Leanness or Goodness?

Psalm 106:9-15
(9) He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
(10) And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
(11) And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
(12) Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
(13) They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
(14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
(15) And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Has God done amazing things in your life? Did you praise Him for it? How long did it take before you forgot His works? How long did it take for you to focus on your circumstances and get sucked into doubt?

When we don’t recognize God’s power and provision in our lives and we forget to respond in praise, it begins a downward spiral for us.

1. We don’t wait for His counsel.
We think we know what we’re about, and which way we should go. And guess what? We sometimes end up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years instead of the two week journey it should have been.

2. We lust exceedingly.
When we don’t recognize God’s provision, we don’t have thankful hearts. And guess what? That leads us to lust after any and every thing we think God should be giving us instead of seeing the gifts He gives us every day.

3. We tempt God in our wilderness.
When we are in a wilderness time, we will beg God for the wrong things. We will pray and ask amiss because we have told our hearts that God does not know what we need. We haven’t been waiting on His counsel. We haven’t been thankful. And so now we frustrate the grace of God.

4. We get full bellies but leanness to our souls.
When we get what we want outside the will of God, our flesh is satisfied for the moment, but our spirit is weak! Leanness of soul is hard to satisfy when you are focused on the flesh. It’s not even on the radar if we’re honest. It can even make you forget something as big as being rescued from Egypt!

The very next chapter tells us how to remedy this:

Psalm 107:8-9
[8] Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(9) For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

I don’t know about you, but I want my soul filled with goodness and not leanness. Oh that men would praise the Lord! What can you thank God for today?