"Magnificent Obsession"
by Steven Curtis Chapman
Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again
This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession
So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains
You are everything I want
And You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires
You are everything to me
You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You
by Steven Curtis Chapman
Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again
This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession
So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains
You are everything I want
And You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires
You are everything to me
You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You
I have a splitting headache. Probably from the spiritual two-by-four by which I find myself being repeatedly struck. Were someone to pose the question, "What have you learned during your recovery?" my response would probably have consisted of such concepts as trust, prayer, provision, relationships....at least this is what I would've told you a couple of days ago. I think the most difficult obstacle has been that of worry. Worrying about finances, transportation, physical therapy, work projects, church projects, anything and everything that comes to mind.
I found myself struggling tremendously yesterday. I didn't know how in the world I would be able to pay my phone bill. The amount was not large. I simply had no money. I worried to the extent that finances were all that I could think about. I could not sleep, didn't want to eat, didn't feel like talking, and was somewhat depressed about life in general. I soon came to realize that there is another term for worry: OBSESSION! I quickly contacted some friends whom I have respectfully dubbed my "Prayer Possey", hoping to shake things up for the better! Now and then, I forget that God is not the giant vending machine in the sky. I cannot simply insert a prayer in the slot and out pops a car. While we are to bear one another's burdens, we are to do so knowing full well that He's already at work! Instead, I find myself continuing to worry and OBSESS that I didn't pray accordingly, or that I didn't pray enough. Like there is some magic prayer quota I must fill in order to empower Christ, thus enabling Him to fill my need...sort of like making sure to put the dust buster back on the charger so it's ready to roll for the next big clean-up... That's just nuts!
I am reflecting on a conversation from Sunday morning. I was asked by one of the ladies at church about my physical status. I responded that all is well, but that all I need now is a car. Her reply: "Why are you worrying about what the Lord has already provided?" I have to admit that I was somewhat irritated by this response at the time. My flesh was contriving all sorts of smart replies, one of them consisting of, "Oh! You're going to give me your car?" Of course I had not lost the ability to restrain myself, thus eliminating a certain element of embarrassment (praise God)!
When worrying, we allow Satan to "move in", thus giving him permission to rearrange the spiritual furniture of our hearts, Christ's home! Out goes the sofa of confidence. In comes the chair of doubt, the table of deceit, and the footstool of worry... We become so ensnared in what we cannot have, do, or accomplish that we become obsessed; bordering on idolatry. All the furniture clashes....and it's polyester....and plaid....and scratchy...it just goes from bad to worse...
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is centered on Peter. I find great comfort in Peter because I find that much of my personality mirrors his own. Peter confidently walked on water....when he was focused on Christ. The minute he began to obsess about "What if?", "What now?", and "How"?, he began to sink... He allowed Satan to take the reigns, to begin to contort and manipulate his thoughts and ideas. It is so easy to develop a mindset that because we've accepted Christ, we are no longer susceptible to spiritual failings. To tell you the truth, I feel that Satan attacks all the more. Nonbelievers and wayward followers are no struggle as he's already won them, thus focusing most of his energies on those whom he has yet to sway. I Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
I chose to center my blog around the vine & branches concept. The idea being that Christ is the vine and I am one of the many branches abiding in that vine. Christ wants to be my magnificent obsession, my one and only passion. He wants me to continually push to draw nearer and nearer to Him each day because He wants to be near to me. There is an idea of oneness; that we, as believers, are to be inseparable from our Savior; unable to tell where we end and He begins. We are to approach Him with everything, needs, desires, hopes, weaknesses, sin; He is the keeper and protector of our hearts. How dare we hand ourselves over to any other? I love the passage in Romans that so clearly states that "...nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus..." Not even death if we have put our faith in Him.
Matthew 6:8 has become very dear to me in the past couple of weeks, "...Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him..." Jesus compassionately and very directly instructs us on how to communicate with Him - humbly and intimately. He wants to be very personal to us; wants us to be in constant communication with Him. He's already anticipated our EVERY need.
Did I mention that my phone bill was taken care of last night with a few dollars to spare? He always provides above and beyond. You cannot out-give the Lord. Obsess about that!
I found myself struggling tremendously yesterday. I didn't know how in the world I would be able to pay my phone bill. The amount was not large. I simply had no money. I worried to the extent that finances were all that I could think about. I could not sleep, didn't want to eat, didn't feel like talking, and was somewhat depressed about life in general. I soon came to realize that there is another term for worry: OBSESSION! I quickly contacted some friends whom I have respectfully dubbed my "Prayer Possey", hoping to shake things up for the better! Now and then, I forget that God is not the giant vending machine in the sky. I cannot simply insert a prayer in the slot and out pops a car. While we are to bear one another's burdens, we are to do so knowing full well that He's already at work! Instead, I find myself continuing to worry and OBSESS that I didn't pray accordingly, or that I didn't pray enough. Like there is some magic prayer quota I must fill in order to empower Christ, thus enabling Him to fill my need...sort of like making sure to put the dust buster back on the charger so it's ready to roll for the next big clean-up... That's just nuts!
I am reflecting on a conversation from Sunday morning. I was asked by one of the ladies at church about my physical status. I responded that all is well, but that all I need now is a car. Her reply: "Why are you worrying about what the Lord has already provided?" I have to admit that I was somewhat irritated by this response at the time. My flesh was contriving all sorts of smart replies, one of them consisting of, "Oh! You're going to give me your car?" Of course I had not lost the ability to restrain myself, thus eliminating a certain element of embarrassment (praise God)!
When worrying, we allow Satan to "move in", thus giving him permission to rearrange the spiritual furniture of our hearts, Christ's home! Out goes the sofa of confidence. In comes the chair of doubt, the table of deceit, and the footstool of worry... We become so ensnared in what we cannot have, do, or accomplish that we become obsessed; bordering on idolatry. All the furniture clashes....and it's polyester....and plaid....and scratchy...it just goes from bad to worse...
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is centered on Peter. I find great comfort in Peter because I find that much of my personality mirrors his own. Peter confidently walked on water....when he was focused on Christ. The minute he began to obsess about "What if?", "What now?", and "How"?, he began to sink... He allowed Satan to take the reigns, to begin to contort and manipulate his thoughts and ideas. It is so easy to develop a mindset that because we've accepted Christ, we are no longer susceptible to spiritual failings. To tell you the truth, I feel that Satan attacks all the more. Nonbelievers and wayward followers are no struggle as he's already won them, thus focusing most of his energies on those whom he has yet to sway. I Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
I chose to center my blog around the vine & branches concept. The idea being that Christ is the vine and I am one of the many branches abiding in that vine. Christ wants to be my magnificent obsession, my one and only passion. He wants me to continually push to draw nearer and nearer to Him each day because He wants to be near to me. There is an idea of oneness; that we, as believers, are to be inseparable from our Savior; unable to tell where we end and He begins. We are to approach Him with everything, needs, desires, hopes, weaknesses, sin; He is the keeper and protector of our hearts. How dare we hand ourselves over to any other? I love the passage in Romans that so clearly states that "...nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus..." Not even death if we have put our faith in Him.
Matthew 6:8 has become very dear to me in the past couple of weeks, "...Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him..." Jesus compassionately and very directly instructs us on how to communicate with Him - humbly and intimately. He wants to be very personal to us; wants us to be in constant communication with Him. He's already anticipated our EVERY need.
Did I mention that my phone bill was taken care of last night with a few dollars to spare? He always provides above and beyond. You cannot out-give the Lord. Obsess about that!
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