Living Life by Design

When my wife, Janet and I were first married, we decided to wait for a while before having children. We were both young and wanted to live a carefree lifestyle. After two years we decided we were ready for children. Shortly after, my daughter Jessica and then our son Scott were born. We were a very happy family but I was in sales at the time and money was very tight.

It was Christmas time and we all wanted a new television. The TV we owned was a small hand-me-down that didn’t work very well. I wanted to buy the family a new, larger TV for Christmas but I didn’t have the money. I loved my family deeply and didn’t want to disappoint them so I was able to find someone who needed a ditch dug. It took me several days (and two hands covered with blisters) to dig the ditch. I earned enough to buy the family a television for Christmas.

The days that I spent digging that dreadful ditch were miserable. However, the joy that my children would feel watching Sesame Street in the mornings on a beautiful new television kept me going. My focus was never on me, on my situation or what I wanted. It was 100% focused on what I could do for my family.

In 1 Samual 22 we find David imprisoned in a cave and fearing for his life. He cry’s out loudly to God, spelling out his troubles and pleading for mercy. In Psalm 142, David says, “Get me out of this dungeon so I can thank you in public.” David longs to be able to praise God for answering his prayers and rescuing him. He promises that if he is rescued, he will turn it back to worship and gather others together to celebrate God’s goodness.

Stop for a moment and ponder this. David wants to be rescued but not for the obvious reason…to get out of the dungeon. He “longs” to be rescued so he can publicly thank God and give him the praise. That’s love at a different level…one void of self & totally focused on God.

When was the last time you took your eyes off of yourself, and your situation and did something wholeheartedly for God, because you loved him that much?

How about today?