I receive wonderful Encouragment for Today e-mails from Proverbs 31 Ministries and today I read one written by Sarah Martin.  Sarah talks about how we sometimes seek momentary happiness in material things (for Sarah it was lip gloss) and how we should instead allow God to fill us with His joy.  Sarah quotes: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your  presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

This article got me thinking how this very thing happened to me just last evening after attending a women’s meeting at my church.  While driving home, I was feeling a little blah about some things and about the transition that is occuring in my life right now, and I was feeling the need for a “fix” to boost my mood and make me feel “happy” again.

There I was, in the drive-through line at Chick-fil-A, my favorite fast food restaurant, where they currently have all NEW dessert items.  I was thinking their new fudge brownie was going to taste really yummy, but also feeling a little guilty because I had already eaten a small eclair at church.

But as I sat there in the slowest line I have ever encountered at my favorite drive-through, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying, “What are you doing here?  Go home!  You sure don’t need a fudge brownie right now anyway!”

So, as the line finally started to move, I pulled out of line and proceeded to drive out of the parking lot, all the while thanking God for helping me to resist the temptation to stuff my belly with something it did not need, only to get home and regret that I ate it anyway!!

Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Thank you Jesus!