The more I have contemplated, the more I have come to one conclusion--
We must practice experiencing enough--in all areas of our lives---to understand how to draw upon the concept of God being enough.
Eating is a very good example. I try to make it a habit when I have had enough to eat to stop. Push that plate away and cease and desist with the gorging. It works well for me, but when I loose sight of being sated and allow my gluttony to rule the meal---I ALWAYS PAY!
Our age of consumerism is another prime example of never allowing ourselves to experience "Enough". Bigger and bigger houses; cars, cars and better cars; clothes to the point of bulging closets---you name it and we have gone over-board. We have gone from the day when an outdoor kitchen was the bane of man to the must have of all the latest and greatest in our outdoor kitchens. Somehow duplicating all the bells and whistles of our indoor kitchen in the great outdoors has become a marvelous idea. No nation is as consumed with consumerism as our great nation. Even in the small town of Ruston, we have stores upon stores filled with retail enticements luring us into the "Never Enough" trap.
Cell phones and personal electronic devices are a great example of how things get out of control. I have a lap top, a cell phone, and a kindle which is similar to a tablet. Sit in any waiting room and look around you--everyone is glued to their cell phone. We have all become plugged in and tuned out to the world around us. We cannot get enough of social media!
As I thought all of this over, I began to understand contentment and satisfaction need to be practiced to learn how to experience it. Just as we practice over and over to get the best golf stroke, souffle, painting, or whatever-we must practice experiencing enough in our day to day life to experience the feeling of contentment in all areas of our lives.
When I first heard the question posed, my heart sank. I do not walk around in a constant state of knowing God is enough. My head knows it, and my heart has experienced it, but the world has a way of clouding the truth. I loose sight of that truth--HE IS ENOUGH.
I need to practice recognizing the truth of God being Enough. With practice, I will then develop "Spiritual Memory". When times are hectic, the world is racing by, and malcontent has raised its ugly head, I can call upon the spiritual memory---of God is enough. Falling back upon the truth of His fullness, completeness and faithfulness, I will remember---What more could I need?---
HE IS ENOUGH
5 You, Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.
6 How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are!
7 I praise the Lord, because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me.
8 I am always aware of the Lord's presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me.
9 And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure,
10 because you protect me from the power of death. I have served you faithfully, and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.
11 You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.
Psalms 16:5-11
Consumerism - Now here's a subject for debate. Did you know that in the UK people change cell-phones every 9 months or so? They need the latest model in order to keep up with their friends. And then we have all the other gadgets like tablets, and Kindles and so on. The reality is that the world needs consumerism. It is the only way to keep people in employment. If we all kept our gadgets or other things like clothes for ages, less would be bought, less would be made, and people would lose their jobs.
ReplyDeleteMy life motto, as I was telling my dog the other day: If it is not edible it is not worth having. I look forwards to when they make cell-phones made with chocolates. My dog agreed and bit my leg.
As for: Is God enough? I believe many people, including me, don't understand God enough to know what He really means to us and to our lives. I feel a lot of Christians are in a trance of some sort; believing in God yet not knowing what they truly believe.
God bless.
Good point, Victor! I will mull that over now for a few days!
DeleteBlessings, My Friend!
Yep, what Victor said...((giggling)) look, we have spent the last 2 weeks without TV/Cable/Internet....we didn't miss the TV, but the internet, yes. I'm just a hopeless junky who needs her daily fix of the internet, lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lulu, great post. smiles
I have ask myself that question several times. Some of those times were when He was moving on our hearts to move to a third world country, take our children, leave their grand parents. He has been enough. You mentioned food, I struggle a lot with over eating and I think it's because I do not think God is enough for me in that area. Funny how the big test, going overseas, was easier then the test of pushing away from the table. Good post.
ReplyDeletei get the feeling that thissong reached my soul. i am so glad i got to listen to it with tis beautiful message. keep us updated with more
ReplyDelete