke those who do not give me credit but instead preach the Gospel to my soul … moment by moment to remind my heart, mind, and body that we work for the King of the universe and not for man. When I look to approval for satisfaction my emotions plummet and soar. My purpose fades. I find myself circling depression because I absorb and internalize and canNOT get satisfaction or peace.
How have you sensed God in your life in the last day? It’s a long story within the bigger story of our adventure trying to start again here in Montana but the conclusion is this: God worked a miracle and affirmed what we thought was His leading. A school we applied to get the boys into had no room and then suddenly a spot opened up for them. Like I said it is a long story with many God whispers through it but I am still in awe.
Also, Yesterday as I drove home from a long night at the hospital I watched His glory come to life in a misty mountainous sunrise. He is amazing!
Love this post:
This truth: Pursuit of happiness could even (with the right definition and motive) be synonymous with pursuit of God.
Allowing God to speak to your soul through Keller!
And your wonderful God hunts!
Jill, I’m so sorry for what you describe in your post, of being criticized, misunderstood, and blamed. Am I right that you work in the OR? I remember a brief stint there, and how some of the surgeons were so impatient and critical. I didn’t have thick enough skin for that. I get that we need to rest in God’s approval, but words do hurt and it is hard. Praying for you, Jill.
Jill ~
misty mountainous sunrise ~ Oh how that early morning beauty can restore our soul. I’ve often left home early enroute to see my grandchildren several hours away and have been greeted by that sunrise near your new home-town. (Hoping to connect with you for coffee soon, Jill. Welcome back to Montana~ )
I too have a way-out-of-proportion idol of approval and so your post here moves me to tears. Thank you for putting pen to paper here. ” I find myself circling depression because I absorb and internalize and canNOT get satisfaction or peace.”
I am once again needing His mercy.
1.What stands out to you from the above and why?
“Meaningless under the sun.” I once attended a church for a year or so with a dynamic pastor. He was really good at delivering a sermon. One of them was on this very subject and scripture. I took so many notes and learned so much that day. This post brings me back to that day and the good memory of that sermon.
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you?
Food and drink. Only temporary satisfaction.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
I have been humming the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” the past few days. Today the pianist played it during the offering.
Love that song — so simple and true.
3. Where have I seen God in the last day? My husband is on a kick where he wants to play games as often as possible. I’m not that interested, having other things to do, but I do it for him. But then I get competitive. Yesterday I lost all day. So I was asking the Lord what He’s trying to teach me. And I think it’s all about not hanging on to self, but losing it for others. Am I really playing because I want my husband to have a good time, or because I want to win for me? I’m still in progress.
And then this morning’s sermon! I love it when the preaching comes from the heart, from personal experience. And that was this morning, talking about loving the gospel. Not just for the past or the future, but for each and every day I live. To know that the sins I struggle with have been paid for on the cross, and then to live in that freedom. Wow! Very powerful stuff, just like we talk about here.
1.What stands out to you from the above and why?
“We have a natural longing to be happy, a longing God gave us…”
And this: “It cannot be found “under the sun,” for one must look up, beyond the sun, and set his affections on Christ and things above.”
The more I see my own sin and depravity, the more I yearn towards His righteousness to cover me, and hunger to grow in righteousness like Him.
Today at Church we read one of my favorite passages, 1 Peter 1 about how we have been granted an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. As I let that sink in, and remind myself of what is promised to me, I am eager to grow in likeness of Jesus.
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you?
I’ve been a hyper-planner all my life, driven by a love for a semblance of control in my life, order. A few weeks ago, I had told my husband , “next week is an easy week for me, no doctor appointments, kids in day camp…” The next day was the start of an 8 day stay in the hospital with my son, followed by 2 surgeries, multiple IVs at home, and 4 more doctor visits. But by His grace, I did not stress out or fall apart. I remembered my prayer before adopting Philip 2 years ago, that I wanted “to be broken and poured out for Christ”. As noble as that sounded, I didn’t really want that to include a life without ability to plan, but thankfully in His sovereignty, He has stripped me of my idol. I do feel as though my life is not my own, and that is a blessing. While the being stripped bare is uncomfortable, I still feel Him near and know He is working in me, He knows what I need, and I thank Him for that.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
Yesterday I spent a few hours with my prayer partners and always, His presence is so near, my heart is full and all other things seem to shrink in worth compared to time spent in prayer and praise together.
So good to “see” you, Lizzy. What a good attitude when your week break turned out so differently. How is Philip doing now?
Dee–thank you so much. Many here were praying and I SO appreciate it and definitely felt it! Philip had a new port put in Friday and is doing great, looking forward to starting Kindergarten! 🙂
He’ll be their star pupil!
Lizzy, I can’t believe he’s starting kindergarten already! I’m happy to hear that Philip is feeling better, too!
Lizzy,
Such encouraging news about Philip.
Your post here brought to mind some lyrics from an old song:
The more I see of this world
The less it means to me
Its Jesus I really want to see ~
Sunday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I can’t get no satisfaction, a song from my generation. Jim and I were just having a conversation the other day at how easy is to get caught up in materialism. He’s getting ready to look for a new vehicle that his company leases every three years and he’s unable to get the truck he wants because they don’t get the gas mileage the company requires they get. He talked how he’s been spoiled by the trucks he’s had. But went on to say that that can’t be what satisfies as it’s only temporal. We’re always looking for something better that this world can’t satisfy and that robs us of true joy!
2. Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out fo you?
I look to comfort which has not worked out as it isolates me and hinders me from serving.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
God took me out of my comfort zone this morning as only He could.
1.What stands out to you from the above and why? I too have often wondered about the inalienable right to pursue happiness as a believer. I’ll be interested in learning more!
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? I have looked to many things…most notably my marriage, my children, and my work.
How has that worked out for you? As wonderful as all of those things can be at times…they can still leave me empty and wanting something more.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day? Today at church, as we sang O Come to the Altar, my heart was encouraged to come to the altar with my disappointments! He knows them all. I have lost my perspective because of the darkness but if I choose to, I can imagine that which eye has not seen, nor ear heard…and that place where treasures are stored up for me. He is my dwelling place throughout all generations.
How often it seems that music is where we sense His presence in church!
1.What stands out to you from the above and why?
“…part of our inalienable rights is ‘the pursuit of happiness.’ I used to think that wasn’t a Christian philosophy…” This makes me curious about this week’s study because I want to know more. Depending on how happiness is pursued, I might agree with what you used to think 🙂
Also, I found the poster for “I Can’t Get no Satisfaction” sort of amusing!
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you?I often look for meaning in current circumstances, people, and/or ideas. It doesn’t work very well in the long term — it’s discouraging — if I don’t keep my eyes/my heart on the eternal. But sometimes seeing meaning in the short-term is helpful if it’s considered in the context of God’s big picture. Trying to get meaning from work made me SICK.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?Through seeing how God was preparing my heart before church today, what I heard in church, and follow-up reading. Our pastor used the phrase “weight of glory” and I came home and read Lewis’ speech with that title. My answer to #2 was related to how God was working in my life today.
I love “Weight of Glory.” I remember Keller talking about how he and his wife listening to young gifted preachers, yet Kathy said, “They don’t yet have the weight of glory.”
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be?
Poor in Spirit-recognize our depravity, we are empty handed before Him; Mourning over our sin leads us to long for cleansing and change; Meekness-Submitting myself to His control and His work in me…this awareness of my depravity, of what I am not, with a repentance over my sin and humble submission, creates a hunger for righteousness, godliness, that only He can bring.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
a) Refresh: What does blessed mean?
To be happy.
b) Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satisfied? (So interesting)
It does not say the righteous will be satisfied/filled. It says those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who desire and pursue righteousness. The satisfaction is not based on our completion of righteousness, but our seeking after it, they are blessed, made happy, in their seeking of righteousness.
c) Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like.
Daily seeking God, in His Word, in prayer and meditation, praise and thanksgiving. Asking God to search my heart and show me my sins so I can repent. Showing grace and forgiveness toward others.
I love this:
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be? Here’s my guess: Being poor in spirit, mourning, & meekness are not exactly happy or satisfied states of mind in themselves. They leave us longing and seeing our own neediness. They make us hungry for more; they make us long for Jesus.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
Refresh: What does blessed mean? Happy (oh yeah, I forgot! NOW the “pursuit of happiness” makes sense .)
Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satisified? (So interesting)No, it’s those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like.This is an interesting question to answer right now because I am hungry for FOOD and have been procrastinating finding something to eat for about an hour. I think someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness would CRAVE the One who is righteous, would want to reflect His righteousness, and also would look for His righteousness (& see it) in His people.
Other thoughts related to hunger & thirst: I know that (sometimes) if I ignore my hunger, those hunger pangs will go away. That doesn’t mean that the need for nutrients goes away. In addition, my body needs nutrients but the feelings of hunger can be temporarily satisfied with junk food. I wonder how often eating spiritual junk food dampens my hunger for righteousness? For me, thirst — especially lately — is different. I get dehydrated easily and have had to learn to pay attention to drinking enough water. By the time I actually feel thirsty, other problems may have begun. Although I sometimes am easily distracted, I also can be SO hyper-focused that I don’t notice hunger or thirst. This might be stretching Scripture(!) but I wonder if it might be important to acknowledge my hunger and thirst for righteousness, even when I don’t feel that hunger and thirst, so that I don’t get too focused on “getting something done.” Or maybe if I am REALLY hungry and thirsty for righteousness, I am so obsessed with righteousness that I can’t ignore it/ignore Him (like I temporarily can with food and water)?
I’m trying to get a little ahead because the last couple of weeks, I have listened to the sermons twice but haven’t taken the time to take notes! Maybe if I am caught up??
Encourage others to read Renee’s thoughts above concerning hunger and thirst.
And this made me smile: Happy (oh yeah, I forgot! NOW the “pursuit of happiness” makes sense .)
Renee,
Pondering your words here. Especially this: …….I wonder if it might be important to acknowledge my hunger and thirst for righteousness, even when I don’t feel that hunger and thirst ………
I too find that if I ignore the promptings of the Spirit I can lose my hunger and thirst…or wait…maybe it’s my hearing that I lose 🙂 But, just like my physical hunger can go away when ignored, so to can my spiritual hunger.
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“It cannot be found “under the sun,” for one must look up, beyond the sun, and set his affections on Christ and things above.”
2. Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you?
My job and my mothering. Satisfaction in these areas has not been long lasting. I need to “look up” and not “under”.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
That He is in the mundane. Indeed the book The Jesus who Surprises has been instrumental in me consistently seeing more the little things that God bestows daily-finding a misplaced item, a note from a friend, a thank you card from a student, a friend helping me edit my course syllabus, teacher mentors online etc. A quiet time at home, a talk with my daughter without “drama” and her appreciation of what I do as a teacher.
What is man that you are mindful of him; the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:4
O, Lord-you are worthy to be praised! How majestic si your name in all the earth!
4. Why would our hearts need help to be hungry for righteousness? I would guess it is like any other hunger. If you satiate it with bad stuff, you don’t have a true and proper hunger for good things. We have to recognize we’ve been going after junk, confess and turn from it. Be sorry for missing the truth. Develop a willingness to wait for God to tend to us, and by His power hold our desires in control. Then we are ready to have not only a hunger, but a hunger for righteousness. I remember praying that if I couldn’t be pure in my sexual thoughts, then I wanted God to completely take that away from me. And He did. I would rather not hunger at all if I can’t hunger for the right things. And I want to hunger for righteousness.
5.1. Blessed means happy, blissful, enviable, spiritually prosperous, with life and joy and satisfaction in God’s favor, regardless of the circumstances.
2. It is not the righteous who are satisfied; it is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
3. A person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness will be preoccupied with God. Wanting to do what God wants. Wanting to please Him. Searching for ways to be closer to Him. Wanting more and more of God.
Good description of a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness.
I love all of this, Mary.
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be?
First we need to be poor in spirit- realizing our poverty before God-that He did it all and we did nothing to deserve His righteousness imputed on us and restoration of relationship with HIm-this melts us to mourn our sin and by mourning our sin we are ready to submit and yield to His Hand. I could be mistaken but I see this as a cycle for the more we remember the gospel and massage it in deeper, the more we mourn our sin, the more we submit to His Hand the more we taste His presence, the more we become hungry to be righteous.
I love the image of the cycle…remembering the gospel more Spurs us to mourn our sin more deeply which allows us to submit to His hand and experiemce. Ore of His presence and become hungrier!
I see it this way as well. The discipline of staying in His Word and in prayer, seeking righteousness, keeps our hearts where they need to be. Getting away from these disciplines causes my heart to not be poor anymore- I begin to trust in my own understanding instead of the Lord. These disciplines need to be priority no matter how busy life gets. I want to be better at this.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The idea that happiness or the pursuit of it is not a Christian philosophy; I have heard that many times in Christian teaching, that “God cares more about my being holy, not happy.” But it does make one wonder: what sort of God would not want His children to be happy? I want my children to be happy….the “right” kind of happiness. I understand that it is our tendency to seek happiness in things that do not last, and end up disappointed and empty, and yet – I believe that God has given us many things in this material world that can give us a sense or feeling of happiness: family, friends, and fun times spent with them, being able to enjoy a beautiful day at the beach, playing in the waves, a delicious meal, cuddling your young child or grandchild, the happiness a pet can bring to you or the happy feeling you get when you really help someone. While we can cross a line and make idols out of these things, forgetting that they are good gifts from God and cannot meet all of our needs, I still believe that it is okay to feel happy about things in this life. If all we can tell people who are struggling is to grin and bear it, and wait for things to be better in eternity, what kind of message is that? What then did Jesus mean when He said that He came to bring life, and a full, abundant life at that?
2. Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked for you?
To people: family, friends, and in particular, my children. I do not know why, but I have had, my whole life that I can remember, a sense of “not being complete in myself”. I don’t know if it’s fear, or fear of inadequacy, or a fear of a meaningless life, but relationships are what bring me happiness and a sense of wholeness. As I “lose” the closeness of relationships with my children due to two of them living a great distance away from home (one will live roughly half the year in South America, the other half in Texas) and now my daughter will be leaving home for college in about two weeks, I am feeling anxious and somewhat lost. I am happy for them and in their successes in their careers, and that they are well-adjusted and able to live independently of their parents, and it gives me pleasure to see their lives unfolding. But it also leaves me feeling lonely. Once, when I was a new believer, and I was talking to my sister who was single and lived alone, I gave her a trite answer when she expressed feelings of loneliness at times. I piped up that Jesus could be her friend. She said, “Okay, but He isn’t sitting there at the dinner table with me when I’m eating alone.” Now, I get what she was saying. (She’s a Christian now, too) There seems to be such a FINE line between a God-given need for close relationships and crossing that line into making those people/relationships into idols, where they replace God.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day?
I was thankful yesterday after an eleven hour drive home from North Carolina that we made it home safely and without incident.
Susan — I remember telling the Lord He couldn’t really be my husband since He didn’t have a physical body and I couldn’t snuggle with Him. That’s when He brought to my remembrance of how my baby would scream when I was trying to nurse him like I wasn’t there. It is different, yet I have had more of the sense of His presence since Steve died and my children left the nest. I pray that for you too — I know this is a day you have dreaded.
Dee, I remember this story from your book, The God of All Comfort. I pray that He will be here for me, too. I’ve certainly seen how He continues to meet you again and again, and how real His presence is to you.
Susan, I get what you’re saying. Loneliness is real, sometimes even when you’re surrounded by people you love. I think the Lord keeps showing us how we need to depend on Him-even in this area, though he can’t comfort us in a physical way. I don’t know. It’s hard. I have learned not to trust my feelings as they often deceive me.
Monday
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three Beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be?
We have bowed our will to His.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
1. Refresh: What does blessed mean?
Happy, spiritually prosperous, refreshed by God’s grace, inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, joyful, nourished by God’s goodness, content…
2. Look carefully – is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satisfied? ( So interesting)
No, It is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
3. Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like?
I was feeding my grandchild yesterday and he was making it quite difficult to get the bottle in his mouth because he was sucking on his hands, wiggling and moving his head all around, but once that bottle got in his mouth, he couldn’t suck fast enough. And then the groaning and sighs of contentment started and he was satisfied!
Great picture with your grandchild. I read it right after I wrote the note to Susan above. God Hunt!
Yes!! (-:
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be?
The first three beatitudes seem to describe the heart: poor in spirit, mourning over sin, meekness or humility. Then with the next one, the heart wants something: righteousness. Perhaps the first three describe what is needed or necessary before a person wants righteousness, which would make sense because a lost person doesn’t seek after righteousness.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
1. Refresh: what does blessed mean?
To be blessed means to be happy.
2. Look carefully – is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satisfied?
It is the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness (want it) who are satisfied. So this is something different than ‘imputed righteousness’? Which would mean that you don’t have to have ‘arrived’ or feel like you have it all together to be satisfied, but that you want to be free of sin, you want to change, you want to walk in God’s ways.
3. Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness would be like.
The Message translation words this beatitude as a person who has worked up an appetite for God, so a person who simply wants God….wants a relationship with Him, wants to “do life” with God, wants to obey Him even though he fails many, many times, wants to go deeper with God, wants Him to be first in his or her life.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
What does blessed mean?
The amplified bible says blessed is “joyful; nourished by God’s goodness.”
Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satsified? (So interesting)
The ones blessed are satisfied; they are actively searching for righteousness.
Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like.
A person searching for happiness within themselves would be trying to understand what God wants us to be/do. This would mean they have to be in tune with the Bible; God’s Word or scripture to know what makes them righteous. They don’t give up until they have found it.
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be?
I’m not sure that I see a difference in this one compared to the first three. You are still blessed by being hungry for righteousness which is what the first three are getting at as well. Meekness, mourning, and humbling yourself all draws you closer to being who God wants you to be. In the case of the last, it seems as if you haven’t reached the righteousness fully yet and are still trying to make your way. Or, (I think we spoke of this a bit before) are they not a list in order for us to do?
Colin Smith says the first three deal with recognizing our need and realizing that need leads to a desire springing up in us to hunger for God and His righteousness. But I can see your point as well, Laura!
Dee and Laura-thank you for this. I was wondering..I love Colin’s simple insight-the first three beatitudes help us recognize our need and realizing that need leads to a desire springing up inside to hunger and thirst for righteousness. So good.
4. Why would that be? My mind goes back to the horse being broken. The first three beatitudes have to do with realizing our current wild situation apart from a master. We are poor in spirit, we mourn our depravity, and then we become “used to the hand” …. the horse, once broken and loved, will crave the hand that broke him in the first place. It will not pine for what it lost but instead find joy and contentment in the one who loves him.
Jill, this “broken horse” example is a beautiful metaphor, especially that we become “used to the hand”.
Jill,
Beautiful parallel to the horse being broken with the first 3 beatitude. Thank you!
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
I desire to only want God for Himself, for His beauty alone. But I confess that there are moments in trials when I find myself just wanting Him to act, to move—and when I don’t see it, I struggle to be content in just having Him and not sensing His power on my behalf. Sometimes, in really dark hours, I can question His care—and I know that is evidence that part of my heart just wants Him to rescue or fix. In truth, He is always working and always “for me”, and in those moments in the fire, I speak this truth to myself. And even in those dark times I do know He is Sovereign and I would never want my circumstances fixed over having being His own.
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share?
I just got off the phone with the school nurse from the (public) school Philip will be starting, they have been wonderfully proactive about setting up the accommodations he’ll need. I knew this woman is a believer and I told her I was a little concerned that I found out Philip was placed with a brand new Kindergarten teacher. She said “the Lord knows what He’s doing, the teacher’s assistant (for the new teacher) used to be a nurse for years!”. It’s a small thing, but I felt so relieved, and just a sweet reminder that yes, He knows what He is doing!
9. Comment on the above.
It is His mercy to us that appetite for the Word can be developed—and that the more we taste it, the more we begin to crave it. It reminds me of the old parenting books that tell you sometimes a child has to try a new food 7 times before they like it. Didn’t always work that way with mine!, but I do think it’s true that we need to feed on the Word even when we don’t feel like it, and in doing that, we develop more of a taste for it. And as I discipline m,yself to not try to seek comfort in other places, but first go to Him…like when I am tempted to first run to my husband or friend, but instead go to Him—those are the moments that build my desire, my hunger, to be near Him, to be like Him.
10. What do you learn from the following psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2- “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”
My devotion from John Piper was on this vs today. He said “What makes this so beautiful and so crucial for us is that he is not thirsting mainly for relief from his threatening circumstances…or for escape from his enemies or for their destruction. It’s not wrong to want relief, and to pray for it. It is sometimes right to pray for the defeat of enemies. But more important than any of that is God himself.”
Also makes me think of Psalm 27:4, I love “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”
B. Psalm 63:1-seek Him earnestly, with my whole being, thirsting, longing for Him
Love love that Philip will have a nurse in his classroom!
Great dovetailing words from John Piper. Thanks, Lizzy.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
Refresh: What does blessed mean? Happy
Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satsified? (So interesting)
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like. Even though she is happy she is His, she groans over her sin nature and truly hates her sin. She is willing to make herself vulnerable before Him and let Him take off her scales. She is painfully aware she isn’t completed yet-but delighted that He will complete her and longs for that day. She doesn’t rest in her works rather her focus is Him and the works flow from her faith. She could be in the greatest painful journey of her life and have times of crying out but overall His joy still radiates from her and you will hear her say she is thankful for that trial for God drew out so much in her she didn’t see that she could repent of and turn and grow closer to Him. ( I see this a lot from you all here on the blog! This is one of the reasons I love coming here!)
Love your Eustace example!
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
Like Tozer, I have tasted His goodness and desired Him more but it isn’t in full for in a second even after I am done typing this I can desire him fixing a circumstance more than desiring Him, so I have a long long way to go in experiencing His fullness. My sin nature can douse my hunger and thirst so I need to ask God to help me to see what is going on in my heart for usually trials bring those dark places out. So as awful and as mysterious as trials are -especially when not self inflicted-they are tools used in His hand to prepare me for the wedding day-to make me more like Him-to dance more freely with Him, but I can’t really turn unless He compels me. So glad for His spirit inside me.
What also helps is remembering the truth that I am part of the Trinity- in the dance -praise God and this is my comfort-what helps me turn when I can’t seem to let go of my idol as quickly as I want to.
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
I probably am a little of both…I get so discouraged when prayers I pray over and over (Lord please remind Sarah of You) seem ignored; nothing seems to change. I’m trying to be obedient, yet it doesn’t seem to matter. I ask myself why I bother to pray. So I try to remember that Job never knew why he went through all his trials; he trusted the Lord to know what was right (he did get frustrated though, at one point, and lashed out). I feel like I have had God with me my whole life; I am lucky that I have realized it. I don’t know what it would be like if I didn’t have Him to go to when I need comforting. He is the One who can show me what to do, ultimately. So many times I am lost and He does show me the way. I want more of that, I confess. It is lovely when it happens and I know this is right. That is my prayer, to have more of Him in me so I am blessed. Thank You, oh Holy One, for overseeing my life. Show me Your way, for I know it is good and true and right. Be with me, close to me, so I remember what You promise; that I will be blessed if I seek You.
7. Meditate on this prayer and make it your own. Either write it out or simply pray it with your whole heart and check that you did.
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share?
I have had a long, drawn out summer. This is a good thing, for it makes me bored and ready to go back to school. Although much of what I had planned for my house has not been completed due to playground hopping! Picnics and bike rides have been the theme summer. It is definitely not what I planned for the summer, but I believe it is what God wanted for me. I have taken on a couple of reviewing writing jobs for education entities, and worked my online community college course, but those are different than the regular school year. I hope that I can move back into school peacefully and continue the relaxing pace of summer. I doubt that will happen though; school has a way of sweeping you up into it and before you know it, you are sleeping 4 hours at night and working 12 hour days. I also found out I have one the the toughest kids (boy) in a nearly all male class, the last class of the day. Please pray that I can help him. Not looking forward to all of that.
I will pray for you and that boy, Laura. Praying God gives you ideas that will help his behavior and that He will grant you favor with this boy. Perhaps God will illuminate you to know just how to handle this boy.
Thanks Chris! My colleagues are so pleased that they don’t have him (he failed science last year so one of them had him). But, they don’t have what I have (unfortunately); Jesus. I expect we will be fine. Thanks for any prayers though!!
6. I spent years wanting God for Himself, living in the state of struggling to have more of Him and be closer. Somewhere in there I got busy with life, busy with disappointment, and I let myself be content with the form of following after Him without having the fire for it.
7. Lord, today I repent. I repent of allowing the passion for You to cool. Of not recognizing and dealing with my disappointments, and as a result, allowing them to drive me from You. I repent of wearing my nice Christian mask and of going through the motions without the burning love. Send down Your fire from heaven so that even my dust is licked up.
8. God hunt. It is early yet, but I’ve been sensing His nudging and direction as I haven’t for years. I am eager to be obedient and not lose this fragile thread, but instead help it grow to a mighty rope. Little things like no more snacking, and getting up an hour earlier on my day off. It makes me excited to see what else He has in store for me.
Love your God hunt, Mary.
Mary, thank you for your honesty in #6. I can so relate to “somewhere in there I got busy with life….”
Amen to this. Content with form instead of fire…
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
Thinking this one through…my hearts desire is more of Him, that He is who I long for. Jim remembered that at his mother’s memorial service the pastor shared that “Carolyn always remained teachable in her walk with the Lord, desiring more of Him…even at 90!” I always admired her hunger and thirst for the Lord, may this be true in my life as well.
7. Meditate on this prayer and make it your own. Either ride it out or simply pray with your whole heart and check that you did.
Yes!
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share?
When my husband got home from work yesterday he handed me his phone and showed me the exact vehicle I had been looking at earlier…wondering if it might be a better purchase for us as we enter retirement in the next few years. I have to admit it gave me goosebumps, now praying for God’s direction and will.
So true of Carolyn, Sharon. I remember her husband saying that she had to stop watching soap operas for she was always praying for the characters. 🙂
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
Refresh: What does blessed mean? Happy
Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satisfied? (So interesting)
No. The ones who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be happy. And there is no one righteous among us humans.
Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like.
A person who is hungry and thirsty for righteousness is a person who longs to be with God and to do what is right in God’s eyes. Therefore he or she is investing in time with God (prayer) and reading and meditating on His Word.
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
I often see God as a means to an end and I long for a deep desire to really want intimacy with Him rather than what I think I need from Him.
7. Meditate on this prayer and make it your own. Either write it out or simply pray it with your whole heart and check that you did. I did print it and kept it along with my devotional stuff.
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share?
I have been very tired the last few days getting things ready for our first day of school. Two nights ago, I slept through a thunderstorm that was the talk at my school. They couldn’t believe I slept through the ruckus (lol) and commented I must have been REALLY out. I believe the deep sleep and rest was a kiss from the King!
It does sound like you have a challenging start to school — let us know how it is going, Bing.
Dee, I made it through the first 2 days! Thank you, Lord! I have a major change in my curriculum this year. It is all for the good but is taking a lot of work from me. I am daily experiencing the sufficiency of God and seeing more and more of my need for Him-it is so humbling to go through “sifting”. It is all good for my soul and spirit but I find myself in tears often. I will try to get in here as often as I can. I decided I will give up something else so I can be here. Thank you for your ministry to me as well as the others here.
9. Developing an appetite for something. For sure it helps to have some success with it. As does having companions who cheer on the journey and tell you how worthwhile it is.
10.a. Not only is it possible to thirst for God, but it is something you can share with others, encouraging them to also thirst for Him.
b. Longing and thirsting for God is like being in a desert and needing water. It isn’t a polite request, it is a dire and emergent need.
11. Developing an appetite through obedience.
a. We are to walk in obedience as Jesus did with the Father. He didn’t only obey when it was easy or comfortable. Or when he personally agreed with the plan.
b. We show God we love Him by our actions much more than with our words. Talk is cheap, especially in our culture.
c. Failure to obey calls our salvation into question. This one makes me squirm. I take it to mean like Jesus talked about the son who said he would do the father’s will but never did, as opposed to the one who said no, but then later went and did what the father asked. If we repent and obey we are good. If we live our whole life never obeying, then…. I still struggle with this.
1.What stands out to you from the above and why? Under the sun, everything is meaningless.
This stands out to me because as a believer, I get it. My mom doesn’t. To her this world is everything.
2.Where do you often look under the sun for satisfaction? How has that worked out for you? My family, health, financial security—none of these can provide lasting satisfaction.
3. How have you sensed God in your life in the last day? The Lord continues to confirm the importance of faith and family in this life.
Wednesday
10. What do you learn from the following Psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2
The Psalmist soul (his life, inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. He asks the question, “When will I come and see the face of God?
B. Psalm 63:1
The Psalmist declares Him as His God and with deepest longing will seek Him. His soul (his life, his very self) thirsts for God, His flesh longs and sighs for God, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
In both of these Psalms you can feel the longing and desire there is for seeking God…even the desire to see the face of God!
11. We also develop the appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you hear from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5
We’re in Him and His love has truly been perfected if we habitually keep His Word and obey His precepts.
B. 1 John 3:18-19
We will know that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart and quiet our conscience before Him if we don’t merely love with word or tongue but in action and in truth.
C. 1 John 3:24
The one who habitually keeps His commandments remains in Him and He in him and the proof is the Spirit He has given us.
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you.
I don’t believe that I want to use God to get what I want; He has felt so far away and so absent for so long. I know it is my fault (I can’t blame God). My church attendance has been wobbly for a long time as I struggle to find a sense of belonging, yet that shouldn’t be why I go to church in the first place. I’ve put other things before Him. I don’t feel that He owes me good health, an easy life, etc… What I long for is to sense His presence and companionship like I see others having that experience with God.
This is such a crucial stage in your life, becoming an empty nester, that I want to surround you with prayer to find peace in Him, fellowship and belonging in the body, and a real sense of His presence!
Comment on the above. Appetite vs. Hunger – hunger natural / appetite develops. I really love Dee’s illustration with her grandchildren! 🙂
I haven’t thought about this for I thought hunger grows as we spend more time with Him so I kind of lump it all together. hmm…I looked up a few cross references and It seems there is a distinction. Psalm 63 & Psalm 107:9.
So Hunger is a yearning and Appetite is a tasting perhaps? Our appetite for something is developed via tasting something good over and over and it satisfies our hunger so we want more and our appetite grows. Hmm..So once we taste His goodness in His Word He satisfies our thirst and we want more and our appetite grows. I hope I am not making something simple hard. 🙂
When I think of how I have developed an appetite for things I once endured, I think, with the Word, group accountability helped me initially, and then I began to appreciate its layers and beauty. Twila has been an inspiration to me in memorizing and I do see how memorizing uncovers meanings. I’m working on the Sermon on the Mount now — early stages — but I think of it through the day. I think memorizing 1 John was so hard that it discouraged me, though I did it — it is so repetitive. Sermon on the Mount seems quite easy. I’m meandering, but thinking about how appetite grows, for the Word — and then — for righteousness. With righteousness, do you think it is experiencing more of His presence?
Dee, oh yes-I agree that appetite grows for the word and then for righteousness and as we experience His presence more in His word and through other believers we want more. Yet I feel like I have just tasted His presence and I want more for I don’t sense Him all the time like I want to. This ongoing hunger I have, as Colin Smith said, is shaped by the Holy Spirit.
After listening to Colin this morning I see that I need to fast from the things that hold my momentum back. To ensure these thirsts don’t have control over me. I can already think of a few things I need to periodically stop doing. But it isn’t about earning points with God but about dousing anything that gets in the way of intimacy.
I think, as Colin says, that the thirst for righteousness grows as I realize my poverty before God, see my own sins-mourning and turning, and submitting myself to His will. I WILL sense Him more.
9. Comment on the above.
Although I understand (kind of) what you are saying, it doesn’t feel very good at the time (eating kale) and I have had times when I have craved the Bible so I get that too. It’s just that life is tangible and God is not so much. I have felt those happy feelings when I have obeyed and so I know they exist. But, life is in your face minute to minute and He is not.
10. What do you learn from the following psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2
The Psalmist (David?) thirsts for God. He wonders when he will get to actually meet Him (kind of like I was saying above).
B. Psalm 63:1
Again, the Psalmist is thirsting for God, but can’t get satisfaction because he is dry; parched.
11. We also develop an appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you learn from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5
Obedience shows love, which shows He is in us.
B. 1 John 3:18-19
Using words isn’t as good as showing our love to others. We belong to the truth and will stand before God with confidence.
C. 1 John 3:24
Keeping God’s commandments means we have Him in us and the Holy Spirit helps us know this (I’m not sure I know how this happens). What exactly does the Holy Spirit do that helps us know?
God hunt….as I was exercising at home last night I laid on my mat and looked up through our sky light. Two clouds had joined and made a perfect cross (long in the direction I was laying and short across the top).
To add to the hunt…I was walking with the toddlers this morning and I saw two small pieces of wood also together as a cross. If I see a third then I don’t know what I will think! “Stalked” by the Holy Spirit?? Lol!
Love your God hunt!!
Laura — in one Keller sermon on Acts, he talks about those who really know God have times of experiencing His presence — but it is occasional, not minute to minute. That’s my experience. However, I do think I have a minute-to-minute world view that sustains me.
Do you know the name of the sermon?
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be? I think it is because those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn their sin, and those who have allowed themselves to become “used to the hand” have finally positioned themselves low enough to become hungry and thirsty for more of God.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations. The Amplified version spoke to me best this morning: 6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! Matthew 5:6 | AMP
Refresh: What does blessed mean? Happy, utterly blissful…but not as the world gives…but rather as we learn the kingdom ways which are usually upside down from the worldview!
Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satsified? (So interesting) It is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness who come to His banquet table and are completely satisfied.
Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like. To me, it is one who is desperate in their pursuit! Hunger and thirst drive you to seek food and drink. If you’ve ever had a low blood sugar you may have known that feeling of “If I don’t get some food right this minute, I will die.” And if your blood sugar is low…that can be true! Sometimes, in my desperation I can feel despairing…that is when I must remember that I am not seeking righteous behavior (I will never get there) but I am seeking the Son of Righteousness Himself who has risen with healing in His wings! When I find Him I will indeed be completely satisfied…Amen.
So true with low blood sugar example as I’ve seen my husband desperate to get his hands on food to counteract it.
I’m pondering this from Lucy:
I must remember that I am not seeking righteous behavior (I will never get there) but I am seeking the Son of Righteousness Himself who has risen with healing in His wings! When I find Him I will indeed be completely satisfied…Amen.
Very interesting. I agree in that the solution is to abide in Him and He in me — for then fruit will come. But I am wondering if we should also seek to make straight paths for our feet in areas of lameness. Pondering! That’s what I love about this group!
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you. I swing back and forth between these two poles. As I am maturing, I think I spend more and more time just wanting God for himself, wanting to spend time in his presence.
7. Meditate on this prayer and make it your own. Either write it out or simply pray it with your whole heart and check that you did. Check
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share? This week I have had 2 aha moments from the Lord! I have been attending Alanon for several months and in that program you begin to work the 12 steps for yourself. One point that is stressed over and over is that you must detach in love from the problems of your person while not detaching from the person. That concept has been hard to lay hold of! Yesterday, I was getting ready to travel for my work as a nurse consultant to a county that was not in my region. I was there to mentor a new consultant through the process. I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to note that I had no anxiety related to the upcoming meeting, it’s outcome, or what might transpire…because it was not my county. I was not the one responsible to prepare the agenda or to write up the summary or to follow up over time with this agency. That freed me to be present to just listen and offer my thoughts when asked but not be the driver of the meeting! In that same way, I can view my loved ones issues…I am not their consultant but they (and I) have one who is much greater!
Traveling back home from that visit, I was listening to a podcast on pursuing hope and the speaker shared some thoughts on suffering that were balm to my heart. I have long known that we are called to suffer with Christ, to enter the fellowship of His suffering but that has been a hard thing to understand. In the podcast the speaker gave the example of walking with his wife through a battle with cancer and how hard it was to be with her in her suffering…but that this time forged a much deeper level of intimacy in their marriage. And while he wou,d never have signed up for that experience, he was still reaping the fruit. That is what Jesus wants for us…to walk with him in His suffering that is ongoing in a sense until that coming day, and He as my groom promises to walk with me in my suffering and our relationship will become deeper, richer and far more intimate than I can imagine…how I hunger and thirst for that!
Great God Hunt and very encouraging!
Lucy–I agree with Sharon, such an encouraging post, thankful for how He is working in you and allowing you to feel His presence
Lucy, thanks for sharing what you are learning through Alanon. I agree that it can be hard to detach from the problems of a person while not detaching from the person. It can be so hard to separate the two. I just had a though that that is what God did for us: He loved us while we were yet sinners; He “detached” us from our sins, not detaching Himself from us. Boy, if He couldn’t do that, we’d be in trouble.
Rich!
Dee-question on the audio clip–is that Colin Smith? I have only started the clip, I’m sure it”s great, I just thought it might be someone else? I got the audio book of Momentum because I loved the book & I spend so much time driving these days!, and it’s read by him so I’m pretty used to his voice, but I don’t hear the accent in this clip? Anyway, just wondered! 😉
Oh Lizzy — thank you! I had the wrong clip — perhaps it is Randy Alcorn as I was listening to him — not sure. And I don’t know how to get rid of that clip now but I’ve added the right clip from Colin Smith.
9. Comment on the above. The following spoke to me…In the same way, death to self is hard, but I endeavor to do it in obedience to God. Yet, I am also finding that with each death comes a resurrection that brings life, liberty and yes…happiness. Lord, help me develop an appetite for righteousness!
10. What do you learn from the following psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2 My soul can thirst for the Living God! We can long to appear before Him to have Him hear our case!
B. Psalm 63:1 I can seek Him earnestly. My soul can thirst for Him and my flesh yearn or hunger for Him…especially when I find myself in a dry and weary land where there is no water!
11. We also develop an appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you learn from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5 Whoever keeps His word…in Him has the love of God been perfected.
B. 1 John 3:18-19 We are not to love with only words or lip service but true love is shown in actions and truth…that is how our hearts can rest assured that we are of the Truth.
C. 1 John 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments is the one who abides. I in Him and He in me.
7. “Check”.
9. Comment on the above.
I’m not sure that I ever thought about the difference between hunger, and appetite, nor realized what the differences are. I know that sometimes when I’ve not been making good food choices, I seem to have an appetite for fresh, whole foods that are good for me.
10. What do you learn from the following Psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2 – the psalmist says that his soul thirsts for God and he is anxious to meet with God. This sounds like a real need for God, not just a little “sip” needed. When we have been in a period of spiritual dryness, we thirst for Him.
B. Psalm 63:1 – again, this sounds like a desperate need for God, a thirsting, with the metaphor being that the psalmist is in a dry, weary land, like a desert, where there is no water. You will die in a desert without water. He needs God like he needs water to live. So do I, but I can fool myself that I don’t, or I can drink from other sources.
11. We also develop an appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you learn from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5 – obedience gives us more of a sense of God’s love; love that makes us feel complete.
B. 1 John 3:18-19 – real love is more than just words we say; it expresses itself with actions. I suppose the more we commit to the actions, even if we don’t “feel” the love, we increase our appetite to do the right thing, to love through actions.
C. 1 John 3:24 – it is through obedience that we show that God really lives in us. Obeying can be hard, but the more we do it, the more God confirms that His Spirit is really in us, and then we want more.
Your comment makes think of how when I get too much sugar (around the holidays or with guests) I crave that. It takes discipline to turn away, but then I begin to appreciate and crave healthy foods. So I think developing appetite could be turning away from fluff reading and getting into healthier reading. Thoughts?
Dee, I think you are right. For me, listening to, for example, Anita Lustrea’s podcast and hearing from so many of her guests on thoughtful topics of depth has given me an appetite for more depth. I’m reading your new book, and it is certainly NOT fluff!
I thought this article by Randy Alcorn on Desiring God was timely, reminded me of what Susan shared above about holiness…”Common Christian Myths About Happiness” https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/common-christian-myths-about-happiness?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedpress.me&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dg-articles
Very good…thanks for sharing Lizzy!!
This was good! Thanks!
Great article, Lizzy. Thank you!
10. What do you learn from the following psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2
A soul who thirsts for God longs to meet with Him but the appetite is just starting to develop it seems here.
B. Psalm 63:1
That a soul who has tasted Him wants more-He is hers and she is His -desires Him in her inmost being-with everything she is. He is the only one who can quench her thirst. This is a developed appetite.
11. We also develop an appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you learn from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5
if I obey His word, love for God is truly made complete in me.
B. 1 John 3:18-19
Not just hearing His word, but doing it-acting on it for if we desire and follow through with obedience it will reassure our heart before Him.
C. 1 John 3:24
The one who keeps His word-obeys-lives in Him and He lives in her for only via the Holy Spirit can we turn and keep His word. This is how we know He lives in us.
4. Colin Smith says this is a turn in the Beatitudes. The first three beatitudes help our hearts to be hungry to be righteous. Why would that be? When we turn toward God and humble ourselves considering our sin, we are grateful and want to please Him.
5. Read carefully Matthew 5:6 in a couple of translations.
Refresh: What does blessed mean? Happy
Look carefully — is it the righteous who are satisfied? If not, who is satsified? (So interesting) Those who want to please God.
Describe what you think a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness would be like.
Contemporary English Version says,
“God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want! “
6. Do you feel you see God as a means to an end or want God for Himself? Ask the Lord to show you. I can see both at times. Times when I’m desperate for answers to prayer, I have my desire at the forefront. As I continue to grow in my faith, however, I am learning to rely more on the Lord for who He is- His attributes are so comforting and I see that He is faithful and more satisfying than anything or anyone.
7. Meditate on this prayer and make it your own. Either write it out or simply pray it with your whole heart and check that you did. Say to my soul, rise up and come away my love. Then give me the grace to rise up and follow you, up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. This brings tears of sadness and longing to me as I consider how I need to be closer to the Lord. When I finished a bible study this spring, looking back at what I learned about myself- I wanted most to know God more.
8. Do you have a God Hunt to share? My husband and I have enjoyed several weeks of peace in our relationship. That was shattered Wednesday night. I said something that offended him, unintentionally, and his foolish behavior crept back in. I fell for his bait and said hurtful things right back. I was able to stop and walk away. Later, the Lord softened my heart and reminded me that when this happens, my husband needs most of all to know he is loved. So I offered peace through helping him with an errand and buying him his favorite candy and then sending a text saying he meant the world to me. Later we could hug and be done with it. The Lord is gracious.
Chris, I’m so glad you were able to reign in the argument with self-reflection. So hard. I appreciate this post; it’s honesty. Thank you.
Thank you for your encouragement. It is so hard. God is gracious, though.
So good Chris. Thanks for being vulnerable. Helps us all.
Thursday-Friday
12. Listen to the following and share your thoughts and comments.
These are things that stood out to me…
Hunger is natural but appetite can be cultivated. Hunger for righteousness arises from within and it is formed by the Holy Spirit in the soul of every person who’s been born again. Appetite can be cultivated and diet shapes appetite over time. He then gives 3 strategies out of 5 for cultivating a godly appetite.
1. You will grow in your hunger for righteousness as you gain momentum from the first three Beatitudes.
2. You will grow in your hunger for righteousness as you practice fasting from legitimate pleasures. A sure way to spoil your appetite is to snack in between meals. To keep legitimate pleasures in their proper place- periodically fast from them. Fasting is a means of heightening self-control – a special gift to master something that might master you. (This one hit me like a brick wall!)
3. Your appetite for righteousness will grow as you believe the promise of Jesus. Being blessed because you’ll be satisfied.
Hope is always the key to change – we can trust Jesus to complete His redeeming work in us on that day (new heaven and earth) and we can trust Him to move if forward in our lives right now.
I have so enjoyed listening to Colin Smith!
The fasting from certain pleasures hits me too!
Colin Smith:
The first 3 beatitudes form the roots of a godly life-they produce an awareness and longing for what we need. realizing my poverty before God, mourning over my sins and submitting my life to God will produce a deep thirst for righteousness in my soul.
His righteousness is imputed on me via Christ’s death but Jesus also bore my sins so that I might die to sin. Christ died that I should live for righteousness. His spirit inside forms hunger for righteousness in me. Hunger is an intense desire that motivates us to action. Strongest of motives-produces energy and drives action. Not only at home but in the world at work etc.
True Christians never feel they have arrived for they deeply know their need.
Appetite should be cultivated. Train yourself for godliness. There are some things that we can do that will help us to move forward in a life that is pleasing to God. Diet shapes appetite over time.
1. I will grow in hunger for righteousness as I gain momentum after the first three beatitudes-each progresses on the other before. Realizing my poverty before God, seeing my own sins, submitting myself to His will may or may not happen at the same time but have to start at the first and move up.
2. Fasting from legitimate pleasures at the wrong time and in the wrong amount will make me dull and sluggish following after Christ. Stuff like sports, travel, etc. periodically fasting is a means of heightening self control. A gift to help me master something that is or could master me.
3. Appetite for righteousness will grow if you believe the promise of Jesus – blessed are those who seek after righteousness for they will be satisfied. if you choose the wrong thirsts you will never be satisfied. Hell is a place where thirsts can never be satisfied. (When before His throne we will hunger and thirst no more. We will be completely satisfied. He will give us the righteousness we seek. )
…In the same way, dying to self is hard, but I endeavor to do it in obedience to God, Yet I am also finding that with every death comes a resurrection that brings life, liberty, and, yes, happiness! So I am developing an appetite for righteousness.
9. Comment on the above.
Dee, I like what you shared about kale. That is what I felt about broccoli when I first came to the US. Developing a taste for it was a challenge but now I love it and found that Cracker Barrel has delicious steamed broccoli! Dying to self when every ounce of me is crying for self-vindication is hard but the joy that comes out of obedience is incomparable and very worth it! “So, I am developing an appetite for righteousness.” So good, Dee.
I didn’t know Cracker Barrel had anything healthy! 🙂 Love you, Bing.
9. Comment on the above. I can see a growth in my appetite for God’s Word & desire for righteousness. This makes sense
10. What do you learn from the following psalms?
A. Psalm 42:2:
2My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
Being with God brings comfort we cannot find here on earth.
B. Psalm 63:1- 1God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
When we acknowledge God and seek Him, we feel a thirst for being with Him and recognize the lack of satisfaction in this world.
11. We also develop an appetite for righteousness through obedience. What do you learn from the following?
A. 1 John 2:5- 5But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:
Especially in light of my situation with my mom, I see our need to forgive one another, then we know we are being perfected- when we love God and love others beyond what we could ever do in our own flesh.
B. 1 John 3:18-19- 18Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action. 19This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence,
Applying this to my current situation, again with my mom- I need to love her with truth and action. I’m thinking about taking my daughter and visiting her while she is camping with her horse friends.
C. 1 John 3:24- 24The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him. And the way we know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He has given us.
His Spirit testifies to believers.