SATISFIED

I used to be and probably still am, very ambitious. Since I can remember I was always reaching for the stars. That serious work hard and play hard mentality and that meant working 2 to 4 jobs. I love the feeling of being busy and succeeding. 

However, literally after all of that striving-all of the time, I ended up with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue-basically feeling ‘rode hard and put away wet’. I’m sure that I am not the only one. I witness that sense of urgency, which exists all around me. It does not look so pretty when I see it on someone else. This guy the other day in Home Depot nearly bit the heads off of all the folks in his way of getting what he came there to do versus just waiting his turn. It was scary that he could not be calmed. I know that I have done that very thing many times feeling erroneously justified.

So, this last year I wanted to try something different. Walking softly, more slowly and feeling satisfied with what has already been done and what the Lord wants done on a daily basis. You see, you can teach an old dog a new trick.

I believe that we are in the time of the prophetic clock ticking closer and closer to the ‘ordinary day’ of His return. That would mean that the scarcity of all things is or will in our lifetime become a daily reality.

Time-wise, the Bible prophesies that the Tribulation will last for seven years. It is divided into two parts, each consisting of three and a half years. The last three and a half year segment is called the “Great Tribulation”. During the seven-year Tribulation, three great series of judgments will come upon the Earth as the Lamb, Jesus, breaks the seals from off the scroll found in Heaven. These three groups of judgments are called the Seal, the Trumpet and the Bowl judgments. Each one consists of seven judgments. And, the last judgment of each series introduces the first judgment in the next series. So, the breaking of the seventh Seal introduces the first Trumpet judgment and the blowing of the seventh Trumpet introduces the first Bowl judgment. You get the picture right? 

I know it can be confusing but a little brevity here is used to refresh your memory. Most of us have heard this stuff before. Now, after the pouring out of the seventh Bowl, Christ returns to earth with great power and glory and rule and reign here for a thousand years. That thousand year reign used to really throw me…what is that all about, but I am getting off topic and I want to concentrate on the ‘here and now’ instead.

So, getting back to the seals; when Christ breaks the first seal off his scroll, the seven-year Tribulation period will commence down on earth. The removing of the first five seals will each result in indirect judgments on the earth. When these judgments occur, the world may not realize that they are of supernatural origin or from Christ. People may assume that the terrible things they are experiencing are just due to fate or circumstance. The sixth seal however, will be the eye-opener. It will be the first in a series of a series of direct judgments from the Lamb. During the spectacular judgment of the sixth seal, we arrive at the beginning of the second half of the Tribulation, the “Great Tribulation”. The first six seals cover the first half of the Tribulation and they are all found in Revelation Chapter 6.

Now here is what I’m talking about, concerning the opening of the third seal, and this has to do with awareness and nothing to do with fear. Most folks do not know how this seal will effect them and that the Lord has not allowed for the oil or wine to be harmed. Take a look: Rev. 6:5-6

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ’Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ’A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.’

What this means to me directly in my daily life is that the days of expecting and praying for ‘planes, trains and automobiles’ for us and others are over. Why not be content with doing fine and thanking God for His provision.

In a word ‘satisfied’.

I like to watch my dog eat and drink everyday. It is a kick. She eats like this is her first bowl of food consuming every morsel with zeal and true ‘worked hard today’ hunger. Then, having learned a naughty little habit my husband taught her while I was away for work-she jumps up on our bed to her water glass-filled with just the right amount of ice and drinks with such thirst and passion I always remember that scripture about how the Lord wants us to hunger and thirst after righteousness found in Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are they, which do hunger, and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled".

My husband used to tell me all the time, 'You are never satisfied’. Although I argued with him, he was right. I mean why be satisfied when you can wake up and work yourself into an utter oblivious frenzy obtaining things and getting ‘new’ on a daily basis. Now to me, that trip was fun. Feeling like things were getting ‘accomplished’ all the time.

It can also be futile. I have decided this is the year, the season to be satisfied instead. One thing I have always admired about the man in my life is he is so grateful. It used to really piss me off, but now I see the beauty of that kind of serenity.

The state of feeling 'satisfied'.