Satisfaction Guaranteed

"They all ate and were satisfied."

Luke 9: 17

When was the last time you were satisfied?  Satisfaction can last a moment, a meal, a merry time with friends, or maybe it can linger a little longer. 
 
I have been struggling being satisfied with my life.  I have been more ashamed of it than satisfied with it.  Lately I have put more focus on my failures than on my faith.  As a result, I feel incomplete and discontent.  I have not fed my faith and put my total trust in my Jehovah Jireh.  Like the disciples in Luke chapter 9, I have been focusing on my limited amount of knowledge and resources instead on my limitless Lord and resourceful God. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. ⁴ After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.⁵ And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.⁶ For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.¹² So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. ¹³ Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12)

(I love verse 12.  God encourages us to take a new grip, not to let go, and the only way I know how to strengthen weak knees is to spend more time on them!) 

Hebrews 12:1-13 hits the very heart of where we can get satisfaction in the midst of our struggles.  For a "satisfaction guaranteed" life we need to...

1. strip away the things that weigh us down and entangle us (vs. 1)
2. endure (vs.1, 7, 11, 12) 
3. fixate on Jesus (vs. 2-3)
4. keep the right perspective (vs. 4)
5. don't give up (vs. 3-5)
6. embrace discipline and the One who gives it (vs. 5-11)
7. lead others to do what is right and holy (vs. 10, 12-13)

None of this is easy, and easy-living does not equal satisfaction.  Complete, continuing contentment comes from the Lord.  He is the only One who can fill our hearts to the point of when we can sit back, put our hands behind our heads, our feet up, and smile with the thoughts, "Yes, that is good.  That is it.  That is all I need." 

Begin planting these seven seeds, for a peaceful harvest awaits.  Satisfaction guaranteed.