As a child, we all had ample opportunities to make wishes. Before blowing out the candles on birthday cakes for years. Maybe when finding that illusive 4-leaf clover. And one of my favorites, blowing all the seeds off a spent dandelion. Does that bring back fond childhood memories?
With the holiday season upon us, we are inundated with every retailer under the sun helping us know what we can’t live without. It takes so much effort not to get sucked into the craziness, doesn’t it?
A recent devotion asked the readers, and me personally, this question: “If you could have one wish granted to you, what would it be?” And it advised us to answer with the first thing that came to mind. What’s yours? Don’t change it yet!
At this stage of my life, I’m past wanting many material possessions. We’ve been downsizing for a decade and I’m still in that mode. Not that I don’t appreciate getting new shoes or clothes or piece of furniture or even a knick-knack, but they didn’t jump to the top of the “immediate” list.
This will not surprise many of you, but my immediate greatest wish (read desire) was that I could join my husband, Dale, in heaven. Now, don’t panic. This is not a desperation wish. It’s nothing I would take into my own hands. But as I often say, “I have a heaven wish.”
On the surface, once you get past any shock value I created (!), it sounds like a pretty spiritual request. It’s certainly biblical because it reflects what Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Within a few moments of stating my greatest desire, however, God figuratively gave me a gentle tap on my shoulder and suggested that my #1 wish was … selfish. Yikes! I didn’t see that coming, but upon further reflection, I had to agree with him. Because, after all, he IS God!
The selfish part is that I was asking for what I thought would be best for me, regardless of God’s priorities, or of the effect it would have on those who love me. Yes, I do have a handful! Or, as we’ll see, what might be a more godly, selfless response.
Once I took off my “Lynne-proclaimed” crown from my Kingdom of Self, I went down the road that I believe God would have preferred I take from the get-go. My adjusted greatest wish now became the salvation of friends and family who don’t have a personal relationship with God.
Because as I thought about my first wish, I realized that’s exactly what I wanted for all my loved ones. To spend a perfect eternity worshipping God along with the throngs of saints.
No need to answer the question-of-the-day publicly, unless you’d like to share, but I think it’s a great thought process to take yourself through. Especially telling is what pops into your head with virtually no thought whatsoever. Your gut reaction, if you will.
Go ahead and acknowledge whatever it is, because it’s first for a reason. Maybe it’s a Kingdom-of-Self reason like my own. Then take some time to ponder the question more deeply, asking God to enlighten you as to what he might want most for your life.
Maybe your greatest wish is still about you, but it’s asking God to heal you in a very specific way. Ultimately I believe that is self-less because that improvement project will spill out and into the lives of those you touch.
So during this season of gifts and wishes, take a few quiet moments to listen for God’s voice, or feel that gentle shoulder tap, to align your desires with his. Imagine what this world could become if we collectively did just that!
If you feel so led to share your wish, and any associated revelations, ‘tis the season!
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3