Perpetual Satisfaction

[Christ4Ever]

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ... With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14,16 NKJV

Take stock of your life. Behold the imperfections, the bitterness, the broken dreams. Your hands show the stains of every evil deed and missed opportunity to do the right thing. Inside clangs a hard heartbeat like a pickax against stone.

Insensitivity, mistrust, and selfishness leave you famished, thirsty, with nothing to share, and no one to accept your gift.

You fixate on your own worst efforts. You promise better behavior. You choose to punish yourself. You insist that even if you get it right this time, you’ll never be acceptable to God.

God helped the psalmist understand that personal effort is no substitute for grasping the coattails of His perfection. Working harder to please God won’t change a parched soul to one perpetually satisfied.

To be transformed is to hold on to God for dear life—not because you are whipped and without choice, but because this is the only choice that responds to God’s love, redemption, and salvation. This is a choice that restores a broken man. This is rescue—drink deep.

Prayer: Dear God, I’m tired of knowing I can never do enough good before I fail again. I’m tired of the inner thirst that longs for satisfaction I’ve never experienced. I want to cling to You because nothing else has power to change me. Help me long. Help me cling.

 

[Trevor]

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ... With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14,16 NKJV

Take stock of your life. Behold the imperfections, the bitterness, the broken dreams. Your hands show the stains of every evil deed and missed opportunity to do the right thing. Inside clangs a hard heartbeat like a pickax against stone.

Insensitivity, mistrust, and selfishness leave you famished, thirsty, with nothing to share, and no one to accept your gift.

Take stock of your life. Behold the imperfections, the bitterness, the broken dreams. Your hands show the stains of every evil deed and missed opportunity to do the right thing. Inside clangs a hard heartbeat like a pickax against stone.

You fixate on your own worst efforts. You promise better behavior. You choose to punish yourself. You insist that even if you get it right this time, you’ll never be acceptable to God.

God helped the psalmist understand that personal effort is no substitute for grasping the coattails of His perfection. Working harder to please God won’t change a parched soul to one perpetually satisfied.

To be transformed is to hold on to God for dear life—not because you are whipped and without choice, but because this is the only choice that responds to God’s love, redemption, and salvation. This is a choice that restores a broken man. This is rescue—drink deep.

Prayer: Dear God, I’m tired of knowing I can never do enough good before I fail again. I’m tired of the inner thirst that longs for satisfaction I’ve never experienced. I want to cling to You because nothing else has power to change me. Help me long. Help me cling.

Hi Christ4ever, you say take stock of your life, speaking of others. Philippians 2:12; Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Here we are told to work out our own salvation, not someone else's. For us to turn our eyes on our brothers and sisters problems, means we take our eyes from our own, this means we have no fear and we are not trembling. In the scripture, we are told that it is God who works in us to will and act according to his good purpose. In your post you point out all the negatives, Imperfections, bitterness, broken dreams, hands stained with evil deeds, a hard heartbeat like a pickaxe against stone. They are the things that Satan says to me to try and take away my joy. Are we not to trust the Lord? is he not capable? I pray that God instils in us the fear of the one that can give or take away our salvation.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hi Christ4ever, you say take stock of your life, speaking of others. Philippians 2:12; Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Here we are told to work out our own salvation, not someone else's. For us to turn our eyes on our brothers and sisters problems, means we take our eyes from our own, this means we have no fear and we are not trembling. In the scripture, we are told that it is God who works in us to will and act according to his good purpose. In your post you point out all the negatives, Imperfections, bitterness, broken dreams, hands stained with evil deeds, a hard heartbeat like a pickaxe against stone. They are the things that Satan says to me to try and take away my joy. Are we not to trust the Lord? is he not capable? I pray that God instils in us the fear of the one that can give or take away our salvation.

Dear Brother,
First this is a devotional I share, and not something I wrote. I share them in the hope that it may benefit the reader in coming to grips with the many complexities of life that one may face as a believer, and for the non-believer. The hope they may find in these words that the difference between us, is Jesus our Hope, and not the trials and tribulations of living life. Which are the same generally speaking for all of us.

The poignant part of this devotional is where it says "God helped the psalmist understand that personal effort is no substitute for grasping the coattails of His perfection. Working harder to please God won’t change a parched soul to one perpetually satisfied.". Notice where I highlighted the words, "substitute and change". You and I know many who will use individual "works" as the determining factor of being Saved or even how close to God they are. Many who are lost, and worldly religions, have this as a foundation/component of their belief. Work, work, work, and at the end of time we'll see how "You" have been able to balance the scales of justice to achieve whatever said religion says "You" deserve to get. And so, looking back on ones failings is a must for them. Not so for us, and is the reason we can rejoice as believers in Jesus!

I understand your usage of Philippians 2:12, but if you read from v1 you will find that in context it is not in conflict with what this devotional is saying in small part. Small part, because it's only a devotional, and is not intended to cover a complete text.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><

 

[Trevor]

Dear Brother,
First this is a devotional I share, and not something I wrote. I share them in the hope that it may benefit the reader in coming to grips with the many complexities of life that one may face as a believer, and for the non-believer. The hope they may find in these words that the difference between us, is Jesus our Hope, and not the trials and tribulations of living life. Which are the same generally speaking for all of us.

The poignant part of this devotional is where it says "God helped the psalmist understand that personal effort is no substitute for grasping the coattails of His perfection. Working harder to please God won’t change a parched soul to one perpetually satisfied.". Notice where I highlighted the words, "substitute and change". You and I know many who will use individual "works" as the determining factor of being Saved or even how close to God they are. Many who are lost, and worldly religions, have this as a foundation/component of their belief. Work, work, work, and at the end of time we'll see how "You" have been able to balance the scales of justice to achieve whatever said religion says "You" deserve to get. And so, looking back on ones failings is a must for them. Not so for us, and is the reason we can rejoice as believers in Jesus!

I understand your usage of Philippians 2:12, but if you read from v1 you will find that in context it is not in conflict with what this devotional is saying in small part. Small part, because it's only a devotional, and is not intended to cover a complete text.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><

Hi Nick, I'm pleased to hear that these are not your words and that they are a devotional, although I can't see what is devotional about listing the sins of man. Men already know their condition without being reminded, that's why they come to Jesus in the first place. Had the devotional spoke of my condition and how I need salvation rather than your condition and how you need salvation, I could understand, but the writer whoever he or she was put the onus on the sinner rather than themself. When the lost read a list of their failings, rather than causing them to repent and seek salvation, it causes them to walk away, because they know that they are unable to meet the standards put before them. They would be far more inclined to listen to the words, " come to me all you who labour, and I will give you rest." In their hearts are the words carried in that devotional, they have always had them, to remind them, only rubs the salt in deeper. I know, because that was me for years, and many a 'well meaning' Christian took pleasure in reminding me of my sin, ignoring the fact that 'anyone who says he has no sin is a liar' making us all the same. Had the teacher made their point in the first person, which they could have, as we're all the same 'sinners', the sinner could have accepted the lesson.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hi Nick, I'm pleased to hear that these are not your words and that they are a devotional, although I can't see what is devotional about listing the sins of man. Men already know their condition without being reminded, that's why they come to Jesus in the first place. Had the devotional spoke of my condition and how I need salvation rather than your condition and how you need salvation, I could understand, but the writer whoever he or she was put the onus on the sinner rather than themself. When the lost read a list of their failings, rather than causing them to repent and seek salvation, it causes them to walk away, because they know that they are unable to meet the standards put before them. They would be far more inclined to listen to the words, " come to me all you who labour, and I will give you rest." In their hearts are the words carried in that devotional, they have always had them, to remind them, only rubs the salt in deeper. I know, because that was me for years, and many a 'well meaning' Christian took pleasure in reminding me of my sin, ignoring the fact that 'anyone who says he has no sin is a liar' making us all the same. Had the teacher made their point in the first person, which they could have, as we're all the same 'sinners', the sinner could have accepted the lesson.

LOL Dear Brother,
Clearly you have not understood the purpose of this particular devotional. Not all devotionals apply to everyone. That is why for the most part, each days subject, normally is different from the previous days, and the days to come. Touching here and there on similar topics, but unique enough that a wide variety of people can be touched by each of them. We are not all in the same place in our walks with the Lord either. You have received this in one fashion, while someone else will take these words and find answers that they have not previously known promoting growth. Think of it as being pruned from the things that we have done that hold us back from growing closer in our walk with the Lord.

One thing I do want to clarify for you. Devotionals in general are for the believers, and not for non-believers. This one however is unique enough that a non-believer might want to question how someone who professes to be following God, have the same feelings that they have of inadequacy that they too experience. The hope then here is, that they might want to ask of me or others here, why this is so. There in then, with Holy Spirit guidance, is the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

I hope this clarifies a bit any confusion/misunderstanding that you might have as it pertains to this devotional and others you might come across which are of similar vein.

With the Love of Christ Jesus Brother.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><

 

[Trevor]

LOL Dear Brother,
Clearly you have not understood the purpose of this particular devotional. Not all devotionals apply to everyone. That is why for the most part, each days subject, normally is different from the previous days, and the days to come. Touching here and there on similar topics, but unique enough that a wide variety of people can be touched by each of them. We are not all in the same place in our walks with the Lord either. You have received this in one fashion, while someone else will take these words and find answers that they have not previously known promoting growth. Think of it as being pruned from the things that we have done that hold us back from growing closer in our walk with the Lord.

One thing I do want to clarify for you. Devotionals in general are for the believers, and not for non-believers. This one however is unique enough that a non-believer might want to question how someone who professes to be following God, have the same feelings that they have of inadequacy that they too experience. The hope then here is, that they might want to ask of me or others here, why this is so. There in then, with Holy Spirit guidance, is the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

I hope this clarifies a bit any confusion/misunderstanding that you might have as it pertains to this devotional and others you might come across which are of similar vein.

With the Love of Christ Jesus Brother.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
<><

You obviously see things differently to me Nick, but that's your perogative. I've said my piece. May the Lord bless you.