Satisfied–How, When, Why?

by Scott Kaczorowski

In a recent Falling in Love Again with your Lord for Men lecture, Kevin said, “God knows that we will crave or desire something.  He made us that way.  The question we ask is what is it?  What is it we long for?”  For David the answer was clear: “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy” (Psalm 63:5-7).

David tells us three important things about his satisfaction and praise of in God in these verses: how he is satisfied in God, when he experiences this satisfaction in God, and why he has this satisfaction in God.

How is David satisfied in God? “…as with fat and rich food” (v. 5). The way one gets great pleasure out of good food–that is the way David gets great pleasure out of God.

When does he experience this? “…when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night..” (v. 6).  David says that he remembers and meditates.  What we continually put into our heads is what we will meditate on.  What we continually meditate on will affect our emotions, our thinking, and our living.

Why does David have such satisfaction in God? “…for you have been my help…” (v. 7).  The Lord’s mighyy acts on David’s behalf draw his heart to be satisfied in God.

The when and the why of these verses can help us move to the how.  Remembering and meditating on God and experiencing the help of the Lord in our daily lives moves our hearts to a deep satisfaction in Him.  I want to briefly offer a few practical suggestions here:

(1) Pick a period of time to swap out radio pop songs for praise music.  The songs that I listen to on the radio tend to rattle around in my head.  What a natural way to help us mediate on the Lord!
(2) Read books that make God look glorious.  (A suggestion here would be The Doctrine of God by John Frame. It’s lengthy, but if you read 5 pages a day you’ll be through it faster than you realize.)
(3) Fast.  This does not necessarily have to be food.  You can fast just about anything– the Internet, television, movies, video games, sports of all sorts, reading, writing (but probably not arithmetic…)  As was asked in the Falling in Love Again with Your Lord for Men devotional: “Is entertainment more edifying that the eternal?”  Why do we seem to think so?
(4) Journal.  But not just anything.  Write down an account of the mighty things that God has done in your life.  David was satisfied in God because God had been his help.  How has God been your help?  Writing it will help bring to mind now all the wonderful things the Lord had done and the written account will also help you to remember later.

These are of course just suggestions, but I believe any one of them could be helpful to move us more towards a more proper satisfaction in God.

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What Would It Look Like to Feast on Jesus?

by Angie Thomas

As Laurie was having us consider our favorite meal the other night I started considering, “What would it look like to feast on Jesus?” The thing I thought was so interesting as a few people shared about the people and circumstances surrounding their favorite meal is that every person’s “favorite” was so unique.  It seems that how we come to feast on Jesus might be just as unique.

My hope and prayer for each of you is that you will search, pray, and find the unique ways in which you can grow and deepen in your relationship with Jesus.  He is not an idea or a religion, He is a Person and desires to have a personal, intimate relationship with you.  Your relationship with Him will not look exactly like anyone else’s because as we read in Psalm 139 this past week you are fearfully and wonderfully made, with your own special talents, weaknesses, and struggles.

So, what would it look like for you to really enjoy and find delight in time alone with Jesus? Do you sense His presence deeply when you are in nature? Perhaps you love to learn and study.  A Study Bible or commentary may help you deepen your appreciation for Him and His Word. Are there certain songs or type of worship music that help to draw you into worship? What is your favorite passage of Scripture or book of the Bible where you are encouraged and your mind is transformed? Perhaps you learn better when you are exercising or being physically active? Take your phone with you and listen to the audio version of the Bible. Do you enjoy drawing or writing? Get a fun journal and write out your prayers to the Lord and include pictures, etc. These are just a few suggestions to get you started!

If you have never considered these questions, don’t be afraid to just ask Jesus to help you discover ways in which you can deepen in your walk with Him.  When we are challenging you to spend time every day doing your study, our intention is not so you will complete paperwork and memorize empty words.  Our heart cry is that you will meet Jesus himself every morning as you work through your homework and study His Word. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As you read the Bible, you are taking in Christ. As you memorize Scripture, it’s like what happens when you memorize the face of someone you love. You are memorizing Christ and his character so you can recall it when it might not be right in front of you.

I thought I might list some different resources that you might find helpful as you seek to feast more and more on Jesus. May they greatly bless you as you continue to pursue Him.

Apps

  • YouVersion Bible–you can not only read and listen to the Bible in audio form if you prefer, there are also tons of reading, devotional plans available for free on this app.  Thistlebend has several! If you go to “Plans’ and type in “Thistlebend Ministries” it will give you several devotional reading plans that are available online.
  • Blue Letter Bible–great for commentaries that can be accessed directly from a passage. I highly recommend Matthew Henry’s commentary.  There will be several to pick from but I really enjoy his.  This app is also great because you can copy and paste Scriptures from there directly into emails, texts, or notes on your phone.
  • Prayer Prompter (I believe this may be only available for iphones or ipads)– I love this app for organizing my prayer time.  You can enter in your own prayers for people in your life and include Scriptures, etc. It also provides Scriptures for you to do the ACTS style of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication).
  • Podcasts–you can listen to sermons from your church or other respectable, Bible teaching pastors. Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church), David Platt (The Church at Brook Hills), Tim Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian Church), and Allistar Begg (Truth for Life) are just a few of my personal favorites.

Devotionals

  • Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional (this can actually be accessed online for free everyday at www.truthforlife.org under the tab “Daily Devotionals.”
  • Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
  • Daily Light

May you delight richly in Jesus and His love for you!

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Grasp His Love

by Angie Thomas

I am wondering if you struggle like me to believe and grasp God’s love?  It often seems intangible and surreal.  Does the God of the universe really love us that tenderly, passionately, and personally?  God is relentless in His pursuit of His children. When I reflect back on God’s amazing love for me, I am left speechless.  I certainly do not deserve the way He has pursued and directed me.  He has redeemed so much of the pain and confusion in my life and has healed so many wounds.  I certainly can attest to David’s profession of God’s faithfulness in Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

Girls, I don’t know where you are in your walk with Jesus right now.  Maybe you would relate to nothing in my story, but have dealt with your own personal doubts, questions, and trials.  Perhaps you are currently still wrestling with God’s love for you in the midst of difficult circumstances.  I want to encourage you that there is no place too dark that He cannot illuminate, no pain so great that He cannot heal, and no doubts so great He cannot answer.  I love this promise from Psalm 130:7, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.“  He can and will redeem!  May you continue to grasp a bit more each day of how wide, high, long and deep His love is for you!

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