"Every Desire Fulfilled"

Who's Fulfilling Your Desires?

Have you ever wondered what the SECRET is to really fulfill all of your desires in this life?
I used to think about this quite often and would come up with some pretty creative ways of getting the things that I wanted at times. For example, I had acquired two horses, a couple of dogs, my own riding mower, a huge 1/2 acre garden with more than enough vegetables for our entire family when I was just fifteen years old. There was also feed and supplies necessary to take care of these things but I'd manage to make the money to get them. There were still some things that I couldn't fulfill no matter how hard I tried, even at such a young age!

When I was growing up I had a large family with three other brothers and a sister. We lived a fairly simple life mostly in rural areas of Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Our food and clothing most often came after prayer and supplication on my parents part while in the ministry and I'll never forget the many ways that God provided!

One of the things that I never forgot was times at the dinner table. Two of my brothers were growing faster than the rest of the family and seemed to need food more as a necessity than an enjoyment. Their desire for food was driven by the growth of their bones and muscles. As a result they grew taller and bigger than the other brother and myself. The main reason that this memory has stuck with me for so long is that my two brothers could inhale food so fast that there was always just enough for seconds and the portions were sometimes pretty small so that everyone else got a second ration of the food too.

Those two brothers had learned, if they ate their food fast enough they could get a larger portion when they went for seconds because no one else was paying attention! Guess what? They were right! They had learned that haste made no waste! At least when it came to food

I had been paying attention though and by the time I said something their food was half gone again. Why did I notice this and let it bother me in the first place? The reason it bothered me was because I had a real desire to enjoy the food that had been prepared and my taste buds were craving more of this wonderful cooking; allot more actually! I'll always remember thinking, "One day I'm going to sit down and eat a huge bowl of chicken, homemade mash potatoes or macaroni and cheese!" One day I will finally fulfill my desires for the things I could never have enough of!

As I grew older, without recognizing it, I had become quite occupied with obtaining for myself all of the things that made me feel good. I felt as though I deserved everything and more! I had trained my mind to think this way as I watched my siblings repeatedly getting their fill and leaving the leftovers for the rest of us to divide. It seemed no matter how hard I tried, there was no stopping them. My drive had become so strong that when I had the chance, I would eat so much at the church picnics and family reunions that I would have to lay down for a while because I would get so full that it made my stomach hurt.
When I grew older I ate large bowls of my favorite foods, including ice cream, drank large glasses of my favorite drinks, cooked ten or more chickens at a time on the grill for my friends and I to eat while we drank to our hearts desire. I even worked two jobs to have a nicer car and nicer wheels, clothes and wear expensive cologne. The list goes on and on and yet I always ended up desiring more. What I seemed to have missed out on in my younger years hadn't brought me the fulfillment that I had imagined that it would. Instead, I had attracted the same kinds of people into my life and they too were searching for pleasure that wouldn't be found.

There was a passage that I had learned as a child and a new friend shared it with me one day for some odd reason. I didn't know then but it was God calling me to attention once again after the years of searching for fulfillment on my own! This is the passage that I was reminded of that day in 1982; a passage that has changed my life ever since.

Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

It's true! I have learned that my Shepard never leaves me wanting!

He let's me lay in the green pastures that give life that is real! (In His safe refuge)
The waters are always still and I can refresh myself anytime of the day or night! (In His Word)
He has forgiven me and healed my heart! (Through His Son, Jesus)
He leads me away from destruction but rather into what is right for me, so that I can give a testimony of His guiding hand! (Tests of Faith)
I can go through life and when it is over I will not be afraid! (His Peace is real)
His rod and staff will comfort and protect me! (My Comforter)
He prepares a table with all that is Good for me even in the presence of those who wish to harm us! He is always right on time when we need Him! (My El-Shaddai who sustains me)
I am anointed with the oil that renews my soul all the time! (His Spirit's indwelling power)
My cup is always overflowing with fulfillment! (His Spirit flows through me to the world!)
Goodness an Mercy will be my left by my life everywhere I go continually thru life! (God's love flows through me)
I will leave the path I am traveling and spend my life enjoying the God given desires of my new body and spirit that now belongs to the Lord! (New creature in Christ)

Do you have desires that are never fulfilled? Do you feel as though everyone else is out to get your stuff or do you want what everyone else has surrounded themselves with? I know that feeling and believe me, I did everything that I could to have all the desires of my heart too.

Yes, God made us with desires! The reason we have a hard time fulfilling them is because we haven't decided to align those desires with God. We are thinking horizontally instead of vertically! If we place all of our desires in a stack between ourselves and God, he can work through those desires to bring us fulfillment. It is only when we surround ourselves horizontally with the things we desire in life and live life choosing each thing one by one to bring us fulfillment and satisfaction, we are never going to reach a point of being content. That is when we become bored and start looking for something new!

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Our Lord wants our desires to be filled and he will do just that if you choose, as we see in Psalm twenty-three, to become His sheep and let Him become your Shepard. The good Shepard will not leave you wanting for something else.

Rest in this promise today; no matter what you may be experiencing my friend, God does love you and care for you! Talk to God about it. He will restore your soul right now!

Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Pray without ceasing! God hears your voice and will give you the desires of your heart if you will seek the Kingdom of God!