[Discoveries] 08-23-08 Maturity and God's work -- Psalm 37:4

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your 
heart. -- Psalm 37:4*/

At the beginning, we are not mature. On the surface, that seems obvious, 
but sometimes it's easy to forget.

As we start out in life as little babies, we don't even know that other 
people exist, much less that we should love them even if that means 
personal sacrifice. That is a lesson that we learn much, much later.

God's plan is for parents to nurture their little children so that they 
can take the steps of growth toward maturity. But parents aren't 
perfect, of course, and all of us suffer collateral damage living in a 
fallen world no matter how wonderful our parents may be.

If early needs are never met, then the person gets stuck. They grow up 
on the outside, but stay little on the inside. Then God comes along and 
meets those unmet needs inside to release us to grow.

This is why the "go and sin no more" always follows a life-changing 
encounter with Jesus.

When our desires are corrupted, God satisfies them by giving us what we 
really need deep down inside instead of what we think we need.

As we mature, our desires mature. As our hearts are purified, our 
desires begin to look like God's desires. What we want and what we 
delight in become a testimony to God's work in our life.

God is not out to make us into self-indulgent brats. Rather, He 
satisfies our desires to release us from self indulgence and allow us to 
grow.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries? Victims of 
violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace, wholeness, the 
power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries. Those ensnared by 
addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being restored. Families 
are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in restricted lands who 
face persecution are finding strength and encouragement. Young believers 
are learning how to walk with the Lord, and people are coming into the 
faith for the first time. None of this happens as a result of one 
person's efforts, but rather this is God's work as He blesses the 
sacrifice of many people including yourself. We partner with you, with 
other ministries, and, most significantly, with the Lord. That's how the 
supernatural happens.

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