Satisfaction.

Satisfaction... contentment, fulfillment, pleasure. I just want God. I want the fullness of Him. Its my desire, what I hunger and thirst for. I find myself saying or asking for things that I "need". Ive been praying and asking God what it means to be satisfied with Him. 

I love David. I love how raw and real David is with God. How David truly seeks God and wrestles with Him, cries out to Him, and has a radical zeal for Him. Psalm 63 is such a beautiful passage of wanting complete satisfaction in God. 

Satisfaction is the REWARD of repentance, and is the holy reward for righteous behavior. God's greatest commandment is to love... not to be satisfied. Satisfaction is self-centered. Love is selfless, and self-sacrificing. Our love gives God glory, and in return we are satisfied... He gives us satisfaction. Today I went to Panera for breakfast with a friend and as I was walking up, there was a man sitting outside talking to himself with scabs all over his forehead. Someone passed by him and said something in a harsh tone and before I knew it I was standing in front of the man sitting there. I asked him if he would like some coffee or something to eat and his eyes lit up... He wanted a donut, but since we weren't at Krispy Kreme, I got him the closest thing to a donut... A cinnamon crunch bagel. I brought it out to him along with the coffee and he was so thankful. As I was walking back into Panera I got a sudden rush of satisfaction. God used me to show His love to a stranger. God used me to bless someones day. Not only was that man blessed,

 but I was blessed just as much as him. 

In Isaiah 55:2-3 God gives an invitation. He also states a promise. "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, the nature of hunger and thirst turn into satisfaction. Jesus promises satisfaction to those who simply hunger for God. (Matthew 5:6) Jesus says "THEY WILL BE FILLED." 

Hebrews 11:6 "And without FAITH it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he REWARDS those who earnestly seek him." 

Psalm 17:15 "And I- in RIGHTEOUSNESS I will see your face; when I awake, I will be SATISFIED with seeing your likeness."

Seeking Him, striving for holiness and righteousness leads to satisfaction. He is a father that loves to bless His children.

Im continually blown away and amazed by His goodness, faithfulness, and His unending love. 

Simplicity.

I want to be so overwhelmed with thankfulness that my thankfulness to Him never ever ceases.

Isn't it funny how sometimes The Lord takes what your doing and completely turns it around to what you didn't expect? Last night I was sitting in my kitchen talking to my dad, getting wisdom and advice from him and all of a sudden The Lord completely overwhelmed me with His faithfulness. I sat there weeping because of how much God has blessed me. I think back over this summer to how many times I was praying for something or asking God to give me answers and every prayer I thought of, God had, in some way answered my prayers. That might seem cliche to say because ya know, God answers prayers but.... How many times was I on my face in thankfulness? I can think of a few times. I want to be so overwhelmed with thankfulness that my thankfulness to Him never ever ceases. God really humbled me as I sat there weeping... even through my selfishness and pride the Lord loves me the same and remains faithful. 

"The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him." Daniel 9:9

 Its incredible that we even GET to serve a God like that! He owes me nothing, I deserve hell, He owes me nothing, yet He has given me mercy. He has given me grace. He has give me LIFE. Every time I have been worshipping recently the phrase that keeps coming up is "He is worthy." I repeat it over and over again "Father, you are so WORTHY." Those simple words remind me of how SIMPLE the gospel is. The gospel is simplicity. Believe in the simplicity of Christ!! He named himself salvation because He lives inside of us! Heaven is real because Jesus is the door, the gate, and the ladder. God has also been giving me a revelation recently about prayer. Its not about the length of the prayer! We simply just need to have faith that He will do what He has promised! Our God doesn't ignore pain and suffering.. He brings RESURRECTION. 

"For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." Daniel 8:26-27

I am learning a lot about trust in this season. I have been told thousands of times in church that Gods timing is perfect... but there is so much truth to that statement. I will get so frustrated and impatient, and I feel like God is just chuckling... because every time I do start to feel in over my head he says "Daughter, remember that I have everything in control. I will never fail you." SIMPLICITY. Out of His INCREDIBLE love for us, we get to have relationship with him! Our own personal relationship with him, and He speaks to us! "My sheep hear my voice..." I am in awe, once again, with how amazing He is. 

He is faithful to the end.