Wanting and Wishing

So I was thinking about my life and trying to see if it was how it needed to be because let me tell you, it hasn't been near what I want. Soon I realized that my spiritual life is not where it should be because of my wants. When I gave my life to Christ that was me saying I will die to myself everyday so that You may be glorified through me. My wants and desires must die as well. For God to truly be able to use you, you have to be a vessel and your greatest obstacle will be yourself. For example, I was so consumed with what I wanted and what I thought I needed that I spent time praying (because I need God) and then I would go get all dressed up (because I need "that guy") and then I would dance around (because I need to be fit..and not bored) etc.

Now check this out:
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other."
"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."
"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"
"And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"

All of those quotes were pulled right out of Matthew 6. God cares so much about you and He wants what best for you.. so why are you turning away from Him and saying "but I want what I want and You aren't giving it to me so You just hold on" and then going back to Him and saying "I didn't get what I wanted and it didn't turn out the way I planned. Comfort me!" It all seems so foolish, doesn't it?

God has got to be the MOST important thing in your life and NOTHING can matter more or you are being unfaithful. I would say God should be your number one, but He should be your only one. He deserves your best and everything you are.

Here is a great example that I heard:
A little girl holding her two favorite stuffed animals asked her father what he would be preaching about that coming sunday. He turned to his precious 4 year old daughter and said, "I will be talking about how we need to give God our best." She looked down at the toys in her hands and replied, "Well, He ain't getting these!"

Now you may sit there and laugh or just kinda smile at that because I know I did, but so often we are that girl and it is so true. We "love" God but heck! He ain't getting what we want! I mean, we want it. If you take a step back though, it shows two things. First, it shows that God is not as important as whatever it is that we want. Second, we are leaving this life with what we brought into it: absolutely nothing. At the end of the day, God is all that matters because He is all you will have when its all over.

Following Christ is not easy. It may look easier to just quit and live your life the way you want to, but I promise you will find that life is meaningless without Jesus Christ.. so take up your cross daily and follow Him to the end.