Thursday Thoughts - I Want, I Need, God Wants me to Have

"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV).

Mary Elizabeth was strolling down the cookie aisle at Wal-Mart with her three-year-old daughter, Sarah, riding comfortably in the "front seat" of the shopping buggy.  Suddenly, Sarah spied a box of sugar cookies, coated with pink icing and decorated with multi-colored sprinkles.

Her eyes brightened with enthusiasm as she put on her best cherub face.  "Mommy, I want those cookies."

"Oh, Sarah," replied her mom, "we don't need any cookies today.  We have plenty at home.  Maybe another time."

Ten minutes later, as Mary Elizabeth passed through the checkout line, Sarah tried again. "Mommy, I need those cookies."

"No, Sarah, you don't need those cookies.  We have plenty at home, and I'm not buying cookies today."

Finally, as they pulled out of the Wal-Mart parking lot, Sarah gave it one last try.  "Mommy, I think God wants me to have those cookies."

I laughed as my friend told me her story.  It was a nervous laugh.  For just a moment, I saw myself riding through life in a shopping buggy, pointing at first one thing and then another whining, "I want ...I need ...God wants me to have."

Sarah already had learned our mechanism for justifying our whims.  Whether its sugar cookies with sprinkles on top or a new red convertible, given enough time we can justify our wants following that same progression.  For Sarah, she went from I want to I need to God wants me to have in a matter of minutes.  For us, it may take a little longer, but the tendency is still there.

However, God is very clear that He will supply us with everything we need and that can be a far cry from everything we want.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive me when I act like a child and want more, more, more.  Forgive me when I go from "I want" to "God wants me to have" in the blink of an eye.  I know You desire me to have a thankful heart - a contented heart that wants only one thing ... more of You.  I say with the Psalmist, "The Lord is my Shepherd.  I have everything I need."

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Have you ever justified your wants by saying that God wants you to have them?

Ouch!  That hurts, doesn't it?

Ponder these two verses today.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3 NIV).