FINDING PLEASURE IN HIM

[Albert Finch]

"Finding the sweet spot" could be a phrase for living in a place of enjoyment, peace and rest in relationship with God, and staying in balance and harmony with His design for our life. This is where the maximum Kingdom result is accomplished. It isn't about trying harder or spinning the wheels faster, but about relaxing into all that God has given and then joyfully working with Him in the Kingdom.

HIS WAYS VS. OUR WAYS

Proverbs 16:9 - "a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

We know that God's Kingdom works in a very different manner than man's world and that His perspective is much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Human thinking is often focused on the fastest way to get from A to B – the shortest line between two points. It is often all about the destination, getting things done, and accomplishing our goals and agenda.

God's thinking is much more relationally focused, and His concern is our transformation along the journey. He just isn't that concerned about us getting from A to B in the shortest time possible! God wants to meander along the trail with us for a while, more than being in a race to get to our next stop. His focus is to spend time with us so we get to know Him and His ways.

His goal is to transform us into His image, rather than just have us check off the next item on the "dreams and goals" list. In other words, He wants us to ENJOY the journey WITH Him, taking in the many nuances that a relationship with the Most High involves: seeing Him in His goodness, experiencing His kindness along the way, reveling in His love, and dancing in His joy. These inward characteristics are all accessible to us no matter what is being accomplished on the outward journey of goals and pursuits.

LEARNING TO REST

Even when the outside pressures squeeze in. We are learning how to say, "It's been a good and fulfilling day," even when we can't check off all the things on our to-do list. When we don't perform to meet other people's expectations, or even our own, we can still live in the love and acceptance of the Father.

It isn't about striving, performing, or accomplishing. It is about finding our pleasure in Him, living in the overflow of who He is and His pleasure toward us. We learn to live in the space of God's love, grace, peace and joy, and maximize the results of our energies spent. It's not so much about WHAT we accomplish, but HOW we live life during that process.

ENJOYING THE JOURNEY

As we step back and take the pace of life down a notch or two (maybe even three), we take time to reflect on His love and His good pleasure, no matter what the outward journey looks like.

Are we operating in His agenda or ours?

"Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." - 1 Peter 4:2, The Message

We want to be free to pursue what He wants and not be driven by what WE think needs to be done.

We hear the still, quiet voice that says: "Stay by My side and enjoy the journey, regardless of whether or not you can see where it's going."

"What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." - Matthew 6:31-33, The Message

AN EASY YOKE

In this age of adrenal fatigue and living a driven life, perhaps we all need the Spirit to show us which purposes are really our own agenda, and just how driven we, as a Western society, have become.

Is it possible that our "goals and good activities" are running us ragged as we pursue God's PURPOSE for our life (our CALLING in Christ), serve other people's needs, and try to achieve a host of other goals?
If these not done from the right place and at God's pace, we may lose the peace and enjoyment of the Kingdom life.

Contentment is a good measuring stick.
Like Paul, can we have an abiding sense of being content regardless of what is happening around us (Philippians 4:12)?

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