Lenten Spiritual Journey, Day 11, Confronting Want

We live in a land so filled with abundance that we can no longer distinguish the difference between need and want. We need to engage our minds, we want plasma TVs, Xboxes, and the latest and greatest electronic gadget. We need to get from one place to the next; we want fancy new cars, privet jets, and luxury sailboats. We need shelter, food, and clothing; we want private homes, 7 course meals, and designer fashions. And all the while we watch as our neighbors starve, or go through hardships. Oh we might give a dollar or two to charities to justify our abundance or to make us feel self righteous, but all the while acquiring more stuff, feeding into our insatiable hunger for more.

Confronting want is perhaps one of the hardest spiritual exercises, because we are taught from the earliest age to succeed, and the person who has the most is the winner. We envy the rich and the powerful, our nations is built upon greed and desire, our economy would collapse if people stopped buying things and still this desire for physical possessions keeps us away from God and following his path. Jesus told the rich man sell all he has and to follow him, and the rich man went away sad because he couldn’t abandon his desire for things.

Before beginning this exercise it is recommended that you find a quiet place, take a few deep breaths and let the world slip away, spend some time repeating a sacred word or phrase, (it can be anything; Jesus heal me, Holy God, or anything that resonates with you) and once you feel that you are centered and in touch with heaven ask for Gods guidance along this journey and thank him for His love and protection.

And so in a moment of quiet and peace, close your eyes and ask God to come into your heart.

Examine all the times you have bought something that you didn’t really need just because you wanted it.

Examine all the stuff in your life that is unused, unwanted, and just clutters your existence.

Examine this desire for more and more stuff

Now close your eyes and take a deep breath

Ask God to come into your heart now and give you the courage to live in moderation

Ask God to give you the wisdom to distinguish between your need and your wants

Ask God to give you the courage to let go of this desire for more and more stuff

Ask God to heal you.

Now feel His light, radiate through your body.

Just spend a moment, feeling His peace and His love, as your cares melts away, as His calm enters into your heart.

And now examine all the times that your desire for more and more stuff has kept you from helping your neighbor.

Examine any time that you turned away from someone in need just because you wanted more for yourself.

Examine all your possessions and ask God to forgive you for your greed.

Now close your eyes and take a deep breath

Ask God to come into your heart now and give you the courage to live a simpler life

To give you the courage to share with others from your abundance

Ask God to give you the strength to avoid the temptation to buy out of want and let go

And ask God to heal your desire for more.

Now feel His light, radiate through your body.

Just spend a moment, feeling His peace and His love, as your anger melts away, as His calm enters into your heart.

And finally examine all the times that your desire for things have replaced your desire for God

And beg him for your forgiveness.

Ask him to give you the strength to let go of your wants,

And to accept His will.

Now close your eyes and take a deep breath

Ask God to come into your heart now

And ask God to heal your desires.

Now feel His light, radiate through your body.

Just spend a moment, feeling His peace and His love, as your cares melts away, as His calm enters into your heart.

And now give praise to God.

Thank Him for His gift of healing.

Thank Him for His love.

Now go out into the world trusting in that love.

Peace

FM