not about giving up something, of course :).
But I am excited for what God will do and is already doing in me during this season; to see what it's all about anyway.
On the second day of the lenten readings, I read this in Psalm 37:1:4:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
I've always found comfort in this scripture. because it is a promise...that the Lord cares about what I desire. He sees my deepest longings and wants to give me good things.
Reading this scripture the other day was different, though. Maybe that is part of what lent is all about. reading the same scriptures, but seeing them differently. because the sacrifices we are making help us to see more clearly, without all the extra stuff clouding our view.
Delight.
What do I delight in? Facebook. email. food. my computer. my phone.
When I put Beckham down for a nap in the afternoons, I practically run to my laptop, desperate for some "me" time, where I can just sit back, relax, and turn off my brain. no other voices. no toys to pick up. no rules to enforce. I don't have to be "on". I run to these things with open arms...hoping that they will connect me to others, that I might feel fulfilled in them. Reading emails, status updates, making plans on my iCal.... I am delighting in these things---like I would a real relationship. They feel fulfilling at the time, but in the end, they leave me just as empty as I was before; a poor substitute.
So, to delight myself in the Lord...to look forward to spending time with Him like I look forward to turning on my computer. now that feels like a far cry from where I am right now. But I do long for it.
and I'm praying for transformation.
**I'm so thankful to be a part of a faith community that is journeying with me in this! If you are looking for a reading plan for Lent, you can follow our church's community blog that posts the scriptures for each day along with a reflection from one of the members of our church.
http://www.apostlesonline.org/blogs/
I love your thoughts. And I love that verse. I used to read it like, the Lord will give me the desires of MY heart, but over the years He has revealed to me exactly what He has revealed to you. That He gives me the DESIRES of my heart. He plants His own desires in there so that my heart begins to look more like His. It's funny that you wrote about that too, because over the past four months I have been coming up with a jewelry design using that verse to give to your sister for taking our picture. And the word I associated with that verse in the design was "transformation." :) I can't wait to feel better so that I can make it.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love the connection with the transformation and the verse and the jewelry! i would love to see it once you have it completed and hope that you feel better soon. I have been thinking of you often. I'm sure it must be a day-to-day thing. I will be praying.
DeleteAnd yes, i love seeing this scripture in a new way....praying that my heart will transform to look more like His. thanks again for commenting :).
You speak honestly of how many of us fill our lives and time. Thanks for reminding us that delighting in God will truly fil our desires
ReplyDeleteI love it that you are excited about Lent! That kind of focus on the spiritual is bound! to bless your socks off!
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