List of Things I Want

Last night was my first night in Florida for the summer break. I flew in Thursday and was excited to catch up on some sleep! I was so tired that my eyes were closing on their own. I did my nightly reading standing up so I did not fall asleep. After putting down my books, I laid down excited to get some rest. But even in my exhaustion, I could not sleep. I tried praying, but in this, the Holy Spirit prompted me to pick up my Bible again. It was like He was saying, "Hey! I'm not done talking to you yet!" I rolled over, turned on the lamp and grabbed my Bible letting it fall open. It opened to a passage I had been reading several times in the last week: Psalm 73.25-28. I read it once again:

"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."

Though I had been reading it for a while and God had brought it to my mind several times, I now understood what God wanted from me. He asked me, "What do you desire beside me? You say I am all you need; I am here if you look for me. What more are you searching for?"

I instantly thought of several things I had been desiring besides God. They are not bad things, but I had put them above God on my "List of Things I Wanted." As I surrendered those things to the Lord and put Him back on the top of my list, verse 26 reminded me that God is the strength of my heart, and my heart was light. In my own strength I fail and I need God to strengthen me so that I may fulfill what He has for me. Verse 28 encourages us draw near to God; it is GOOD!!!

Draw near to God...desire Him above all!

What is on the top of your "List of Things I Want"?