We all know what it's like to be driving on the highway behind a slower driver noticing another lane that moves faster. Something clicks inside and we realize, “I was born for more than this!”
It’s interesting how unfulfilled and dissatisfied our lives can be when we have so many things we want. Truthfully life is not about having the most of what we want but rather making the most of what we have.
Ps 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. NKJV
This amazing Psalm starts out communicating how our desires are designed by God to be devoted to Him. From that discovery of eternal devotion significance and fulfillment can be discovered.
Eccl 3:11 …He has planted eternity in the human heart… NLT
Since eternity is planted in our hearts it grows an appetite that can never be fulfilled by that which this temporal world has to offer. Wealthy people with great fame remain unfulfilled unless they discover this amazing truth.
Oprah once spoke of how she battles depression by writing in a gratitude journal. This is a person who flies around in a $42 million custom jet with a personal chef, mansions, summer homes and so much money she has $30 million in her will to go to her dogs. How in the world could she ever have a hint of depression? We were born for more than the best this world can offer.
We are destined to live unfulfilled lives if we neglect the unseen realm. Our girls have never been to Six Flags before so we decided to brave this adventure over Spring Break realizing it was going to be crazy busy. We had no idea! When you wait thirty minutes in line its not that big of a deal if you get to ride something after the wait. THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE WAIT FOR THE BATHROOM! A thirty-minute wait to ride the toilet seat is a bit much! In the course of our day we waited in lines so long that we were only able to ride four rides. At the entrance cost of $300 this comes out to $75 a ride.
None of this dissuaded us from an abundance of laughter because we were together as a family. The lines were filled with stories, conversations, a game called heads up on our phones that gets so animated people around us were entertained by our silliness. These huge experiences count the most when the rhythm of relationship has been established over the years with meaningful family meals, devotion times and various traditions that bring us together consistently because of our relationship and love for each other.
We don’t have to go do something to have fun. We are fun! Whatever we do becomes fun because of who we are not because of what we’re doing! God’s idea of family involves fun loving moments that are born from fun loving relationships. In so many ways we have become consumed with chasing after commercialized expressions that we’ve lost sight of just how deeply and wonderfully human it is to experience and express Jesus.
Kids were attracted to Jesus because he knew how to play and have fun. The other adults were annoyed by these kids but Jesus told them to let the kids get to him because he wanted to laugh and have fun with them. If your idea of family time with your kids is some deep theological approach to boring your kids out of their minds you’re not being Christ-like. Fun family time with our kids involves playing games, hide and go seek, dodge ball, soccer, pizza, coke, splurging, HAVING A BLAST LAUGHING AND PLAYING TOGETHER!
Jesus taught in Matt 10:7 that the Kingdom of God is at hand! This means that life’s greatest treasures are at your fingertips! In a world that is overcommitted and under-connected it’s easy to let the most important things in life slip right past us going completely unnoticed.
Pastor Leon Fontaine once shared a story about how a very religious Woman traveled for hours to find him on a Saturday desperate to speak with him. After he finally agreed to meet with her she sat for twenty minutes describing all the problems in her home because her husband wouldn’t pray and read his Bible like he should. Finally Leon described the conversation as so one-sided he simply asked her to please stop talking and listen. He told her to stop being so religious, go home and help her marriage by putting on a negligee and chasing her husband around the house at night. He told her to take her kids outside and tackle them in the grass making sure to get grass stains on them and on her. She looked at him stunned in disbelief and the meeting was over. One week later her husband called Pastor Leon asking what he’d done to his wife because their family was so different!
As Christians we don’t have a difficult time trying to be spiritual. We seem to have a difficult time remembering to be human. A little bit of human effort born from a sincere desire to encourage each other and enjoy your friendship goes a very long way. You won’t always get it right but the intentional and consistent investment in the most important things in life really do make a difference.
We are so marketed to in our society that we tend to think life’s greatest joys are experienced in huge events or spectacular encounters. Encounters can be incredible experiences but it is the consistent rhythm in life that produces the legacy of tradition. When the kids grow up experiencing the annual trip to Pops over Spring Break, the Thanksgiving trip to Branson baking cookies in the condo and lighting a fire by the lake in the evenings, the annual movie on the day after Christmas.
Encountering Disney World can produce a memory but the rhythm of what may appear to be mundane becomes far more powerful in the reflections of life.
Jesus, your shepherd will enrich you and promote if you won’t grow frustrated & disappointed all the time.
Ps 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Relax! God is in control!!!
We all know God can bless us but what most people never realize is that God can use our enemies to bless us.
That friend that betrayed you, coworker trying to make you look bad, person that walked away from you – It’s all part of God’s plan to get you where you’re supposed to be!
We would only know David as a shepherd boy if it weren’t for Goliath. God could have moved on King Saul’s heart to promote David but instead demonstrated for all to see – God blessed David not thru friends but through his enemy!
Why don’t have to do things to try to make people like us hoping for favors
God can use your critics – He’s God!
STOP LETTING GOLIATH DISCOURAGE YOU! He's not there to defeat you. He's there to promote you.
If you’ve ever restricted a water hose then you know what it does under pressure. Water will begin to shoot everywhere when pressure is applied. When the enemy puts you under pressure you will go further than you ever thought you could go.
There is more in you than you realize! God knows it because He put it there! Don’t grow discouraged! Don’t give up! Gathering to worship helps us live lives that are inspired by God.
GP4RL: Come to church next week and offer support to the next generation as they express God’s gifts in their lives!
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide
Icebreaker: What emotion has most characterized your life, and why?
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. NKJV
We all know what it's like to be driving on the highway behind a slower driver noticing another lane that moves faster. Something clicks inside and we realize, “I was born for more than this!”
It’s interesting how unfulfilled and dissatisfied our lives can be when we have so many things we want. Truthfully life is not about having the most of what we want but rather making the most of what we have.
Discussion Questions:
- How have you noticed those around you being on a continual quest for more?
- How have you recognized your continual quest for more in life?
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Relax! God is in control!
We all know God can bless us but what most people never realize is that God can use our enemies to bless us.
Discussion Questions:
- How has God blessed you through a situation that seemed unfair at the time?
- How have you seen God promote someone through their difficult situations?
STOP LETTING YOUR GOLIATH DISCOURAGE YOU! He's not there to defeat you. He's there to promote you!
Discussion Questions:
- What is the Goliath in your life right now?
- What can you do this week to stay encouraged and let God work in your life?
GP4RL: Come to church next week and offer support to the next generation as they express God’s gifts in their lives.