I ended my last post with Psalm 63, a beautiful Psalm illustrating an interactive life that is fully satisfied with God. In verse 5, the Psalmist declares about God, “I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods.”

This weekend, my son-in-law and daughter took Cathy, Debbie and I out for dinner. It was a fantastic time of good food and company. We laughed and told stories from our family’s past. And the food was delicious! The appetizers, the entrees, and the desserts (yes, multiple desserts!) were so flavorful and satisfying. By the end of the meal, we were so full. The waiter came by and asked, “Can I get you anything else?” to which I answered, “No thanks. I’m stuffed!” Even if the waiter had said, “What if it were on the house?” I would have declined. I was so full and satisfied that nothing else looked appetizing.

“I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:5

Could you imagine a life in God like that? Imagine that you are so full and satisfied with God that nothing else looks appetizing. I think this is what Dallas Willard meant when he said:

“The surest guarantee against failure is to be so at peace and satisfied with God that when wrongdoing presents itself, it isn’t even interesting. That is how we stay out of temptation.”

Think about the temptations we face. You know the ones. The temptations that are so enticing and always seem to win no matter how hard you resist them. And after giving into them, being filled with guilt, shame, and remorse. Now imagine being so full and satisfied with God that they’re not even interesting. They have no appeal because you are so stuffed with God.

So how do we move to a place where we are so full and satisfied with God that temptations no longer hold any interest or enticement?

One key question we must answer, I mean really answer, is do I truly want to have a life without that temptation. If we have a problem with anger, do we really want a life where we could do without anger? Think about how you might currently use anger to get what you want — to win arguments, to get people to acquiesce, to feel strong and in control. Now think about all of those situations at home, work, church, driving, etc., where you use anger and would no longer use it. Without it, would things go your way? Would you feel out of control? Would you feel powerless?

Think about the thrill of lust. Now think about a life without lust, without the dopamine hit that comes many times through the day whenever you might look at an attractive person at work, at the gym, at the coffee shop, walking down the street, or on your screens. Now imagine your life void of those tantalizing moments. Imagine seeing an attractive person and looking away with no interest and no alluring feelings. Would you be willing to live without that titillating spike of pleasure and excitement?

Or how about the thrill of buying something new — that new car, new appliance, new piece of furniture, new jewelry, new clothes, new shoes, new item for your hobby. Think about that item you want to own that grips your imagination. You might be searching the internet for reviews, watching influencers on YouTube or TikTok, and comparing prices on Amazon, Etsy, EBay, Facebook Marketplace, or other commerce platforms. You might be imagining what it would be like to wear it, drive it, use it, and own it. And then comes that exciting moment when you place the item in your virtual cart and hit the “Purchase” button. Now imagine not visiting those platforms, not spending time browsing for the next acquisition. Imagine seeing that cute outfit or that newly released gadget and having no impulse to even look at it, see what others think about it, or owning it.

Our temptations are many — attention, control, food, power, worry, sex, gossip, alcohol, shopping, anxiety, procrastination, wealth, reputation, anger, jealousy, and on and on and on.

You see, for the most part, our temptations make us feel alive. And while part of us wishes the temptations would vanish, another part of us is enticed by them because of how they make us feel. And if we are dissatisfied with God, we give in to them because they bring some feelings of satisfaction. We get what we want when we want it.

If we’re dissatisfied with God, we’re starving. And like a starving person standing in front of an open fridge, scanning its contents for anything to eat, we search for the things that have satisfied us in the past. The things that promise happiness. And we don’t have to look far. Our distorted desires flare with familiar allures. Our experience has taught us that they don’t bring true happiness. They bring a moment of gratification, but usually accompanied by remorse, shame and grief. And so we try to resist the thing we desire. Sometimes we might succeed. But desire doesn’t relent. And maybe, just maybe, we don’t really want them to go away.

In a recent email from his ministry, John Ortberg wrote the following:

“The idea is not to resist lustful or selfish urges but become the kind of people who no longer want what once enslaved us.”

Part of becoming the kind of person for whom temptation is no longer interesting is to learn to become full and satisfied with God. So when temptation arises we can truly say, “No thanks. I’m stuffed!”