There was a game that we played as young girls. I'm sure a lot of girls from the 80's played it. It was called M.A.S.H. It stood for Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House. There were different versions, and some would add more categories than others. We played it so that it included boys, jobs, cities and cars. All the important things in life... or were they?
Of course, now as an adult, these things are trivial - will you live in a mansion, apartment, shack or house? Will you drive a corvette, Mercedes, Jaguar or other luxury car? Those things are all extras in a life that is determined to live for God. In the grand scheme of life, what we drive, wear, do for a living or where we live are not matters of eternity. It takes growth to realize this. We can strive and strive to fill our driveways and homes with the finest of things, but until we surrender it all to God, we will never really fully enjoy them.
To understand the difference of this fantasy game with God given dreams requires us to spend time with Him. I believe immature Christians are not just new believers, but believers with a "me" mindset. Their prayers often revolve around "God give me..." Maybe our greatest blessings come in the midst of serving God. We find our greatest joys in serving Him, worshipping Him, spending time with Him. There is nothing like being in the presence of the Lord, and nothing can substitute for it no matter how hard we try.
How many times have we tried to substitute God's presence with our goals, our dreams, our fantasies? We just can't do it. Nothing else fits the God-sized hole left in us when He's not filling it. Let me encourage you to evaluate your M.A.S.H. dreams and determine if they are bringing you closer to God or pushing you further away. What if we changed M.A.S.H. to mean something more? Ministry, Adoration, Supplication, Hymns. Wouldn't it be something if our prayers shifted from fulfilling our selfish desired to filling God's desires for us?
Let's try to forget our fantasies, and instead, ask God for His dreams for us. God, what would you have us do? Where would you have us serve? Not everything lines up with my M.A.S.H. dreams today. We can choose to dwell in the disappointment of those failed dreams, or choose to align ourselves with the One who gives us dreams.
Father, there are areas in our lives that are discouraging and disappointing to us. You know those well. You know us for you formed us, and knitted us together. We lay those disappointments and discouragements at your feet. We ask you to take those things and redeem them for us, and give us dreams and vision for our lives. We pray that you would ignite in us a passion for serving you fully. We desire You, God. We desire to spend time in your word, in fellowship with you. Father, heal our broken hearts, mend those places that seem irreparable. We love you, Lord. We honor you today, and we thank you for your goodness and mercy. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
To understand the difference of this fantasy game with God given dreams requires us to spend time with Him. I believe immature Christians are not just new believers, but believers with a "me" mindset. Their prayers often revolve around "God give me..." Maybe our greatest blessings come in the midst of serving God. We find our greatest joys in serving Him, worshipping Him, spending time with Him. There is nothing like being in the presence of the Lord, and nothing can substitute for it no matter how hard we try.
How many times have we tried to substitute God's presence with our goals, our dreams, our fantasies? We just can't do it. Nothing else fits the God-sized hole left in us when He's not filling it. Let me encourage you to evaluate your M.A.S.H. dreams and determine if they are bringing you closer to God or pushing you further away. What if we changed M.A.S.H. to mean something more? Ministry, Adoration, Supplication, Hymns. Wouldn't it be something if our prayers shifted from fulfilling our selfish desired to filling God's desires for us?
Let's try to forget our fantasies, and instead, ask God for His dreams for us. God, what would you have us do? Where would you have us serve? Not everything lines up with my M.A.S.H. dreams today. We can choose to dwell in the disappointment of those failed dreams, or choose to align ourselves with the One who gives us dreams.
Father, there are areas in our lives that are discouraging and disappointing to us. You know those well. You know us for you formed us, and knitted us together. We lay those disappointments and discouragements at your feet. We ask you to take those things and redeem them for us, and give us dreams and vision for our lives. We pray that you would ignite in us a passion for serving you fully. We desire You, God. We desire to spend time in your word, in fellowship with you. Father, heal our broken hearts, mend those places that seem irreparable. We love you, Lord. We honor you today, and we thank you for your goodness and mercy. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
