“You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.” – Psalm 4:7 (NLT)
We just left a holiday season that had us experiencing much celebration and joy as the food flowed in abundance. For many of us, there are certain things we just couldn’t wait to sink our teeth into. We waited with eager anticipation for that one special treat to make its annual appearance, and when we took the first bite – well, we were pretty sure the angels in heaven started singing. Thanksgiving is such the perfect title for the beginning of this season because we couldn’t help but be full of thanks and gratitude for the fact that God gave us so much food and made it taste amazing.
But now that the parties are all over and the last of the leftover cookies have been consumed, we have discovered just how temporary the satisfaction and joy of it all really is. Could it be that while God created us with taste buds, and blessed us with food that would be delightful to the senses, He also put a craving in us for something far greater?
When David wrote this Psalm he understood this completely. While the people around him were joyful because the grain harvest was in abundance and the new wine was flowing like rivers, he knew that the joy they were experiencing paled in comparison to the joy he encountered on a regular basis because of his close, intimate relationship with God. Their momentary, physical pleasure couldn’t hold a candle to the way David knew God could satisfy a soul.
We are intentionally fasting from food and the temporary pleasures they bring in order to be filled and satisfied with Jesus, the bread of life (John 6:33-35). We’re sacrificing the delicacies and blessings God has so generously provided for us in order to discover that He is our provision and all that we need. We fast during this 21 Days to be reminded that the Giver is far superior to the gifts and that true joy comes from Him alone.
What is your source of joy? What are you filling yourself with to satisfy the deep longing within you?
During this 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, may you be filled with a new joy as you feast on the Word and encounter Jesus in such a powerful way that nothing else will ever satisfy.