From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God. Self cannot satisfy self. We must hunger for God.
This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God. Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.
“If every annoyance can be made to remind me to turn and grip Your hand and ask You, ‘What are you saying through this vexation?’ then I can turn life’s rough spots into Your vocabulary. If I can do that perfectly, nothing can defeat my soul.” —-Frank Laubach
Day 27: Fasting Discontentment
Life in this fallen world can leave us feeling like we are missing something important; like whatever we have accomplished or whatever we have accumulated is not enough. Judas must have felt that way, because as one of the first twelve disciples, Judas was given the power, the purse, and the purpose of God from the day he met Jesus. Yet, it was not enough to satisfy him; he stole from the mission purse and sought to highjack the sacrificial purpose of God. It is always the work of Satan to make people feel a measure of discontentment; in this way he lures people away from Christ and toward a spirit of worldliness—mentality that is focused more on the world than on Jesus.
Satan entered Judas and this disciple of Jesus became a betrayer. His discontentment overwhelmed his commitment to Truth. Judas ate at the table with Jesus; he allowed Jesus to wash his feet knowing he was going to betray the Lord. He believed lies. Discontentment is a spiritual problem that arises from greed, a desire for more, and a lack of Trust in God’s plan. Pride is a thief and discontentment is its manifestation! Pride is how Satan fell from heaven. Jesus is greater and Satan has no power over him.
Today, we will fast discontentment, because we know we can trust God’s plan. We will put on a spirit of gratitude, seek the guidance and wisdom of God, and guard our hearts from leaning toward worldliness. We must stay out of Satan’s playground.
John 18:33-40 NLT 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.
34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”
Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”
40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the challenge your Word has provided us today. We cast down the spirit of worldliness and the mentality of discontentment. We have all we need. If we need more, we will ask you to be our Provider. Thank you, Lord; we are grateful for your goodness each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.