Seeking Pleasure
Friday August 9, 2019
God designed humans with a natural desire to pursue pleasure. Pleasure was to come from our intimate relationship with God and then overflow into our human relationships and experiences.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11 NIV)
The problem is, we get consumed with desire for things that only bring temporary satisfaction. Seeking pleasure above all else has been described down through the ages as the focus of fools rather than that of the wise. Whether it is avoiding work, failing to listen to the wisdom of another, or planning and scheming to get ahead, these are described as things that bring temporary pleasure and, in the end, also bring trouble. Our addiction and the chaos of life it brings certainly fits into this category.
A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. (Proverbs 10:23, 18:2, 21:17 NIV)
We often experience pleasure by giving it to others. God gets great pleasure in adopting us into His family and who of us doesn’t find joy in knowing that we are loved and belong.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Ephesians 1:5 NLT)
Whether it’s tasting that first cup of coffee in the morning or laying our head on the pillow at night, let’s be mindful of God’s goodness and all the simple pleasures that fill our day.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to listen to Your guidance so I live on the path that leads to joy and satisfaction each day. Help me to live in Your presence and experience pleasure that is so much more fulfilling than anything addiction has to offer. Amen
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