“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
~ Eric Liddell, Olympian and Christian missionary
The first time I watched “Chariots of Fire” on VHS was back in the eighties. The theme song aired ad nauseam and every piano student played it like it was Beethovan’s 5th. As a kid, my expectations for the flick were low.
Oh well, a movie’s a movie. It was better than watching regular TV.
I was wrong.
When Eric Liddell spoke his famous quote in the film, I heard three words: God, pleasure, me.
God made me for pleasure?
The strangest, most alluring, and jarring combination of thoughts started filling my head. It hasn’t stopped since.
Pleasure
As a high schooler, looking into my future, I tried to figure out what to do with my life. Later, as I was about to graduate from college, I asked the same question. A little over a decade, here I am, not that much further along.
Still. God hasn’t stopped tapping my shoulder about this.
Pleasure.
I’m trying to figure out this pleasure thing with God.
For whatever reason, I don’t quite trust it.
Problem solving, feeling guilty, and the safety of self-reliance — these feel more natural.
According to God, these qualities aren’t a part of His plan for me.
Tiny and Not-So-Tiny Choices
Stress is like a pathogen to experiencing God’s pleasure. Everyday, there is a continuous flow of decisions we make — tiny or not-so-tiny choices — to give into pressure or pleasure.
Since we live in an imperfect world, we are susceptible to guilt, insecurities, and stress — even though we were originally made for joy, peace, and rest.
We prefer a formula, check boxes, or some “4 Simple Steps” to find happiness, fulfillment and purpose.
Instead, God points to an unbeaten path with Him, a break from who we were yesterday, and a new way of thinking.
Driven By Pressure or God’s Pleasure?
We can put pressure on ourselves, and force change. The results, though, aren’t long lasting and hold hidden costs, beyond the upfront price.
In contrast, God woos us to experience pleasure from within. It’s the kind of change that is real, when we dare to believe we were created for God’s pleasure — and take new steps to discover what that means.
How would you describe the combination of words: God, pleasure, (fill in your name)?
Do you find it easy to feel God’s pleasure over pressure? Or vice versa?
“Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money
on what is not bread,
and your labor
on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good.
And delight yourself in abundance.“
Isaiah 55:2
How can I feel God's pleasure more?
I'll be sharing what those new steps are for me. Starting with tomorrow -- Step One.
If you are in the middle of renewal and want to share your thoughts on the topic of new steps,
write a blog post and share it!
Tomorrow, 4/1/10: I'll have McLinky up at the end of the post, and you can submit your url.
Join me and all the other bloggers who will be swapping their stories tomorrow.
If you don't have a blog, you can still share by commenting. Photo courtesty of Photobucket.
[ This is an original post to Faith Barista, where Bonnie Gray serves up shots of faith for everyday life. ]
21 Comments
Unfortunately, I have always felt more preasure than pleasure from God. But these days,God has been drawing me to some unfamiliar territory. I’m seeing Him and our relationship together in a new light. I’m starting to realize it’s about pleasure not preasure. Who knew? 🙂
.-= Jennifer Adams´s last blog ..Circle Ripples =-.
Like you said, it’s more nature to feel the guilt from God compared to the pleasure from God. Part of that is possibly the griding nature of Christianity to continually push the Old Testament commandment type thinking – “Thou shalt not…” over Christ’s New Testament commandments of, “Love God, love your neighbor.”
Anyway, that’s my $.02 for the day. 🙂
.-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..GodlySheep Get’s a Makeover =-.
You know I’d not thought about it in this context. I think when I was a child I had a clearer understanding of what being created for God’s pleasure (and experiencing it) meant. As an adult I’ve had more of a tendency (well, at least in the past) to be more tied to pressure. In the past few years, however, God has been showing me once again what being created for His pleasure means. Great post Bonnie! Very interesting food for thought 🙂
.-= Kristine McGuire´s last blog ..“Yo G! I’m Here. Your Cool. That Rocks!” =-.
Guilt can be so consuming… whether self-inflicted or applied by others in our lives. It is difficult to remember that those grumblings in our mind are not His whisper. God’s pleasure is an amazing experience when we are still and welcoming.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..A Broken Heart =-.
I can’t help but quote this wonderful poem from Love Poems from God, attributed to St. Teresa of Avila:
Not Yet Tickled
How did those priests ever get so serious / and preach all that / gloom?
I don’t think God/ tickled them / yet.
Beloved–hurry.
.-= Maureen (Mo)´s last blog ..Tana Pesso’s First Invite Love In =-.
I always like to think that if God gave me pleasure in doing something it must be what He wants me to do. Then there are those situations where I feel so discontent and uncomfortable, but know that’s where God has me. I look forward to hearing more from you on this. 🙂
.-= Melissa Brotherton´s last blog ..Too Deep for Words =-.
When I look out on the beautiful spring day, I feel the pleasure of being with God. Our world does try and lure us to things other than nourishment…things that do not satisfy…for long. We are constantly bombarded with the choices every day, and our society has gotten so far away from the simplicity described in these verses that it is hard to experience the simple life they are calling us to live. Slowly…I push away those things I do not need…wondering what to keep and how to live simply in our complex technical world. Sometimes…I wonder if all of the sparkle and pizzazz in our culture today is an elaborate smokescreen of deception–so much evil is emerging from it. We have to be careful and guard this new power and not get caught up in it. Not long ago, I drove with a friend down a back road deep in the mountains of Virginia. Along this curving, meandering road, there were no man made signs but the occasional speed limit sign and lines painted on the asphalt…just rustic mountain farmland, rail fences, and forests. As we wandered far from ‘civilization’, I felt my soul unfold from its tight, cramped space and a longing to stay here…forever…echoed in my mind. My soul is so tired of this modern, buzzing world connecting on very surface levels. I remember a softer time…and long to go home…far…far away from all the noise and falseness.
Jesus is fun to hang out with! He really is. He has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh. Now, this doesn’t line up with our “woe is me” attitudes, but it’s true!
Think about it: who created laughter? Satan? Never in a million years. He wants us hanging our heads and not enjoying creation.
So, as far as pleasure, God and Larry goes, I love it. And as for the pressure? Yes, there are seasons when it seems like God puts pressure on me, but even in that, I can hear Him laughing every so often.
I loved this post Bonnie! For me, pressure used to drive me hard in my relationship with God. It was all about performance. In the last number of years though God has been teaching me about finding my pleasure in Him – finding joy in being in communion with Him. This change in thinking has radically affected my life.
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Balancing Life: A Father’s Perspective =-.
Hi, Bonnie! I love these thoughts. I spend way more time than I’m comfortable admitting feeling self-imposed guilt. I worry about way too many things. BUT, when I stop, enjoy quiet time with God, journal, and pray, all of that goes away and I get back on track to finding the pleasure in my relationship with Jesus Christ and the pleasure in what I should be doing with my life, which doesn’t include worry and guilt, but the other pleasure-finding purposes God gave me.
Hope you’re doing well! Thanks for a nice break from doing tax returns. Your words always encourage me!
Heather
.-= Heather Sunseri´s last blog ..A Love/Hate Relationship with the Synopsis =-.
It definitely all depends. Sometimes the pressure is from God and that’s a good thing. Many times the pressure is from me and that’s terrible. In the first scenario, I may question His pleasure, but I don’t lose it like I do when I give in to condemnation, guilt, and self-reliance.
When I’m clear-minded, the choice is obvious (the operative word being ‘when’). 🙂
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..Mad Church Disease (Ch. 7 Discussion) =-.
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by TheBonnieGray: New Post — Am I Driven By Pressure or God’s Pleasure? http://bit.ly/cKAQBo One Of The Most Important Questions…
Faith Barista Bonnie…
Pleasure has always sent me scurrying. It’s those Puritan roots passed on through the generations. I always beleived sacrifice was much more satisfying that pleasure. But I have learned that God’s good earth was given for my…pleasure. He gave colors and scents, tastes and smells for no other reason than pleasure. Sex isnt just a mechanical anatomy lesson, but is full of pleasure. Why? Because God wants me to breath in the good life He has given.
David Rupert
Red Letter Believers, “Salt and Light”
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
.-= David @ Red Letter Believers´s last blog ..Do good to those hate you =-.
When I quit putting pressure on myself, I can bask in God’s pleasure.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..6?! =-.
lovely…lovely…
This is something I needed to be reminded of, Bonnie. Thanks for doing that for me today. And I love that movie. One of my favorites!
.-= Billy Coffey´s last blog ..A Son’s Wisdom =-.
We prefer a formula, check boxes, or some “4 Simple Steps” to find happiness, fulfillment and purpose.
Instead, God points to an unbeaten path with Him, a break from who we were yesterday, and a new way of thinking.
Lovely words meant to be spent in meditation. Thank you.
[…] Out of nowhere, I find myself in this foreign place called God’s pleasure. […]
Bonnie, I was so excited from the beginning of your post. My favorite movie of all time is Chariots of Fire. I love this movie and my favorite line is the one you quoted about feeling God’s pleasure.
I do believe the Lord created us with gifts and talents. When I live in Him instead of relying on myself, there’s such a difference. I feel His pleasure as the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident to others. I know that isn’t of me since it’s so opposite me. But as I spend more and more time with the Lord, my husband notices the difference and I get to give God the glory.
Wonderful post Bonnie. Happy Easter to you,
Debbie
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Then Sings My Soul Saturday ~ Because He Lives =-.
Loved this Bonnie! It will help me to keep looking for the God, pleasure and Debbie moments in my day . . .without the guilt. Yeah! Sometimes I feel silly to enjoy and find pleasure in so much that others don’t, the little things, but that’s what pleasing Him is like for me . . .joy! I’ll choose that over pressure and stress any day! Thank you so much for our encouragement today! Deb
.-= Debbie Feller´s last blog ..Blessed Mercy =-.
[…] 10. Feeling God’s Pleasure or Pressure […]