Dear God,
Help me to search for you no where else but you. I know that sounds silly but I have just been trying to find you in people lately. I have been looking for people to give me what only you can give me. Help me to “dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name” because all ground apart from you is sinking sand. I am constantly getting discouraged because I am not getting my satisfaction from people. God, why am I doing this? Why am I looking for what only you can give me in all the wrong places? I know where to go. Sometimes it’s just hard because I can’t actually see you or touch you or audibly hear you so I cling to things in front of me. But don’t you say faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen? By my looking elsewhere for things only you can give, I will only sink deeper and deeper into despair. You have made me people different. You have designed me in such a way that it is impossible for me receive true peace and satisfaction anywhere else but you. It is impossible for me to gain fulfillment from anyone or anything other than you. Why do I lie to myself, telling myself that I can? I will never forget the monologue at the end of the move “Alfie” starring Jude Law. The title role played by Law is very suave, debonair, attractive, charming, etc. Women love Alfie, needless to say. The movie shows Alfie go in and out of relationships with several different women who are willing to do anything and everything for him. Alfie seems to have it good. Towards the end of the movie, his life starts to spiral out of control. At the end of the movie, Alfie speaks to the camera saying:
“What have I got? Really? Some money in my pocket, some nice threads, fancy car at my disposal, and I’m single. Yeah… unattached, free as a bird… I don’t depend on nobody and nobody depends on me… My life’s my own. But I don’t have peace of mind. And if you don’t have that, you’ve got nothing. So… what’s the answer? That’s what I keep asking myself. What’s it all about? You know what I mean?” (Alfie, 1966)
Those words have stuck with me. Alfie seemed to have it all together from the outside, but on the inside he had no peace. Without peace we have nothing. But what do you say about peace???
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river…” -Isaiah 66:12
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” -Romans 8:6
“For he himself is our peace…” -Ephesians 2:14
God write these truths upon my heart. Give me your peace. Help me to seek peace from no where else but you. Thank you for the promise that if we ask, it will be given to us, if we seek, we will find; knock, and it will be opened to us (Matthew 7:7). All other ground apart from you is sinking sand. We were made for you, thus we will never be fully satisfied with anyone less than you. Thank you, God that you promise us this peace and that we can have it through the merits of your Son. Thank you for Jesus. He stood in our place, taking our blame, suffered your wrath so we wouldn’t have to. We now can have peace with you by your Son. Thank you for loving us that much. We don’t know why you would love us, but you do. Thank you.
“Lord, why was I a guest? Why was I made to hear you voice, and enter while there’s room, when thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve than come?” -Isaac Watts, 1707
Dear God, our Father,
Thank you for the unique witness of Mary Margaret May, whose testimony brings a special glory and praise to Your name and inspires us to do the same.
Because of our sin and disobedience, this can be a cruel and vicious world – whose evil we simply cannot endure without the assurance of Your presence through Your Holy Spirit – and ultimately, the assurance of the new heavens and new earth that awaits us upon the return of Your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank you for confirming Your presence and for giving a gifted and gracious heart to Mary Margaret; one who is willing to share her unique Spiritual gifts of comfort, encouragement and inspiration to those of us who also seek Your presence each day so that we, too, may persevere in Your will until Our Lord’s return.
Comment by David C (Texas) — March 31, 2012 @ 4:25 pm