Lately a song I heard on the radio convicted me that too often I want what God can give me rather than desiring God Himself.
I want my circumstances changed. I want complete deliverance. I want prodigals home.
When I concentrate on these, I fail to remember all God has already done for me and in me. Instead of having my thoughts centered on, “What can God do for me today?” I can know joy when I focus on all God did on the cross and in my life since I accepted Him as my Savior.
I confess I sometimes feel God has let me down when He doesn’t answer my latest prayer to give me what I think I need.
As I contemplated how I want from God more than I want God, I thought of a story I heard a number of years ago.
A man cried out to God after experiencing a divorce, the loss of a job and other losses in his life.
“God, I’ve lost everything,” he said.
God’s answer to that man has stuck in my mind all these years.
“I thought I was your everything.”
The good news comes to this: even though I may suffer many losses in my life or feel my dreams are shattered, I can never lose God or the close relationship He wants with me—except by my own choice.
Today my desire is to be satisfied with the wonderful relationship I have with the Lord. How amazing it is to have Someone who completely understands me and helps me through every difficulty in my life. He gives me so much that I often take for granted: peace, comfort, guidance, wisdom, and so much more.
When I try to imagine where I would be without the Lord, I remember how messed up I was when I said, “yes” to Jesus.
This verse came to mind today as I determined to focus not on what I don’t have but on all I have because I know the Lord:
…I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness. Psalm 17:15 (AMPC)
The amazing thing is not so much that I get to be close to the Lord should I choose to, but that He desires closeness to me.
My highest goal is to have the deepest possible relationship with the Lord. I know now that in order for that to happen I need to want Him more than I want what He can give me.
As I think of friends in my life, I wonder how they would feel if I had the attitude of wanting a relationship because of what they could give me, instead of because I enjoy spending time with them and getting to know them and forming a closer bond.
What’s amazing about the Lord is that when things are amiss in my relationship with Him, He’s the one who helps me to improve our connection.
I look forward to being closer to the Lord in the coming days, weeks, months, and years than I’ve ever been before. I also look forward to learning in a deeper way about how to love the Giver more than the gifts He gives to me.
“More Than Anything” by Natalie Grant
Hearts Set Free Blog 
Again, you make very good points about enjoying God’s love to the fullest. He is our All in All.
Pingback: More than Anything – Bible Comfort for Mental Health