Happy New Year
A new year has begun and already we are seeing God’s goodness all around. In Jeremiah 31:14b it says that God’s desire is that we would be satisfied with His goodness. What a blessing that God wants to give His people!
If only we were satisfied with His goodness. Many times I find that I am wanting of more than what He has for me.
This is a good reason to take some time to fast. Every year at The Rock Church we take some time to fast in the month of January. Some fast a meal each day, some fast certain types of foods, others fast things like social media or things that take up their time and attention. The purpose of the fast is to silence the desires that are loudest in our lives and to give our attention and prayer to God.
As I fast I see that my natural desires tell me I am unsatisfied. They tell me that my only satisfaction will be in feeding those desires. If I can refocus my desires to be for God then I will only be satisfied when I have His goodness in my life.
How do we get it? Ask for it. Just like Moses asked to see God’s glory and was rewarded when God caused His goodness to pass by we also can ask God for His goodness in our lives. God gives good gifts to His children. Jesus told us to knock and the door will be opened, seek and we will find, to ask and we will receive.
After you ask, stay after it. Our desires are so fickle at times. One of the hardest things to do is stay focused on one desire. Have you ever been hungry and driven down restaurant row? Rather than appreciating the choices for one type of food you suddenly want all those types of food. If we can focus our desires on the one thing, His goodness, then we will find it.
I would encourage you to set some time aside this month and fast. It doesn’t have to be for the whole month. Choose a time period and what type of fast you are doing and then seek God whenever that desire surfaces. Those desires are just reminders to pray and seek God’s goodness.
I believe what God says earlier in the book of Jeremiah when He says that our whole-hearted search will be rewarded with our finding Him. (Jeremiah 29:13). May you find His goodness in the year ahead and find satisfaction like you have never experienced anywhere else.
