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Words of Reflection

Followers of Jesus live within an interesting tension when it comes to the subject of contentedness. On one hand, we live in the place of contentment that comes from knowing God and resting in that relationship, assured that he is sufficient for every need: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1, NKJV) God has given us everything we need for our life and our spiritual growth (2 Peter 1:3), and knowing that is a place of deep peace and gladness.

But there is also a very real sense in which we are never fully content, because there is always a deeper place to go in our relationship with God. The Apostle Paul called the riches of a relationship with Christ “unfathomable,” (Ephesians 3:8), and in his second letter Peter called disciples to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).

As we live in that tension, there are two simple prayers that can express both our contentment and our hunger:

“Thank you, Lord.”

and

“Take me deeper, Lord.”

We express to God the gratitude that comes from knowing we have been reconciled to him, that our sins are forgiven, and that he has called us to himself and graced us with every good and perfect gift. And we also express our desire to know him more fully, to love him more deeply, and to be shaped more and more into the image of Jesus.

As we make our way to Jerusalem with Jesus, it is a good time to be reminded that he is always calling to us, always willing to show us more and more of his love and his desires for our life. We can rest content in the knowledge that we are deeply loved, and we can open ourselves more fully to its unfathomable depths.

Thank you, Lord…take me deeper, Lord.

Scripture for Meditation:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
—Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)

Song: Deeper Water (lyrics here)

Questions for Reflection

Spend some time meditating on these verses from Scripture that speak of the sufficiency of God and the contentment that comes from knowing him. As you read and pray, offer to God words of gratitude, your “Thank you, Lord.”
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”—2 Corinthians 9:8 (NRSV)
“And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19 (NRSV)
Spend some time meditating on these verses from Scripture that speak of our call deeper into the heart of God. As you read and pray, offer to God words of surrender, your “Take me deeper, Lord.”
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”—Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”—2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
The song for today recalls three people who encountered Jesus, and how those encounters changed their lives. Imagine Jesus has come to you, and like he said to the blind man in Mark 10, he looks at you and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” How would you respond? What is the cry of your heart as you reflect on your relationship with Christ?