'I WANNA'!
Weekly devotional by Barbara Sanders

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Often, we think about ourselves and our wants without ever giving the 'end result' any consideration. We 'want' everything we see, and think we should be able to 'get' anything to which we set our mind. Surf the internet!! There are even 'want lists' there!

The title of this devotional was derived from the following: a friend is going on a business/pleasure trip to Florida tomorrow. She's gone out of her way to get some great 'buys' on clothes - literally, 'a steal', as in CHEAP. Oh, if I could only run upon such bargains. It was with that thought and her trip that caused me to remark to her in an email, "I Wanna", just as a child would say about a 'piece of candy', or 'going to a friend's house' when MOM says no, or a million and one other things that a child ----OR ADULT---- can come up with, that do not really pertain to their 'maintaining a healthy life'. But, still, it's the WANTS that haunt us from day to day.

Should we stop and reflect on what GOD wants for our lives, we might have a second thought on some of the things that we think are needed for our harmonious living day to day. Folks, these sort of things are trivial, when it comes to what God wants! He wants us to be like David -"a man after mine own heart" [ Acts 13:22 ], like Mary - " Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. ". Mary forgot there were 'duties to perform', and, unlike Martha, she sat at Jesus' feet, and listened to His Word, while he was around. She probably knew she didn't have many opportunites, so she wanted to 'drink in' every little tidbit she could!!

Today, we have HIS WORD to study, to derive the necessities of every day living. We don't have to depend on 'a trip, a dress, a new car, etc', to make us happy. True happiness is only found in knowing God as our personal Saviour, having the assurance that we are HIS CHILD, and we will one day have 'eternal life' with Him. Sure, we sometimes want these things, and that's only natural. But they aren't the things that really bring the happiness and peace that only God can fill. It may be a 'momentary fix' for us, but, soon, that 'fix' goes away, and we need another 'fix'. But, in knowing God, and letting him have the reins over making you happy, you will find that true happiness is only found in HIM! Daily living can be a chore in the natural life, but God can give you the freedom and JOY found only in knowing that He is the "I AM", the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, or anything we've ever thought or want. Our trust has to be placed fully in the Redeemer of our souls.