Satisfaction versus Gratification

"The Real Me" by Natalie Grant

I heard this song on the radio the other day and it blew me away!

But you see the real me
Hiding in my skin, broken from within
Unveil me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
There's no need to mask my frailty
Oh,Cause you see the real me
Wonderful, beautiful is what you see
When you look at me
You're turning the tattered fabric of my life into
A perfect tapestry

Well, here's a glimpse of my "real me"....long winded as always! I guess these ramblings help me gather my thoughts together.

TW chapter 26 digs into the differences between satisfaction and gratification.

Satisfaction “can be applied to a heart that has been sustained or a need that has been fulfilled by God's provisions.” TW pg278 Under the canopy of God's grace, on the path of provision, we will experience satisfaction. It will produce authenticity, worship and praise, peace, power and pardon and a mature walk with God. TW pg 280

Gratification “describes temporary or immediate pleasure.” TW pg 278 When I live life my own way (my plan, my will, my flesh, my control), on the path of my performance, I will yo-yo between legalism and license. This produces false-self, self-preoccupation, no peace, power & pardon and an immature walk with God. TW pg280

These verses struck a chord:

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

I have been working through a study of the life of David by Beth Moore and today's lesson really brought it all together for me. Based on just a few short verses in 2 Samuel: 11:1-5, Beth reflected on the reasons the “man after God's own heart”, David, fell into sin, committing adultery with Bathsheba.

“One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.” 2 Sam. 11:2

“Few things frighten me more than this testimony of David's life. We too could be persons of character and integrity and, without apparent warning, destroy our ministeries and ourselves through the choice to gratify our sudden lusts. Like David, a few short verses could record the story of our downfall.” pg 258 “David: 90 days with a Heart like His” by Beth Moore

Beth asks:

Where are your rooftops? In what places or situations do you find yourself most likely to slip into bad habits? Why does the enemy find these locations so ripe for picking on us? What does our sinful flesh like about these spots?

I've been experiencing such joy and satisfaction in the Lord the last few months...and also experiencing much victory over the sin of greed and gluttony, releasing many pounds. Praise God!!!

Yet the last few days I feel like I've been on David's rooftop... I've sure struggled to continue practising his presence and surrendering fully to him lately. One of my “rooftops” is definitely tiredness. I know that at these moments I can fall into sin—eating outside 0-5, emotions that often get misdirected at my family, and general lack of self-control. I know that I'm not being watchful and prayerful at these moments. It takes energy to battle the flesh and my energy is low when I'm tired. I'm open for attack.

My reading of TW chapter 27 drove home this same point for me today as well...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“When we are weary, we are vulnerable—vulnerable to flesh-filled eating, vulnerable to focussing on performance instead of God's provision, and vulnerable to turning to temporary gratification rather than to the true life-sustaining satisfaction found only in Him.” TW pg 287

The weariness I've been experiencing lately has been partially physically exhausted moments, but also weariness in doing “good”, making the right choices. I am not being watchful and prayerful as Jesus commands. I am not looking for the way out that God provides. I also have not been taking as much time to really dig into His word and practice his presence.

I need to see each temptation as a learning experience, an opportunity to make the right choice, to live a life pleasing to God. I need to become a slave to righteousness. (Romans 6:19). When I choose to live under the canopy of God's grace, on the path of His provision, each of these choices affords me the opportunity to be authentic, to worship and praise the Lord, to experience His peace, power and pardon and for my faith to deepen and mature.

Central to living on the path of His provision is time spent with Him, soaking up His word, in constant prayerful communion with my Heavenly Father.

One last quote that drives home the reason I need to make the most of each opportunity to do the right thing...

“What does it mean to 'fear God'? A biblical fear of the Lord is an awe that calls us to authentic worship. It is a healthy, accurate view of God that sees the Lord as He is, high and exalted, and ourselves as humble and dependent. When we cease relating to God as our 'buddy', as a God of convenience, and when we esteem Him in His rightful place of honor, we humbly surrender ourselves and our choices to Him. We no longer view His grace simply as 'a terrific deal' to cover all our sin (which it does), but we see it as a power that sustains our obedient choices, causing us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. This mature walk with the Lord refuses to diminish the awesomeness of God, but allows Him to be Lord in all ways, with tenderness and compassion, justice, holiness and truth.” TW pg 282

Today I choose to make the most of every opportunity to do the good that I know I ought to do (James 4:17) I choose to fix my eyes on Him, to live in His awesome presence moment by moment, humbling myself before Him.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Phil 2:12-13

Dear Lord, I desire to do your will. I know I've let my guard down. I've allowed a hole in the wall of this “great project” to be open to the enemy's attack. As I grow weary of doing the good I know I ought to do, I have let sin entangle me and hinder me. Please help me not be mastered by sin, but rather be a slave to righteousness. As I fix my eyes on you, as I develop a biblical “fear” of You, I see the shallowness and absurdity of gratifying the fleshly desires. Why would I ever want to invest in these desires and things that are “meaningless” when I can experience your life-sustaining constant peace, power, presence and pardon that brings real joy and satisfaction. Today I choose to be watchful and prayerful. Thank you for seeing "the real me", for "turning the tattered fabric of my life into a tapestry." In Jesus name, Amen.