“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Instant gratification always brings a smile to our face and a sense of accomplishment. We feel like shouting to the world, Yes! I got exactly what I wanted!!!
But did we compromise our commitment to God to receive exactly what we desired? Yes, we did.
Psychologists agree that human beings are even willing to choose smaller, immediate rewards over waiting for larger, delayed rewards.
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).
Sadly, because we have embraced and nurtured instant gratification, the majority of Christian believers never receive God’s greatest blessings.
We have two enemies that fight against us every day with the goal to prevent us from fulfilling God’s Divine Purpose for our lives:
The Two Enemies: Our Heart [Desires] and Satan, the Giver of Temporary Treasures and Pleasures
“And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9, NIV).
The Internal Conflict of the Human Heart: We know how the story begins, Mother Eve had a secret. Deep within her heart, she desired to eat from the forbidden tree of The knowledge of Good and Evil.
We cannot think wrong and do what is right [Faithful obedience to God is doing right]:
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NIV).
#2 The External Opposition of Satan’s Temptations of Treasures and Pleasures
Naaman is healed from leprosy (2 Kings 5:14-16).
“So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
“Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'”
“The prophet [Elisha] answered, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.’ And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.” “Go in peace,’ Elisha said.”
Elisha’s servant, Gehazi demonstrates the true condition of the human heart: (2 Kings 5:19-22, NIV).
“…After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, ‘My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.'”
“So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. ‘Is everything all right?’ he asked.”
“Everything is all right,’ Gehazi answered. ‘My master sent me to say, Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'”
Sadly, Gehazi received the punishment of leprosy for his treachery of misrepresenting Elisha, God’s anointed prophet.
Although we would like to think that our hearts are good, God tells us the true condition of our inherited hearts:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Because we were born with the drive to satisfy our hearts desires, we easily choose self-gratification over self-denial, resulting in the compromise of God’s commands.
For over 6,000 years, Satan has used the same old, but highly effective temptations to manipulate our minds, resulting in disobedience to God.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
From the moment we awaken, we decide through our morning prayer, whether or not, we will surrender to God in faithful obedience.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Every day, every follower of Christ faces the internal conflict of saying yes or no to their heart’s desires and the external opposition of Satan’s temptations.
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NLT).
Reflection: Are we willing to exchange our promised reward of Eternal Life for Satan’s temporary treasures and pleasures?
Receiving God’s Eternal Plans Requires the Human Effort of Loving God As Demonstrated Through Daily Surrender and Faithful Obedience
Remain Loyal By Following the Shepherd! Jesus’ Promise Gives Us Hope:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
Lord God, we thank You for the blessings of life, health, and strength. We confess that our faith and trust have been redirected to ourselves and for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, anoint us with the Holy Spirit, guide our steps, and give us the discernment to recognize Satan’s covert temptations designed to make us fall. We also ask for the strength to overcome our hearts desires and to live a life of self-denial. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
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Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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