Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 KJV
Selene and Brody are Louisiana Catahoula siblings soon to be available for adoption through One Love Animal Rescue in NJ.
When we bring home a new puppy or dog, we go out and buy all new supplies. Wandering through the pet store aisles, we fill the cart with chew toys advertised to keep tartar away; squeaky toys that will withstand sharp teeth and food for the correct age to help keep our dogs active and healthy. We look for coordinating leash, harness and collar so our pup will be stylin’ as they walk their new neighborhood. We buy them a comfy bed and show them their new digs (literally). Nothing is too good for the new addition.
We enjoy treating our dogs to new things. It brings us pleasure and hopefully it brings our pups pleasure. Pleasure is defined as a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. Synonyms for pleasure are listed as: happiness, delight, joy, gladness, glee, contentment, and amusement. I think you are getting the picture. It makes us happy to make them happy.
Luke 12:32 tells us that God finds pleasure in giving us the kingdom. Matthew 6:33 urges us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God is a good God. It makes him happy to make us happy. He wants to spend time with us and encourages us to put him and his kingdom first. Everything else we need will fall into place when Christ and his kingdom are in first place.
Sometimes I pray really hard as if God is withholding all the necessary elements of life. The truth is, God finds joy in giving me the desires of my heart when I seek him with all of my heart. When he holds first place, my desires align with his and I no longer want or need so many of my requests. He loves me and wants to assure me a place in his kingdom. A place of fellowship and eternal life.
Our new dogs do have a need for all the doggie supplies we purchase. They will find pleasure from all their new toys and we find pleasure in granting their every desire. The greatest joy for every forever home is found in spending time together. Whether we are enjoying a walk in the park or a cozy cuddle on the couch, our dogs find pleasure in us and we find pleasure in them.
We do have a need for all the many blessings God bestows on us each day but his greatest joy and ours is spending quiet time together. Getting to know him in bible reading, prayer, praise and meditation will give us more pleasure than we can measure. We will find our contentment in him as we walk together daily.
God is not trying to make life hard or find enjoyment in our correction. He has provided Jesus as the key for entrance into his kingdom and wants nothing more than to spend eternity with us. Cozy up with him today and find the fulfillment and joy of new life.
Just Another Dog Devotion 