Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst

I could really be happy and fufilled if only I had…..

Ever felt this way?

It’s funny how we tend to say that to ourselves. If we only had that “Fill in the blank desire” fufilled, THEN, we would be happier.

Or we live a dependency relationship based on approval of others over self-acceptance of ourselves and more than anything, accepting that God loves us for who we are.

In her book, “Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl”, Lysa writes, “Possessions are meant to be appreciated and used to bless others; they were never meant to be identifying markers. It’s not wrong to enjoy the possessions we have as long as we don’t depend on them for our heart’s security.”

In today’s word of “status symbols”, who among us, sometimes directly or indirectly might have fallen into that trap of thinking, “If only we had this” or “If only we had that” or “If the kids had this or that, THEY will be happier”.

Would they?

Would us?
   ¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21, New King James Version)

It’s funny how we sometimes indirectly lift things up to an almost idol status and then use excuses to convince ourselves or others why we “need” to have them.

What if God, like Jesus to the rich man, told us, to just give up everything for Him?

Would we do so with a willing heart or with a grudgingly and forelorn look?

This chapter was a convicting look at how we sometimes, mistakenly define ourselves and I feel our walk sometimes, our personal walk, not someone else’s, but, us, ourselves and our misplaced sense of worship.

Sometimes in our pursuit for “identity” and a “place in this world” and well…just a sense of belonging, it’s funny how we can look everywhere, but up, at Him, whose looking at us, in full view and just patiently waiting for us, to stop spinning around or going on our shopping sprees, to see, He is there….no cost, He paid it already at the cross, just waiting, for us.

Oh.

I know I have had days when, well, I felt alone. Or judged and alone and just wanting to feel like I can belong somewhere and the thing is, I do. You do. We all do.

With Him.

In Him.

Through Him.

It’s about Him.

And He’s not going to abandon us or if we fall, not reach out a hand to pick us back up.

Lysa reminds us on page 36:

“Living in the moment with God, defined by His truth, and with No unrealistic expectations for others or things to fill me up”.

Pretty powerful statement, particularly in a time and a world where everyone has an opinion and criticism and say about everyone and anyone.

 ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
         And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105, New King James Version)

This too shall pass…the world, the people you know, some may come and stay for a short while, some may stay for a long while, but life will keep moving…and the only true foundation, the only true permancy, is in Him.

He is forever.

Welcome back!