Today marks my 43rd birthday. Here’s what I really want this year…

I want to know God like I have never before.
I want to see Him in His majesty and glory like never before.
I want to treasure Him, delight in Him, and find my greatest pleasure in Him.
I want to know His power in my life.
I want to desire Him and draw near to Him like never before.
And lastly, I want you to be the same…

This morning, I woke up early to spend some time with the Lord. It was drizzling lightly and so I took a walk in my neighborhood. I was expressing to God the things I wanted for my birthday. And at the same time thanking Him for making me want these things. I know that did not come from me. Praise be to God that I want to want God more than anything…

Please pray for me that these things will be achieved in me this year. Pray for my family that these things will be true of them as well. And do me a huge favor, and pray these things for yourself and your family as well.

There is one way God is the treasure that is different from all the other treasures. The difference is not only in degree but also in kind. And the difference is that God as the treasure gives all other treasures their value. In other words, the reason why other treasures seem so valuable is only because God gives them their value.

Think of God like a stream of pure water that gives life to precious fruits and vegetables that a village subsist on. And because of these fruits and vegetables and exportation of them, this village is a thriving community. But how foolish would it be if the people of that village decided to get rid of the stream to make more room for fruit trees and vegetable plots? They would be losing the very source of their delight and pleasure!

Everything we hold dear is precious because God makes it so.

Love doesn’t exist without God. (God is love)
Family doesn’t exist without God. (The very definition of it is being changed as we drive God out of our society)
Marriage loses its significance without God. (It doesn’t point to anything)
Life itself loses its meaning without God. (We’re just a product of random chance)

God is the treasure that makes other treasures what they are.

Ask this God to be revealed as your greatest treasure.

That’s my birthday wish…

PH