Satisfy
I was having a hard time with a way of thinking I shouldn’t have had. It was definitely sin.
The thing is, I had been around this mountain before. The exact same one. Last time it was not so difficult to move away from either. There are verses in the Bible that talk about sin as something we can get all tangled up in. Cords wrapping themselves around us; ensnaring us. Twines around our mind, around our heart.
And Paul in the Bible says to us “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” Galatians 5:1. So why, why was I not standing firm? Why was I allowing myself to get entangled and bound?
I don’t know if you can relate to this feeling, but I started to feel ‘separated’ from God. I knew that He loved me, and that He was still for me, but I also knew He did not love this wrong heart attitude, and that distance between us started to really affect me. I hated the feeling of grieving Him but at the same time, I did not feel able to release the problem.
But God is so amazingly gracious.
I was praying to Him in frustration about it and He showed me something that has really helped me. It’s a verse from Psalm 81 - “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” Psalm 81:10.
As I read and re-read this verse, God started speaking to me about satisfaction. That there was a need in me, a hunger, that I was trying to fill with something that would never satisfy. A heart attitude that was independent from Him and His ways.
Here, it was as if He was saying to me, I know you are hungry, come to Me with your hunger, open your mouth as wide as you have to, and I will fill you up so that you are completely satisfied. I have what it is you need, and I have it in abundance. I can and will perfectly satisfy you, if you come to Me.
Even though I don’t know how, God has given me the faith to believe that He is more than able. As I have trusted in this Word from Him, I have felt the twines of sin uncoil and fall away. I keep this verse at the forefront of my mind and I am grateful for God’s grace and excited by what He has shown me about Himself and about the testimony that He will give.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it Psalm 81:10
I certainly have felt the exact same way… too many times for comfort, I’m ashamed to admit. I’m beginning to believe that spiritual journey’s must include evidence of the struggle that you speak about. God bless you for your post.
Hi, and thank you so much for your thoughts. I agree, it reminds me of the struggle Paul wrote about in the Bible when he said “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). I am so thankful for God’s grace and the way He continues to restore us. God bless
Thanks you so much for the thoughtful comment that you left on my Bed Time Story post.
I love the way that God woos his children back. Whereas we would assume to deserve reproach and harsh correction he is ever so much more sweet, gentle and kind to us. This is a good reminder of the character of our Heavenly Father. Thanks for the post.
Beautifully said. I’m opening wide right now.
Hi @ngie, I know what you mean, He’s so loving and gentle. Your comments have reminded me of that verse about God, along the lines that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 145:8). God bless :).
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Well I really felt God was confirming something because both you and @ngie above have recently written posts on finding true satisfaction for our hunger in Him. I love the way God does that :).
Hi Hope, that’s so great
so good.
i’ve always referenced that verse as a promise for timely words from the holy spirit when i don’t know what to say. i love the application of being filled up and satisfied by god AFTER we make that first step of opening wide our mouths.
Oh wow, I didn’t actually think about this verse in the way that you just said. Words from God at the time that we need them, but that’s another great way this verse can be applied - thanks for that alece
Incredible post!
Found you via Kristi Applesauce. Happened to get to speak with her today. If have a sec, here’s the story:
http://sharingnotes.blogspot.com/2008/07/its-quiet-details-in-childhood-that.html
Roxanne Kristina
http://www.sharingnotes.blogspot.com
Thank you, Birgit, you have spoken from my heart…I’ve needed to hear exactly this.
Hi Michelle, that is so good, I love how we can relate to each other’s experiences with God, even the harder stuff, God bless
Uplifting and encouraging. Thank you for sharing.
Hi boundbyfaith, thank you so much for visiting, welcome, and thanks so much for your thoughts, God bless
Only the Lord satisfies! How true is that?!?! Yet we all tend to drift away, and need to return. I am always amazed at how patient HE is with me. Good post Birgit!
Hi Darla :), I really know what you mean about His patience with us. No matter what He is always ready to restore us, and fill us, when we come back. He is amazing. I am so thankful.
Great post, Birgit. And I love your photography!
Hi Sarah, thanks so much, God bless
I read this post a few days back but needed to come back to it because it’s where I was yesterday. What helped me was Romans 7:14-25 which talks about this constant struggle that we have being made of flesh and how even when we are trying to do right, we cannot do it, because we are carnal by nature. But praise be to God who is able to create a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in us! It is a constant war between the spirit and the flesh but He has given us victory to overcome our flesh and submit it to the Will of God. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I needed to hear that I’m not the only one who finds myself at the same mountain I was at once before. The funny thing is I thought I was done with it, that I had forgotten how to get there and I was delivered but somehow, I was back there again yesterday, trying to figure out what on earth was going on. Let’s continue to pray for God’s spirit to overwhelm us and overtake our minds and hearts that we may become righteous [robe] in Him and leave our unrighteousness [filthy rags] behind. Love you!
Hi gchyayles, thank you so much for your thoughts and for sharing about your own experiences. That passage in Romans that you mentioned so perfectly describes the battle we have between our flesh-nature and our new spiritual nature in Christ. The two natures really are in a war everyday I find. I love what you said about praying for God’s Spirit to overwhelm us, and overtake our hearts and minds. Just being completely filled and overflowing with His Spirit. Love that! Love you too :).
Wow Birgit…..
I’m amazed at this verse. I’ve read it, skimmed it, but never really grabbed on it though. Thank you for a new perpective.