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TODAY’S WORD…

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Those who love pleasure become poor;

those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.

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– Proverbs 21:17

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REFLECTION…

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The emphasis is on the word “love”, which is very different to “enjoy”.

That is why loving and pursuing pleasure is never satisfied, can become possessive, and leads to an empty life,

Enjoyment, on the other hand, is simply being thankful while the feeling lasts.

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God has given us many blessings which give us great pleasure.

However, if our attitude towards them becomes obsessive,

we begin to focus on the gifts instead of on the One who gave them to us.

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God doesn’t mind us having what gives us enjoyment

but we must not allow them to have us!

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Material belongings, in themselves, aren’t the issue.

The issue is our attitude towards them; our relationship with them.

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Putting the ownership of material things first, enslaves us to them;

…and leads to self-destruction.

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We will never be satisfied if we disconnect ourselves from the one true source of happiness,

from the only “thing” on earth that is truly satisfying – our relationship with God.

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PRAYER…

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My Lord, I have You,

what more do I want?

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Thank You Lord for all the things,

which the circumstances You put me in permit me to have,

to afford…and to enjoy.

Thank You, Lord.

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My prayer, Lord, is to take pleasure in these things

only if it is Your will

and for however long You allow me to,

without ever putting them first;

without ever removing You from being first and foremost in my life.

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