Gotta, Wanna, Needa, Getta, Hava

We live in a culture that thrives on bigger, better, faster...
We life in a culture that does not see patience and frugality as virtues, but rather signs of weakness.  They are seen as being a sign of being lower on the totem pole.
The more you have, the better your social status.  The faster you get it, the more impressive it appears.

Patience is laughed upon.
Denying yourself things is seen as foolish.
Why wait 2 years on your cell phone before getting something new?  I mean, after two years, your cell phone will be ancient and should be put in a museum.
Why drive a car until it no longer runs, has dents in it and is over 200,000 miles.  Even if it is much more financially responsible to do so, we convince ourselves that it is so much "safer" to get a new car.
I was once in a bible study where someone was asking for prayer request for their car...they were worried it would start malfunctioning and having problems now that it was approaching 100,000 miles.  I laughed a bit and explained that I had never bought a car or had a car that had under 100,000 miles on it!  My first car was finally parked at 307,000 miles.  You didn't need a key to start the ignition, it didn't have interior door handles, and was an automatic for the first 100,000 miles of its life (and a manual the last 207,000 miles).  That car was in my family for many years, without having to have a car payment.  Believe it or not, we were all just fine not having "the newest car in the lot".  If anything, I think we all learned valuable lessons about taking car of things and not having the greatest, newest car. 
We definitely live in a "gotta, wanna, needa, getta, hava" society.  We want it now, we want it to be the best.  We convince ourselves that our "wants" are really "needs".

Today we enter a season of Lent in the church.  Many people have a tradition of "giving up something" during this season.  The idea is that we "deny" ourselves something for a period of 40 days, so that we may grow closer to God.

Isn't that kind of an odd idea and backwards of this world?  If we want to grow closer to God...we deny ourselves.  When considering what they want to give up for lent, I always ask the youth to think about things that stand between them and God.  I tell them to just make a list of things they think hinder their relationship with God, things that take up their time or focus.  Last year, one of the youth made the statement that "I'm going to have to give up an awful lot of things for lent then."
These things that we "gotta" have often are the very things that stand in our way of growing closer to God.
The things on our "wanna" list usually have more to do with our own pleasure, rather than our efforts to please or worship God.
Our only real "needa" is a closer relationship with our creator, our sustainer.  Our real need is a closer relationship with the one who gives us true life and joy.
And yet, we chase so many things that prove time and time again do not bring real happiness to our lives.
By all worldly accounts, Tiger Woods had everything this world says you need to be happy.
He had a beautiful wife, 2 children, the best cars (and many of them), huge home (many of them too), lots of talent, good looks, plenty of money and endorsements.  He had everything and yet, clearly he was not very happy with things.

I encourage you to "deny" yourself of the worldly things that may stand in your way of a better relationship with God over the next 40 days.  Go against what our culture says is the key to happiness and get for maybe the first time in your life...deny yourself of something.  Do not make it something easy (many youth argue that school takes up lots of time and energy and blocks them from God).
The hardest thing I've ever given up was "fried food".  Want to starve... try that one out.
Our pastor gives up bread...once again, something that will be terribly difficult.

In the past I've given up television, eating out, sodas and even cheese one year.
The point is we deny ourselves, so we can gain a bit more of Christ.
Do not just give up something so you may fill that space with something else.
I even think we miss out on a blessing when we do not "deny" ourselves something and just "add a good habit".  It is a commendable thought, but how well does that work at New Years for most folks?

I hope you really challenge yourself this year during Lent and give up something that will take lots of effort on your part.
In those times that you are struggling with the temptation to give in, you should turn your focus to God and rely on God for strength.
After all, the whole idea and point of Lent is to prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ.  Our focus all year should be on Christ, but this is a time to really evaluate where you are spiritually and do what you can to grow close to Christ.

This world tells us we are weak if we are patient and foolish if we "wait" on things.  However, scripture tells us a very different story.  Below, I'm just going to list a few of the scriptures that tells us maybe denying ourselves, being patient and relying on God are not signs of weakness, but signs of a wise man!

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.  Philippians 1:21

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!"

Psalm 37:7

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5 

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:25 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Philippians 4:11 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-8 

The Lord is my strength and song, he has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:114