Missions of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America

A Thanksgiving Meditation: Satisfied!

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thanksgiving Ps107

This special meditation has been prepared by PRC home missionary, Rev. Aud Spriensma. 

A Thanksgiving Meditation: Satisfied!

Meditation on Psalm 65: 4, 11

Blessed is the man whom thou chooseth, and causeth to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even thy holy temple. ...Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

This year we have seen the bounties of God’s earth. The corn and soybean fields have just been harvested. Already fields are prepared and green for next year with wheat and rye planted. The mighty power of the Creator and the goodness of God’s providence in watering and producing crops teach us that the best gift of all is closeness to God. My mother taught me this when growing up on the farm. In the morning mother would be looking out the window, praying to God for rain for the corn, and dry sunny days for the baling up of the hay.

The Giver is greater than the gifts. Therefore, the greatest benefits in the universe belong to the person whom God chooses, draws near to Himself by the Holy Spirit, and redeems with the precious blood of our Lord Jesus. Oh, how satisfied we are with God’s goodness and holiness! There is nothing sweeter than the sovereign grace of God in Christ Jesus. Sad to say, nothing is more common than for people to enjoy the gifts of creation and providence but have no desire for God. In our gratitude, we must look beyond earthly things to the Giver of earthly and spiritual blessings. Nearness to God is the greatest blessing. The Psalmist says, “we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”

What does it mean to be satisfied? It means to be full. We have not only a little bit or a taste, but a great abundance so that we are full to the rim. My wife always prepares extra food when we have the children over. After everyone has filled their plate and eaten, we ask, “Would you like to have seconds?” Sometimes the answer comes, “No, I am good!” To which I answer, “No, only God is good. We are depraved.” The children learned quickly to answer, “I am satisfied. I am content. I have had sufficient so that I can have no more.”

Let me apply this to spiritual things. Now I am speaking not about bellies, but spiritual satisfaction that we have with God and the goodness of His house. My heart and soul are full. The opposite is pain and the poverty of sin, being empty spiritually. One who willingly walks in sin is barren and empty. The psalmist says, “Iniquities prevail against me” (vs. 3). These sins overcome me, a multitude of sin from morning to evening. The sins that I repented of yesterday are the sins I find myself falling into again today. The child of God who willingly walks in sin has the experience of the absence of God. God withdraws the experience of His presence for a while. Think of David, after his terrible sin of adultery and murder. His sins unconfessed, David said, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer” (Ps. 32:3,4). The alternative to satisfaction is the emptiness of sin.

God is His mercy fills our souls. Psalm 65:3 and 4 explains our salvation. “Blessed is the man thou choosest and causeth to approach unto thee.” By His sovereign election, God draws His children to Himself. He forgives all their sins. David writes, “as for our transgressions, thou wilt purge them away” (vs, 3). By His Spirit, He draws us to Himself through the powerful and effectual calling of the gospel. Drawn near, we dwell in His house. This is not merely to church. This dwelling in His house is not only what happens in heaven after our earthly sojourn is over and we see Jesus face to face. What a wonderful day that will be. But now already as we gather as His church on Sunday and for religious holidays and we worship and hear his Word proclaimed. But every day as we live with Him by faith, we walk and talk, and He speaks to us in His Word that lives in our hearts. We know Him day by day. The life that flows in Him flows to us by faith. Already we dwell in heaven because our head, Christ, is there. Dwelling in His courts, we are filled with His goodness: God Himself, His Son, Christ Jesus, and all the blessings of salvation. May the earthly abundance in the field and on the table be to us a picture of the abundance and fatness of our life in Christ Jesus. There is so much spiritual good that our souls are fat with health.

It is not the abundance of the earth that satisfies our need. Our satisfaction is not pinned to our circumstances of life. With the psalmist, we are satisfied with God’s goodness all of our lives, even in hardships, difficulties, set-backs, failures, sickness, and death. We are still satisfied because God has raised our hearts to heaven, He has filled our hearts with himself and our salvation in Christ Jesus. The fruit of this salvation is that we are thankful! Praise waiteth for God in Zion.

Are you satisfied: not only today but every day and in every circumstance? This means that we not only tolerate and put up with our circumstances, but we are glad and full in those days too. Our souls are filled up, and there is no room for more. We have enough with God’s goodness in Christ Jesus! Even as God in creation gives an abundant harvest, God gives us life, abundant life in Christ!

The lovingkindness of my God is more than life to me; So I will bless thee while I live and lift my prayer to thee. In thee my soul is satisfied, my darkness turns to light, And joyful meditations fill the watches of the night.

My Saviour, neath thy sheltering wings my soul delights to dwell; Still closer to thy side I press, for near thee all is well. My soul shall conquer every foe, upholden by thy hand; thy people shall rejoice in God, thy saints in glory stand. (George Stebbins, Psalter #163, based on Psalm 63)

 

Last modified on 25 November 2020
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Spriensma, Audred T.

Rev. Audred Spriensma (Wife: Alva)

Ordained: January 1981

Pastorates: Atwood, MI CRC - 1981; Bethany, S.Holland, IL CRC - 1984; Grandville, MI - 1992; Missionary to the Philippines - 2002; Kalamazoo, MI - 2007; Byron Center, MI - 2010; Home missionary (Byron Center PRC), 2017; Cornerstone PRC, Dyer IN, Jan. 2021

Website: www.prca.org/current/news/churches/usa-canada/cornerstone-prc-st-john-in

Contact Details

  • Address
    10870 Millard Dr.
  • City
    Saint John
  • State or Province
    Indiana
  • Zip Code
    46373
  • Country
    United States
  • Telephone
    616-204-0744

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