"Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart...."
-Psalm 51:15-17
The body cries out for intimacy with God. However, when the body cries out, the typical American or westerner thinks, "Okay, my body cries out for intimacy, so I will give it food, I will give it media, I will give it some shopping. That feels nice. I will stay busy, I will call a friend, and maybe he or she can meet my need." What happens is when the body cries out for intimacy, and we give it food, busyness, shopping, media, and all of these things, then those good things, which are fine, which are blessings from God, become a bit warped. They mutate; they become monsters in our lives because at first, they feel good, but it doesn't last.
So, food becomes gluttony. Wine with a friend becomes alcoholism. Media becomes pornography or false romances that you think need in your life. Shopping becomes greed and indebtedness. Busyness becomes unbridled restlessness. And, as we do that, the ironic cycle is that our body cries out even more for intimacy. So, we say, "Here's more food, here's more media, here's more busyness, and more friends, and more stuff, and I'll buy more things!" Then, we cry out even more for intimacy.
This is a broken part of human existence. Our body cries out for intimacy. And our bodies need to be conquered with God's love.
Prayer: Lord, I am broken. I cry out for intimacy with you. Conquer me with your love. Heal me with your grace. Amen.
Reflection: What do you turn to when your body cries out for intimacy with God?
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