July 30: The Discipline of Disillusionment

Entertainment today often revolves around love stories about finding "The Right One." We are indoctrinated with the idea that there is a person out there who will make us happy. If we are fortunate enough to discover that this idea is a lie, our first response is cynical disillusionment. Then why do I say it is fortunate to uncover this fantasy? Because, until we realize that happiness will never be found in another person, all of our relationships are doomed to failure, and, more importantly, we will never find ourselves in a proper relationship with God.

Reading today's passage is a great start to learning this truth, but it is only a start. Neither I nor any other person will ever be able to tell you how much happier you will be if your demolish your childhood image of the man or woman of your dreams; you will have to take the leap off the cliff trusting that God is at the bottom of the abyss to catch you.

As much as I love you all and want to be there for you, it is a certainty that I will someday disappoint you or let you down, no matter how hard I try not to. The only one who will ever understand your every emotion, need, and motive is Jesus - thus, He is your only hope for happiness. The divorce rate is so high in our country today largely because people are so disillusioned that their mate didn't meet their needs. They divorce, seeking a perfect soul-mate, only to find their expectations repeatedly dashed.

Here are some scriptures that might help you make this paradigm shift:
Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 10:37-39; Matthew 22:37-39; John 14:15-21; John 15:12-17; Romans 12: 9-21; I Corinthians 13 (The Love Chapter); Galatians 5:6-14; Ephesians 5:1-2; II Peter 1:3-11; I John 4:8.
For ease of looking them up, I put these verses in order of appearance, not order of importance.

Jesus, please help us to look only to You for our happiness. I do so love these people and pray for them from Ephesians 3:16-21: I pray that out of Your glorious riches that You may strengthen them with Your power through Your Spirit in their most inner being, so that You may live in their hearts through faith. And I pray that they will be rooted and established in love and receive power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. May they know this Love that surpasses knowledge, that they may be filled with the fullness of God. Now to You, Who are able to do immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us, to You we give all glory, for ever and ever, Amen!!