Pleasure that Satisfies In a Shades of Grey World
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house. And you give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with you is the foundation of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:7-9
We live in a culture with an insatiable appetite for pleasure. With the pleasure seeking comes an attitude of “if it feels good, do it.” There is no right or wrong in the eyes of cultural pleasure seekers, thus we have a shades of grey world that does not recognize right or wrong, black or white.
Do you know God designed us to seek pleasure? That may sound strange when I just equated pleasure with sinful selfishness. Seeking pleasure is only wrong when we try to find it in the wrong place. We go to sex outside of marriage, food, people, activities, or possessions. But those things can never satisfy the deep longing in our hearts. That’s why the shades of grey continue to grow more varied and deviant.
When we surrender to God, we find the pleasure that truly satisfies. Have you fully surrendered yourself to God? Are you finding your happiness in Him?
Several years ago as I was searching the Scriptures regarding the topic of pleasure. I wrote down a paraphrased version of some of the verses I was reading as if He were speaking them to me. Listen to the words He spoke to me through His word (Jeremiah 31:14; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 2:20)
You have looked for satisfaction in other places, but I am the one that satisfies you. You have given yourself to endeavors, projects, labors and relationships, but never experienced the feeling of satisfaction you crave.
The child of God desires the feeling of satisfaction and to know and be familiar with My words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You are My child, and I want you to feel content and satisfied.
I gave My life so that satisfaction could be yours. I conquered dissatisfaction and discontent. I have begun a work in you which I promise to complete.
I have given you a new sense of purpose. Be confident that I am with you. Take My hand in yours and hold fast.
I am faithful and I establish you and I keep you from evil that keeps you dissatisfied.
The secret of living a satisfied life is to know My love, which passes human knowledge.
In Me you are perfectly accepted
and cherished. I love, forgive, strengthen and renew you. To know My love is to know the mercy of God. It is My joy to give you My satisfaction.
Hear My loving words to you. In Me you are complete. See yourself as having died with Me to the hunger for material things. You have escaped from the world’s crude desires to own everything that pleases and attracts your eye.
Do not live as if you still belong to the world. Know how much I enjoy your love; enjoy My goodness and My love toward you and be satisfied.
A life lived in surrender to The Lord experiences pleasure that truly satisfies–something a shades of grey world can never deliver.
Thanks for the refreshing encouragement, love you.