Don’t Hold Back
Did you know that God wants you to enjoy your life?
Ecclesiastes 11:9 says,
“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things, God will bring you into judgment.”
Ecclesiastes tells us that our lives are fleeting like a breath. Here for a moment, and then gone. And because life is fleeting, we ought to enjoy it.
While holiness says a decisive “no!” to all sin, it also says a bigger “yes!” to God and all his good gifts!
So, young man, ask that girl out on a date.
If you’re married, enjoy life with the spouse God has given you!
If you’re a parent, enjoy the laughter of your children!
If you work, do it with all your might as unto the Lord!
If you’re in school, seek to excel for the glory of God.
Jump in fully to the life of your local church.
And above all, enjoy God himself, the Giver of all these good gifts.
Cities Church, I exhort you: Don’t hold back on enjoying your life!
And this reminds us of our need to confess our sins…
Prayer of Confession
Father, we confess that holiness is the way of happiness, but we often don’t see it that way. You give us so many good gifts to enjoy, and we do not enjoy them as we ought to. We idolize your good gifts and put them in the place of God. And we also ignore your good gifts! We are ungrateful for them, and we fail to live our lives with the joy and freedom that you intend for us.
In these things, we have sinned against you, Lord. So restore us, we pray, and guide us now in this time of silent confession…
