Everything for Life

I find it interesting how culture dictates what's important. Have you ever noticed how very little promotion is done for Thanksgiving? Mega retail stores will promote Halloween around the first of September and slowly add Christmas items to their shelves. Once Halloween has passed the focus is almost completely on Christmas. They bombard you with catalogs, flyers, TV ads, and whatever means possible to create a desire for the things that you don't have. Whether the non-promotion of Thanksgiving is intentional or not, they want us to focus on our lack instead of being thankful for what we do have. An attitude of lack can rob us of a life of joy and peace. If we are not careful we can become victims of this subtle attitude that pollutes the atmosphere of our hearts.

Now I'm not going to say that I'm above all this. I do have a "wish list" of the things I would like to have and if I'm not careful my list can influence the attitude of my heart. Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (NIV). I realize that sometimes that this can be a challenge, but God doesn't leave us to do this on our own.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV).

Prayer is powerful, but have you ever been in a situation where no matter how much you prayed nothing seemed to change and peace seemed nonexistent? In fact, your prayers only seem to make you more anxious and conscientious of your problem. So what gives? This can be a very precarious place for our hearts if we allow ourselves to think that God is holding out on us. We need to be careful not to let our lack define what is true.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him..." 2Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Everything? Really?

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32 (NKJV)

When God gave us his Son he held nothing back. He "freely" gave us all things through Him. It's important that we grow in our "knowledge of him" to realize how much we have been given. Only when we lack in our understanding do we truly suffer.