31 Days of "A Confident Heart" Day 7

My son's 7th grade football team won their game for the first time last night, 34-0!  It was a fantastic victory.  All the boys seemed to be at the top of their game and I think this win was the first for the 2nd-year rookie head coach.  There was celebration all around, and of course Seth and I were extremely proud.

This victory reminded me, however, that sometimes we get caught up in our accomplishments, social or relationship status, or anything besides God, and tend to put all of our self-worth in the success of these things.  Even when we do attain status or victory, sometimes it just doesn't seem to be enough.  It just doesn't fill that huge whole inside of us that longs to be filled.

In Renee Swope's book A Confident Heart, she says:

"We long to be acknowledged.  We want to be noticed.  Whether it's a calling in ministry or a corner office at work, a plaque on our wall, a title on our door, a promotion, or even an education, we work hard to get to higher places--and then wonder why they are never enough." (A Confident Heart, pg. 59)

After the game was over and I listened to my son and these boys celebrate (they were on cloud 9!), I realized that the "feeling" of this victory would soon fade, because it wouldn't be enough to keep them filled up with what they wanted/needed.  My thoughts went to the book and Renee's words above.  It doesn't ever stop.  We start out so young in life hanging our worth upon our accomplishments, but still do it on into our adult life. We have to make a conscience effort to change our thoughts.

We basically have been programmed to think this way our whole life:

Do well = reward.

Don't do well = no reward.

Ugh!  What are we to do?

My HOPE in this situation is that we having a loving God who wants a relationship with us DESPITE our faults and despite how well we do.  Our God is a God of grace and love.  He only asks that we believe--not that we be perfect or that we have a long list of accomplishments.  The "wells of our hearts were created to be filled by God alone" is what Renee says in her book.  THAT is why all of our accomplishments and victories will never be enough.  Those things are great, but they aren't God.  Those things make us feel great about ourselves, but they aren't God.

Nothing can compare to God.  Nothing can fill up our hearts quite as perfectly as God.  The love and acceptance that we are looking for comes from God.  Selah


So......let us all remember that as wonderful and basically harmless as victory & recognition are in our life, God is the only one who can fill that void in our hearts.  He is the one and only.  Let's hold our cups out to Him and let Him fill them with confidence.  Have a super wonderful weekend!