Learn to know [God] intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. (1 Chronicles 28:9)
In my last post we talked about having a year of grace. Now that the school year is underway and you're in the routine of day-to-day life, how are you doing? What opportunities have you had to Grow in your faith, Remember God is with you, seen Answers to your prayers, Care for others, and Endure difficulties with God-given strength?
Lately I've been reading about the life of King David. He had a lot of ups and downs in his life, but one of the things he clung to year after year was the faithfulness of God. Many of the Psalms were written by him. During times of peace and prosperity, he praised God for his goodness; and during times of war, turmoil, and failure, he asked God for help, forgiveness, and rescue. He wasn't always faithful to God, but God was always faithful to him, and that caused him to write words like:
In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles...Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (Psalm 34:6,8)
In 1 Chronicles 22 & 28, we read about David encouraging his son Solomon to follow God. Solomon had been given a special task to build the Temple in Jerusalem, and David gives him advice on how he can be successful in this; but the same principles could apply to his life in general, and to ours. Let's listen in on what David tells his son:
"Now my son, may the LORD be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple...and may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding...for you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid and lose heart...learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him." (1 Chr. 22:11-13; 28:8-9)
David encourages Solomon to know God intimately, and he says he can do that by seeking Him. When we honestly seek God, we can find Him. This is a huge part of His grace. God is honest and transparent with us when we are honest and transparent with Him. How open and honest are you with God? Are you honest about how you feel, what you want, and the choices you are making?
You can't fake it with God. If your heart is not where it should be, He knows. If you try to go through the motions and act like you're following Him when your heart and mind is elsewhere, He knows that. Trying to fool God is pointless because He can't be fooled. I think David had learned this and wanted to keep his son from trying to do the same. If he was going to follow God and be successful, he needed to pursue Him honestly, not just pretend to.
But if his son's heart wasn't where it should be, that wasn't David's primary concern. And if yours is consumed with things other than seeking God, that isn't God's primary concern for you either. His love goes beyond wanting to have your false sincerity to wanting you to understand why you are pretending. God clearly tells us He doesn't want us to pretend with Him, so why do we? What are we trying to hide? What do we fear, feel ashamed of, and strive for unnecessarily?
Think about what you try to hide from God and/or what you give more time and attention to than your relationship with Him. Instead of excluding God from those things, how can you involve Him? Do you need help? Do you need guidance? Do you need to know He still loves you and you're not alone? How can you receive these things? What do you need to ask for or believe?
Whether you need to ask for forgiveness, help, or more faith, He is listening. Seeking Him simply means you believe He is there for you.
In my last post we talked about having a year of grace. Now that the school year is underway and you're in the routine of day-to-day life, how are you doing? What opportunities have you had to Grow in your faith, Remember God is with you, seen Answers to your prayers, Care for others, and Endure difficulties with God-given strength?
Lately I've been reading about the life of King David. He had a lot of ups and downs in his life, but one of the things he clung to year after year was the faithfulness of God. Many of the Psalms were written by him. During times of peace and prosperity, he praised God for his goodness; and during times of war, turmoil, and failure, he asked God for help, forgiveness, and rescue. He wasn't always faithful to God, but God was always faithful to him, and that caused him to write words like:
In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles...Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (Psalm 34:6,8)
In 1 Chronicles 22 & 28, we read about David encouraging his son Solomon to follow God. Solomon had been given a special task to build the Temple in Jerusalem, and David gives him advice on how he can be successful in this; but the same principles could apply to his life in general, and to ours. Let's listen in on what David tells his son:
"Now my son, may the LORD be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple...and may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding...for you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid and lose heart...learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him." (1 Chr. 22:11-13; 28:8-9)
David encourages Solomon to know God intimately, and he says he can do that by seeking Him. When we honestly seek God, we can find Him. This is a huge part of His grace. God is honest and transparent with us when we are honest and transparent with Him. How open and honest are you with God? Are you honest about how you feel, what you want, and the choices you are making?
You can't fake it with God. If your heart is not where it should be, He knows. If you try to go through the motions and act like you're following Him when your heart and mind is elsewhere, He knows that. Trying to fool God is pointless because He can't be fooled. I think David had learned this and wanted to keep his son from trying to do the same. If he was going to follow God and be successful, he needed to pursue Him honestly, not just pretend to.
But if his son's heart wasn't where it should be, that wasn't David's primary concern. And if yours is consumed with things other than seeking God, that isn't God's primary concern for you either. His love goes beyond wanting to have your false sincerity to wanting you to understand why you are pretending. God clearly tells us He doesn't want us to pretend with Him, so why do we? What are we trying to hide? What do we fear, feel ashamed of, and strive for unnecessarily?
Think about what you try to hide from God and/or what you give more time and attention to than your relationship with Him. Instead of excluding God from those things, how can you involve Him? Do you need help? Do you need guidance? Do you need to know He still loves you and you're not alone? How can you receive these things? What do you need to ask for or believe?
Whether you need to ask for forgiveness, help, or more faith, He is listening. Seeking Him simply means you believe He is there for you.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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