20 DAYS IN 2 HOURS CHALLENGE: “BLESSINGS” (Day-4)

ARE YOU ENJOYING THE BLESSINGS GOD HAS CREATED FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
(1 John 2:15)

MEDITATION:
The bible makes it clear to us that “love of God” and “love of the world”
are diametrically opposed to each other, and therefore they cannot co-exist.
We have to make a choice to love one or the other, but not both.
When we choose to love God, it doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves
and no longer enjoy the things around us.
It just means that we have discovered how to enjoy things in the right way.

When we love the world, we will follow the path of corrupting
the good things from God in our efforts to find self-satisfaction.
When we are disappointed, we will most likely create something
bad out of something God has created for our good.

Love for the world can be described in one word – “lust”.
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes
not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:16)
Lust for the things of the world, have replaced the love
of God for many people who claim to be Christians.

The word “lust” encompasses more than sexual desires;
it includes things like envy, jealousy, covetousness;
it is a hunger and thirst to satisfy our fleshly desires.
It describes someone who has allowed their selfish
appetites to steal their attention from their Creator.

And when that happens, we lose our desire
to connect and fellowship with the Lord.
Our selfishness has put us on a slippery slope that leads
us further away from the Lord, as we strive to find
self-satisfaction in whatever way possible.

Satan has intervened and has increased his efforts to convince
us that God has failed to provide us with good things to enjoy,
so we feel we must find them on our own.

If he is successful in misleading us, then we will read the bible
less and miss out on understanding God’s love and provisions
for those who belong to Him.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things
at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Jesus reminds us of God’s goodness to those who love Him.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you,
then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good
gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

There is a profound difference between
the “things of the world” and the “things of God”.

Satan promises satisfaction from the world,
however we find ourselves moving from one thing
to another in search of his promises to “fulfill our desires”.
There may be periods of brief pleasure,
but lasting satisfaction cannot be found.
As a result, we become more disappointed,
restless and frustrated.

On the other hand, when we trust God,
we discover that He delivers on His promises.
God gives us a satisfaction that cannot be duplicated by the world;
it is one that cannot be understood by those who have not experienced it.
And there is a reason for that – they do not know God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that
we should be called children of God! And that is what
we are! The reason the world does not know us, is that
it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)

ACTION:
Have you been going in circles
trying to find peace, joy, and satisfaction?
If so, then more than likely Satan has convinced you that
“the good life” can only be found with the “things of the world”.
It could be that the evil one has caused you to lose your focus
and your love for your Heavenly Father
(the One who “lavishes His love” on you).

Read 1 John and be reminded of how much God loves you,
and how much He has to offer for those who love Him
(valuable and lasting blessings that the world cannot provide).

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for allowing Satan to mislead
me into believing that I have to find my own satisfaction,
instead of trusting You to provide all I need. I want to
enjoy Your blessings in my life and I pray that You will
help me to love You more, and to fully trust Your promises.
Teach me how to embrace Your blessings, and how to let
my life show that I have an unusual satisfaction, as a result
of my enjoyment of the love You have lavished on me.”

20 Day Challenge – Day 1:
https://utvolwoody.wordpress.com/2021/06/07/20-days-in-2-hours-challenge-blessings-day-1/

20 Day Challenge – Day 2:
https://utvolwoody.wordpress.com/2021/06/08/20-days-in-2-hours-challenge-blessings-day-2/

20 Day Challenge – Day 3:
https://utvolwoody.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/20-days-in-2-hours-challenge-blessings-day-3/