September 18, 2012
Are You Enjoying God?
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones, (Proverbs 17:22, NKJV).
Friend to Friend
C.S. Lewis says that most Christians lack “merriment.” I like that word. “Merriment.” Just moving the words across my lips is fun. And I think Lewis is right. We lack merriment and we don’t expect it. Many Christians look like they’ve been weaned on a dill pickle. My goodness, if there is anyone who should exude merriment, it is a person who knows Jesus as Savior and Lord. We, above all people, have something to be merry about!
What God desires, not from you but for you, is life to the full (John 10:10). There’s nothing ho-hum about that. I read Jesus’ words in John 10:10 and I am famished for glory moments of life to the full. I want to see God, to experience His presence as I live and move and have my being in Him.
John wrote, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). He didn’t simply use the word given, but lavished. Webster defines lavish this way: “given or provided with great generosity and abundance, to bestow with large generosity, profusion, a downpour.” Ponder those words separately.
Lavished.
Provided with great generosity.
Abundance.
Bestow with large generosity.
Profusion.
Downpour.
Do these words reflect your expectations in your relationship with Jesus? C.S. Lewis said it well in his book, The Weight of Glory:
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
The first statement in the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of 1646 states that man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Enjoy Him! To enjoy God is to glorify Him. Just as He takes delight in you, He longs for you to take delight in Him. You simply can’t separate the two.
Are you enjoying God? As you live and move and have your being in Him, is there a smile on your face and a skip in your step? Do you expect the rich adventurous faith-filled life that you read about in the Bible? Do you expect to experience God’s glory today? If not, perhaps you need to raise your expectations of what your relationship with Jesus can be.
Once we’ve tasted the sweetness of His fruit, to settle for anything less than the bountiful orchard of His blessings will always disappoint. Oh yes, there are heavy-laden branches filled with low hanging fruit just waiting to be picked. If only we would reach up high enough, raise our expectations, and pluck them from the tree.
Today, make it your goal to enjoy God! Be thankful. Sing praise! Notice His love notes in the sky, the morning breeze, the face of a flower upturned.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I just love You. Forgive me for wearing a frown when I, of all people, have so much to be “merry” about. Rather than saving that word for Christmas holidays I’m going to celebrate today. “Merry Today” will be on my lips today.
In Jesus’ Name…the One who give me a reason to be merry,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Quick. Stop what you’re doing. Look in a mirror. Don’t read any further.
Now that you’re back, was there a smile on your face or a frown?
If you’d like to celebrate today and enjoy God today, leave a comment on my blog post home that says. “I’m enjoying God today…and He’s enjoying me.”
More from the Girlfriends
Turn every day into a celebration of God’s presence and working in your life. Learn how in A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More.Hey, are you on Twitter? Follow me at www.twitter.com/sharonjaynes. Are you a Pinterest gal? Check out my inspirational quotes and Girlfriends in God boards on www.pinterest.com/sharonjaynes.
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