But when you hear it, what do you think?
Some in the church feel suspicious, at best, of pleasure. We consider pleasure a synonym for sin.
~ Gary Thomas, Pure Pleasure
I want to take this word back from the world.
Our greatest pleasure is found in God Himself, the One who opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16).
Prayer and fellowship are among life’s richest pleasures, but let’s not stop there.
Let us learn to fill our souls with beauty, art, noble achievement, fine meals, rich relationships, and soul-cleansing laughter.
When we acknowledge these pleasures, we acknowledge God as a genius creator of brilliant inventions.
Because our God is so extravagant, He keeps on giving, delighting in our receipt of His pleasures.
Such as,
- Flipping through a creative Anne Geddes book of Beginnings
- Listening to a favorite song over and over in the car because it inspires me
- Opening the door to the mailman with a package of books from Amazon, including Paul Miller’s A Praying Life
- Having a full kitchen table again with Morgan home
- Reveling in the grace of God’s faithfulness
- Touching Jeff’s fresh goatee and marveling at how men can grow thick facial hair
- Knowing God has my back in every single situation
- Reserving a whole hour on a Tuesday afternoon to luxuriously sit and read library books
- Singing one song after another of the love of God and the love for God and all the joy each creates
- Meditating on His wonderful works and the glorious splendor of His majesty (Psalm 145:5)
Rather than seeing these gifts as competitors that steal our hearts from God, perhaps we can gratefully receive them and allow God to use them to ruin us to the ways of the world.
* * *
What one word are you thinking about this year?
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13 comments:
I so love this post, Lisa! I know in my own life, there have been times that I've looked at the things around me as competitors for my attention rather than just taking some time to enjoy them as gifts from God...not competitors of my time with Him. I really needed to be reminded of this at this point in time, Lisa. I need to learn to relax and enjoy life more because it would help with some of the fibro symptoms I deal with. Thank you so much!
Thanks, Dianna. I’m trying to remember to SLOW DOWN this year and not hurry past some of these little things. (I have my family praying for me to “Slow down for people”. ha)
And I’m trying to meditate more on God’s Word and blessings when I’m laying in bed at night wide awake because my back is hurting, so I feel your pain (no real pun intended…). Your year of praise fits in perfectly for me.
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Ps. 16:11. "The living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" I Timothy 6:17. Your post brought to mind those verses today. How loving of God to give us things to enjoy along the way.
So true. Another word the church sometimes turns around. Great word for the year.
Pleasure ... such a good reminder. Thanks for sharing these thoughts. I sometimes do look at pleasure as something that competes for my attention, where God, instead, intends these things for my joy and rest.
This post reminds me of the creation account in Genesis where God creates something and then takes note that it is good. I think God took pleasure in his creation and even created a day to give completely to delighting in it.
I love this! So refreshing!
It makes me think of Eric Liddell's quote about feeling the pleasure of God when he ran. Such an important concept!
I REALLY love this Lisa! It's right along the same line of thinking that C. S. Lewis wrote about in Letter XVIII of Letters to Malcolm which contains the line that gave me the name of my blog--Up the Sunbeam. He talks there about pleasure and its proper place in the life of the believer--Can't read it without happy tears!!
Shaunie,
Love the name of your blog and the quote that inspired it. I’ve never read Letters to Malcolm but it sounds like I should. Thanks for the tip!
Pleasure... You're speaking my language, Lisa.
"perhaps we can gratefully receive them and allow God"
And I believe you're speaking His, too.
You've done it again, sharing the divine in delectable and delicious post, drawing all your love and cherish.. and find pleasure in.
I love your gift of special pleasures. Esp. the one about the goatee. So tender.
Thanks for starting out the year with me in the jam. So grateful.
I love that word, pleasure. I think it's implied fromt he beginnign of the bible, when God saw that everything He had created was good. He must have been pleased.
Good word - good post.
"When we acknowledge these pleasures, we acknowledge God as a genius creator of brilliant inventions."
To enjoy them, be thankful for them, and acknowledge it's all from Him and because of Him. Thank you Lisa. This is amazing!
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