“Existentialism” is a cruel philosophical belief that holds we are responsible for creating purpose or meaning in our own life. In other words, we can’t trust God to give us purpose and satisfaction so we must create it for ourselves. Born again believers are not immune to the trap of this senseless belief—and believe me, it is very easy to walk into. It happens slowly within the micro decisions we make each day, reasoning that we are just fine without God. It is in our fallen nature to believe that we know better than God and to make choices that align with a purpose that we have created for ourselves—even if it conflicts with His Word.
We are often NOT interested in God’s truth for our life if we believe it conflicts with the pursuit of our satisfaction or happiness.
This dangerous philosophy began in the Garden of Eden, with Eve (see Friday’s devotion) who based her decision to eat the forbidden fruit on—what SHE BELIEVED would give her a better life.
My friend, if we are to experience the glorious life God has planned for us, we must choose HIS ways in ALL areas of our life!
Remember, God’s ways and His wisdom are far above our ways.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV
It shouldn’t be a shock to us that some of God’s ways will never make sense to us. He is just too big for us to comprehend. For example, photography from the Hubble telescope reveals that we can’t even SEE the whole universe—so why do we hope to COMPREHEND its Creator? But isn’t it remarkable that we can live in the strength and wisdom of His presence? But to live in God’s ways, we must desire HIM more than we desire anything. We develop HIS way of thinking by having the mind of Christ.
But I’m ashamed to admit that I often struggle to desire God.
Sure, I desire His goodness—but I don’t always desire His presence because that requires me to get out of my comfort zone. It requires change. It requires me to think, talk, and act differently than how or what I THINK is best. My friend, our LACK of desire for God is a universal human problem. But it should DEEPLY trouble us to think that God is not essential to every part of our life. It’s like thinking we don’t need oxygen or water. It’s this suicidal, self-destructive thinking that leads us in a crippled, meaningless existence!
To live our best life, we must first be born again. Then we must actively retrain our thinking by seeking to understand our desperate need for God. We must put on our armor. We must repent of our independence from God. We must ask God to help us understand our need for Him. We must cultivate thankfulness for Him!
God’s Word is full of instructions that help us develop right thinking about who God REALLY is. We can know His enduring love, we can develop supernatural faith, we can grow in His righteousness and wisdom. The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, was that they would grow in the knowledge of God’s glorious purpose for them. He prayed:
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.”
(Ephesians 1:17-20)
We don’t know…we don’t realize…we don’t recognize…the vast gold mine buried in our relationship with God; and thus, we must pray that “the eyes of our understanding be opened” so we can LEARN to DESIRE God. We run from God because our enemies: the flesh, the world, and the devil, tell us that God’s ways are going to make us miserable. Paul struggled just like we do, yet—he experienced an intense relationship with God. He clearly believed this great gift of God’s presence was for every Christian—otherwise he would not have prayed for it to be given to the church at Ephesus.
If you are already born again, pray for God to lead you in desiring Him. Work passionately to learn about Him, obey Him and learn to love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.
God created a masterpiece in you and if you surrender to Him, it will be revealed!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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3 Responses
God is the potter, we are the clay. He is the one molds and shapes us into who we need to be .
Amen!!!