I was listening to Francis Frangipane teach on spiritual strongholds, and I've been pondering his comments about Proverbs 13:12. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."
He said that the devil uses unfulfilled desires to bring us into bondage, and that often he could tell where someone had a spiritual stronghold by what they were experiencing hopelessness over. Hmmm. Makes sense.
The devil offers us a shortcut or substitute for our unfulfilled desire, and we don't catch the fine print that we’re giving him control of some area of our life.
So what is the answer? No short cuts or substitutes, just wait patiently for God to fulfill our desire? But if God isn't in a hurry, its still easy to end up with deferred hope. And how do I know He wants to fulfill all of my desires?
I do know Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." So it looks like He wants to fulfill my desires, but I suspect fulfilling the first part of that verse will also change my desires.
In fact, maybe I'm not supposed to focus on my desires much at all. Maybe I just work at delighting in Him, and the rest takes care of itself. Well, that gives me something to do while I’m waiting.
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2 comments:
It's way late and I should be in bed, but I wanted to comment on this topic. (so ignore me if I ramble and don't make sense, LOL)
I did the Beth Moore Bible study on Breaking Free of the bondage of sin. It was so freeing. I never realized how I'd let satan take hold of my life over past hurts and disappointments. I was giving him free reign and in the process I wasn't living my present life to it's fullest.
I realized that when I'm constantly thinking about the what ifs and all the maybes I'm missing the joy of today. I'm stuck in discontent.
By nature I'm a big daydreamer (as are most writers) so it was nothing for me to just daydream my way to work each day or to the grocery store, so I decided to put a worship CD in and let it run over and over. I never turn it off. It keeps me focused and when you're singing along you can't really think of anything else.
I know this isn't exacty what you were saying but I think we're kind of on the same page. ;)
Now I'm off to sleep.
<<...maybe I'm not supposed to focus on my desires much at all. Maybe I just work at delighting in Him, and the rest takes care of itself.>>
So very true! You've explained the secret to a Christian's happy life, Rachel. Now if only I could remember what you wrote when I see that shiney new Lexus next door...sigh. I think the secret, part two, is to ask the Lord to keep my focus where He wants it, because I can't seem to do that on my own.
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