If Only

Everyone is always looking for that prize in life.  The prize is different things at different times.  I like to call them “if onlys”.  For instance, my son’s “if onlys” seem to be if only he had that truck, or those tires, or those lights, or that lift.  A young adult might have the “if only” of if only they could date that person or get that job paying that much.  Older people like me might would have the “if only” of if only our kids could make that on their ACT or get a scholarship or make good grades so they can have their best chance for a secure future. 

I think it is hard to live in this world not in a “if only” mind due to the constant pelting of negative influence the world throws at us.  It is incredibly hard for young parents to not wish their kids were more athletic or smarter or more handsome than other kids.  But this type of attitude actually shows us the state of our love condition.  If we love people like God does, we want them to have the best kids and the greatest of families even if we think it is an injustice.  Paul reflects this type of mindset in 1 Corinthians 6 regarding disputes with one another by saying “Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that?  Why not let yourselves be cheated?”.  Jesus said “If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other.  If you are sued in court for your shirt, give your coat.  If a soldier demands you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two.”  Many times, our “if only” is based on what we think we deserve and it is that heart condition that must be our focus for God’s work.

If ever you get the experience, no matter how painful it is to get there or the scar left behind, to get the opportunity to depend upon God to do something and only He can do it, you realize that there is a much higher calling to live in.  This starts with desperate hearts that pray for God because there is no other way.  It has to be God.  Then there is a fullness that develops when such prayers are answered.  The unseen God and His unseen hand become known realities.  The evil one desperately wants no person to come to that realization.  The movie, War Room, reflects such an experience in the lives of a family.

My “if only” is live every day, every moment in the desperation and confident prayer of only God is the answer and it will be God.  Not just live in that in the extreme moments of life.  I see others go through great hardships and run to God in those times, but after some time has passed the urgency of having God in their life diminishes and they begin to walk back to where they were before.  This is a tragedy.  If only I can live every single moment of time praying urgently for God to perform His miracles and ready to praise Him at every opportunity.  I believe this is the way we are supposed to live.