Episode #281 Grateful, Not Guilty: Embracing God’s Gifts Fully – Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Hey, friend, what would change if you believed that God actually wanted you to enjoy his gifts? Now, this question came up as I was preparing for today's episode, and it's really been one of those questions that's lingered with me. What would change? Do I actually believe that God wants me to enjoy his gifts?

See, I'm aware that my life as a believer is not just for me. God is both corporate and personal. We together, make up the body of Christ. And also, he's personal in his connection for each of us. And so God has things for us to enjoy, but also things aren't just about doing the things that we like to do. He does a transforming work in us cultivating our loves and growing our love for him. And so there's all these different aspects that I'm thinking about as I'm prepping for this episode, but still it comes back to this question, what would change if you believed God actually wants you to enjoy his gifts?
And this question comes from this topic of simplicity, which I'm reading about as I reread Richard Foster's book, the Celebration of Discipline, and he talks about how simplicity can know contentment no matter if you have a little or if you have a lot. Foster also says that “Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us."

And I think that speaks to that tension I feel a little bit. Possessions can be enjoyed so much so that they become unhealthy. They end up destroying us because our appetites are cultivated too much. We have to have that type of abundance that leads to that kind of prosperity gospel, which we do not see in scripture. Yet, Aestheticism, where we feel like because of religious purposes we can't have anything, that can remove from us the opportunity to enjoy the good that God gives us.

In Philippians 4:12, I think this is Paul speaking, and he says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

I think what he's talking about here is trust, which we've been talking about in these recent episodes. And enjoying what God gives no matter what it is, how long we have it, or how plentiful it may be.

In James 1:17, it says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
And in Ecclesiastes, which is the book known for in everything there is its season. It says “Everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.”

One of God's gifts to us is to enjoy the work that we get to do and to enjoy the return we receive from our work, because it allows us to eat and drink. And so I'm just talking with you through this concept of enjoying what God gives us and I'm realizing that one of the ways that that can be hard for some of us, me included, is the guilt that we might pick up along with the good gifts that God gives us. Maybe it's feeling bad about eating a dessert or buying something that you can afford, but you weren't always able to. Maybe like me, you're growing in your ability to rest. And so I can struggle with feeling guilty for taking rest because I feel like, oh, I could be doing more work right now and instead I'm only resting. And even on this topic, genuine guilt comes when we do something wrong. So if we actually did something wrong and we feel guilty about it, that's a great thing to talk with God about.

God, how can I receive your gifts in the way you intend me to? Is there something you want me to do differently with what you've entrusted to me?

But if it's not actual guilt, then what we label as guilt is actually shame. If you've done nothing wrong but you feel guilty about it, you have picked up shame, which is not from God. And that's also something that's super valuable to explore with the Lord.

God, why do I feel shameful about something you've given me as a gift?

I know no matter where you are on this topic, God has more he wants to share with you about it. And so let's close out today with a question that you can take to him:

God, how can I receive your blessings with gratitude rather than guilt this week?

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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