Get out of the Present Tense – Part II

Yesterday, we talked about how we are all living in the present “tense.” We are killing ourselves with business with heart disease and stroke topping the mortality charts at #1 and #3. We don’t seem to want to slow down.

So, you and I together are getting out of the present tense. We talked about how we need to trust God for He promises to care for us. And we discussed our first step, which I quote from yesterday’s post.

Step 1
Your first step to get out of the present tense is to spend fifteen minutes to read your Bible and pray as soon as possible. Drop everything and do it! Get alone, close the door, turn off the phone. Start by asking God to speak to you. … End with a prayer.

OK. I did that this morning and it has helped considerably.

Next I think: Why do we think we know better than God?

The other day I heard a woman who hops from marraige to marraige say: “I just deserve the best. I’m a good person and I deserve a good man.”

Well, wake up! Not one of us is perfect.

Psalm 14:3
They have all turned aside,They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

What do we deserve?
We think we deserve nice carpet, nice houses, perfect lives, and greatness. We never get as good as “we” think we deserve. That is if we are still living in our old human ways.

Proverbs 27:20
Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

We are never satisfied!

New “happiness” research shows that each of us pretty have a happiness “setpoint”. Money, relationships, change of situation — they don’t make a person happier for long. Eventually, we all go back to our “set point.”

They included everything in their research: money, job, family change. They drew the final conclusion that THINGS do not make us happy.

When I wanted to lose weight I tried to curb my hunger. That was until I realized that I was eating when I wasn’t hungry. I was eating when I was stressed. You can’t fill the whole in your heart by feeding the hole in your stomach!

Likewise, you can’t fill the hole in your soul by getting more THINGS!

Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

We can have an abundantly overflowing soul! I am earning 5x less than what I was earning at age 24. I went from a General Manager to a stay at home Mom — talk about a pay cut! (I’m a teacher now!) And yet, I am much richer now! I am full of the goodness of God. I have a mission and a purpose!

Learn to be content

So, we stress because we think we know what is best for us! True contentment comes from trusting God to accomplish what concerns us today.

1 Timothy 6:6
Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Does this mean I should be a slacker? No! We must work hard, we must be diligent. But at the end of the day when we shower and look in the mirror we must agree with God in our soul that His creation is good.

Moses took a paycut too. He went from being next in line to be Pharoah to a hunted runaway / shepherd in the desert. What did he feel in the desert?

Exodus 2:21
Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses.

But what about the folks just like us who have more? It is not bad to want things, it is wrong to be envious of our friends and neighbors. Our society says More! More! More! “The one who dies with the most toys wins!” How wrong!

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We are a society that is trying to fill up the hole in our soul with “toys” and “stuff” and “food” and “fun” and “entertainment.” It will never satisfy us! The more we stuff in, the emptier we feel! One one thing satisfies!

How are you seeking to fill the hole in your soul? Are you looking to Jesus Christ who will never leave you? Or are you loving on that shiny new car in your garage that will be dented the first time someone backs into it at the grocery store?

Job 15:31
Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself,For futility will be his reward.

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 62:10
Do not trust in oppression,Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them

Step #2
Read your Bible again, at least fifteen minutes. Today, you are going to tell God everything that you are upset about, even if it seems trivial. Ask for His guidance and wisdom. Ask Him to help you. Then, leave it with Him. If He gives you instruction in Your heart as You pray. Get up and do as He says.

Remember, all of this starts with a saving faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Only thing that will fill the hole in your soul!

Lord, guide us and keep us as we work to be content. You are sufficient. Call out a group of people who want to be faithful. Speak to us as we seek You! Guide and bless the IMB and the SBC as they prepare for the convention in June. Send us Bible School workers and wisdom as we prepare. Help us for we are too busy. Let us not lose sight of the Good Shepherd. In Jesus name. Amen.