Are You Satisfied?

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." - Psalm 107:8-9

Have you ever really craved a certain food, and then after finally eating it, you have a feeling of satisfaction but a longing for more of it?  Ever since our family left the country of Paraguay five years ago to come back home, I have had a longing and a desire for many of the foods that we enjoyed while living there.  There are times when I think how awesome it would be to just have one more opportunity to eat some Chipa or to drink a glass of Guarana or to drink a glass of yogurt (yes, I did say drink yogurt.)

As I was reading some during my morning devotions, I came across these verses and the Lord really spoke to my heart.  They give us a glimpse into the character and the nature of God, but they also contain something else very thought provoking and sobering.  As I read verse 9, the Lord began to speak to my heart and deal with me about my own walk with Him.  Am I satisfied?  Does my soul long for Christ?  Is my soul hungry for more of Christ, His Word, His presence, and His power?  The verse says that the Lord will satisfy the longing soul and that He fills the hungry soul with His goodness.  Are you satisfied?  Do you long for Him?  Are you hungry for Him?

At the risk of being looked down upon for my honesty, I am going to be completely honest about my own spiritual life.  To my shame, my soul does not long for Christ they way that I should nor do I hunger for Him the way that I should.  I know that this is the cause many times of me not being satisfied.  If you were to be honest, you would have to say the same.  Oh that you and I would hunger after Christ that we might have more of His Word, His power, and His presence!  If you and I will bring our longing souls to Christ, He will satisfy our souls!

In Psalm 63, David writes about how he thirsted for the Lord as one would thirst for water in a dry wilderness. According to David, life would be nothing without the Lord.  Then we read that David became so engrossed and consumed with the thought of God's love that he meditated on it all night long.

I pray that you and I will bring our longing souls to Christ and allow Him to satisfy that longing!  I pray that we will hunger for Christ and allow Him to fill our hungry souls with His goodness!  Are you hungry for Christ?  Do you long for Christ?  You should!

Prayer For Today:

Heavenly Father, forgive me for falling so short of your perfect standard.  Lord, I pray that you would burn in my heart a hunger and a longing for You!  Father, I pray that You will fill my hungry soul with Your goodness and that You will satisfy my longing soul!  In Jesus name, Amen!

Hiding Your Life With Christ

"Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:2-3


What about you stands out to other people?  Is it your looks?  Is it your personality?  Is it Jesus Christ?

The Apostle Paul makes a very interesting statement here in Colossians 3:3 when he says "your life is hid with Christ in God."  I have read that many times and never truly considered the implications of what is being said.  I am sure that most of you have likewise done the very same thing.  Most of us probably have focused on verse two and never really thought about verse three that much.

I would like to pose to a question for you to consider.  Is my life hid with Christ?  You are probably asking yourself, "what does that mean?" or "how does that work?"

First, we must understand the first part of the verse where it says "For ye are dead."  When you trusted Christ as your Savior, you had to die to self.  This is something that must be done on a daily basis because our flesh wants to live for us instead of Christ.  This means that you no longer live your life for you, but instead you live for Christ, your life becomes all about Him.  No longer do you have your own identity, but rather your identity is found in the Person of Jesus Christ.  Being hid with Christ means that Jesus Christ so consumes our lives that He is all people will see, He is all we live for, He is EVERYTHING!

I must honestly confess that implications of this verse have convicted me greatly.  If I am to be honest, most of the time my life is not hid with Christ as it should be.  If you are honest, you would have to say the same thing.

Today may we be convicted, stirred, and challenged to hide our lives with Christ!  May Jesus Christ so consume our lives that we have no other identity but that of Him!

Prayer For Today:

Lord, help me today to die to self, dying to my desires, my ambitions, and my flesh.  May my life be totally consumed by You and Your Word.  It is my sincere desire that I would have no identity other than that of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Help me to hide my life with You this day.  In Jesus name, Amen!