Friday, September 12, 2008

What's Your "Fruit?

At my CBS (Community Bible Study) class we are studying the book of Genesis. This week we discussed the Fall of Man and Eve's decision to eat of the forbidden fruit. How could she make that choice in such a perfect environment? Since it was my turn to share the weekly leadership devotion I wrote the following........

At the She Speaks conference in North Carolina one of the speakers said something that really struck home. She said, "Satan's M.O. has always been to convince you that the one thing you don't have is the one thing that will make you happy."

Advertisers are making a fortune promoting this idea. If you want to be happy you just need to look younger, be thinner, wear designer labels, change your hair color, drink the right soda... Whatever the product the message is the same, "the one thing you don't have is the one thing that will make you happy."

I still remember the first time I discovered the truth of that statement. For me it was a make-over Barbie Doll head. I was about 8 years old and I remember thinking if I could just have a “Make Over Barbie Doll head” I will never want anything again as long I live.

Not long after that I desperately wanted a sewing machine. By the time I was 12 it was my own telephone and of course at 16 I was certain that if I could just have a new car I would finally be happy. Well I did get the car and yet I still wanted more:

A boyfriend, a job, new clothes, a husband, a baby, a house, a bigger house, another baby....There was a time I actually thought “If I could just drive a minivan I will finally be the mom I long to be!


Of course when that didn’t work I had more babies and that led to the need for an SUV and a bigger house, which meant buying more “things” to fill it up. It was a never ending chase of an elusive goal.

It is a strange place to be when you discover you have everything you thought you wanted and yet you aren’t happy. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having babies or buying homes but they can never fill a “God Shaped Hole”.

Now I may be a little slow but I did finally figure out that what I was lacking was divine direction and purpose for my life. Instead of seeking God’s truth I was listening to Satan’s lies about what I needed to be happy. Only when I took my eyes off of my own desires was I able to focus on Him and His plans for me.

And what does that include?

Well, Jeremiah 29:11 promises “He knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.”

I don’t know the specifics of what God has in store for my future but I do know that he has promised if I “Delight myself in Him he will give me the desires of my heart.” And His word tells me “his precepts are right and give joy to my heart.”

So what about you?

What is the one thing you think you need in order to be happy?

Money, Independence, a new or improved relationship, a different job or life situation?

Whatever it is, I challenge you to give those desires to God and as you pray about them remember Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”


31 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad I stumbled up your blog! What a great read this afternoon! :o)

Anonymous said...

You mean it's only supposed to be one thing? :)I'm glad I stopped by. I have been studying Adam and Eve and this is a nice "extra".

Runner Mom said...

Hey, girlfriend! I had a similar doll head to do make-overs on! Was that fun or what?

Your post is right on track. We think that we need more and more, and all we need is Him and His perfect and pleasing will for us. My thing is to devote the time to spend in His Word seeking out that will!!

Love ya,
Susan

Sheryl said...

First of all do they still make those doll heads?? Looked for one for my niece - ha!

God finally and I do mean finally has me to the point where I know it is only Him that can satisfy. He stripped me of most everything else and I survived.

Great post!

Laurie Ann said...

Great post, Kelley. I'm reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" right now and the am learning the "one thing that is needed". It sure isn't material, is it? Thanks for sharing! Enjoyed the read.

luvmy4sons said...

This is so related to my post with the song about You're gonna miss this. So much of life is waiting for this or this to be happy. I SO understand this. I am once again revisiting that my JOY is in Christ...and I can decide how I react to the circumstances of my life. Amen sister. Amen.

Lisa said...

You presented that so well! Its such a lie of the world that we always need more.

Contentment is such a sweet place to find and stay in.

And...yay for a fellow football lover. We have the Sunday ticket with our dish, so Sunday afternoons are pretty well booked until January.

Joyful said...

Oh to learn contentment!

I love the verse in the Psalms that says, "In His presence is fulness of joy". We are complete in Him. If we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness then "all these things will be added unto you". That's not referring to 'things' as in the accumulation of possessions, but all we need, God will look after.

Great post Kelley!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Love ya,
Joy

Melanie said...

Oh how I love the verse from Jeremiah that you shared! For me, it says it all. God's plan is there and it is the best and it is the best one for me.

This is a great post, Kelley!

Vickie said...

Great post. Thank you for reminding us that when we've come to the place that He is all we have then we will find He is all we need.

Blessings,
Vickie

TeriAnnElizabeth said...

I'm glad GOD sent me your way today! I wish more women would get that simple but important truth - nothing fills up the emptiness except HIS Holy Spirit.

You are wise beyond your years, Kelly! I'm 49 and I had the kids, the minivan, the house, then bigger, better, more, newer, thinner - like a hamster on a wheel my empty sick soul ran faster in my own cage.

I got it. I got what I wanted. The beautiful home, the antiques, the jewelry, the car, the designer clothes and the parties at all the right functions with all the right people.

The home was only a mile from the ocean and you could walk there every morning and back for exercise. I found myself staring into the dark water on the bayside, ready to jump in and drown myself. I wanted to die so badly and I was too cowardly to do it.

Thank GOD HE heard my pitiful cry and rescued me with HIS love. I know that like a loving FATHER, HE allowed me to have it, with all of the misery that comes with it to give me immunity from ever going near horrible disease again.

I pray GOD will spare many young women from this trap.
Thank you for sharing this.

Blessings,
Teri

Paula V said...

Great words, Kelley. Very true. If not satan, then the world tempting us at every corner and telling us we need more. Just like the purse that is only eight months old and I "need" a different one. Ha.

Michelle said...

Thank you for perspective. You are absolutely right. Praise God for His Goodness and Mercy.
Blessings,
Michelle

Rachael said...

You're so right! Why can't we be overjoyed with the fact that we're fearfully and wonderfully made by God? He is more than enough for not just ONE of us but ALL of us. It should suffice yet our inner longings get the best of us. Darn it! His grace is sufficient for me and you and the rest of you gals.

Rhonda said...

What a super post Kelley. True words.

I've always had a pretty long list too. I was shopping in the summer and the 'need to have' an authentic Guess handbag came over me. And my darling husband consented.

But...it was kind of a scary feeling. I love my purse, but didn't like feeling as though I 'needed' it.

kcaimee said...

Great post Kelley. Thank you for that important reminder.

LynnSC said...

Great Post Kelley!

These words are so true. I think Teri (his daughter) has it right. Many times God gives us all the things that we think we want, just to prove that it still doesn't satify us. Then we can realize that He is truly all we need.

I am so there with you.
Lynn

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

I think that there's not one particular thing, but a few things that I subconsciously believe that about. Consciously and faitfully, I know only the Lord can satisfy that longing.

Nicole said...

Great reminder in such a commercialized world!!!

I think our question should be what would God want us to have. What are His desires for us. That's what I want to make me happy!!!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Nicole

cautious1 said...

I love your post today. Growing up I always felt that something was missing in spite of the fact that I felt that I had what I needed. It was only until just a few years ago that I found what I had been missing out on for all of these years - a personal relationship with Jesus!
Thanks for your insightful words.
God Bless.

Skoots1moM said...

great post...I used to tell myself I didn't have a god-shaped hole...going through the various life changes centered me to listen to his knocking, for the umpteenth time.

Sometimes his plans seem far off and elusive....especially when they don't follow our expectations. I've come to find out that in some of our biggest "disappointments" are our greatest blessings...remember, His Ways are NOT our ways.
come visit, any time!

Kelly said...

I related to your post so much, I too had the Barbie Head (she didn't have arms though! LOL!) and I too wanted a phone (slimline of course). I never got the car as a teen, until I got a job and bought my own...but yes, I love "things." For me, jewelry is the thing that would make me happy. But I do have my eyes on God now, and I realize that nothing can make me happy without him. Praise God! (but he did create diamonds...Just kidding!)

Carol said...

Amen sister. I need Jesus!

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

Kelley, I can relate to this. In fact, I did the Beth Moore blog bible study "No Other God's" by Kelly Minter. It was after that study that it hit me what "god" was controlling my life...our house. We have been constantly working on it to make it more comfortable for our standards, more rooms, etc...and as we finish each task there has not been a new revelation of "happy"...just enjoyment for the moment of what we have accomplished. True happiness is living in and through God and we are seeking that above all else...even to the point of losing some financial freedom (my husband left his miserable job for what we feel God wants him to do instead). He is so much more content and happy and so am I!
There is so so much truth in your words here.

In His Graces~Pamela

Anonymous said...

RYC: I posted a bit more information on that study I mentioned if you want to check it out on my blog, it's there for you.

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

It's about time Kelley!! How are Thursdays for you?

In His Graces~Pamela

Yolanda said...

Beautifully said!

Love,
Yolanda

Joy Junktion said...

I love this post. It seems the older I get the more I realize that it really is not things that can fill the void. In fact 'things' just seem to bring more 'stress' than peace.
Beautifully stated.
Blessings, Cindy

About Nancy said...

Fabulous blog! What a problem this is for nearly everyone and a challenge we face every day. Thanks so much for sharing.

Lelia Chealey said...

OH, I don't know if I could pin point one thing. I have to stay focused on Jesus otherwise I spend like crazy and have nothing to show for it except more unfulfilled desires!

Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen said...

Kelley, I'm new to your blog, but I'm struggling with this very thing right now. The verses you shared are a blessing to me this morning - thank you!