"Search for the LORD and for His strength; continually seek Him."
Psalm 105:4
Psalm 105:4
Ten children including my brother and I grew up on Elsinore Place. It was a wonderful private cul-de-sac in which to grow up. We played street ball, rode bikes down the big hill, and played hours of hide and go seek. I used to love that game!
I loved that game but what I love more is that God does not play it. When I read today's key verse I immediately thought of one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible, Jeremiah 29:13:
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
God is not hiding from us. Does this thrill anyone besides me? I can hardly stand it!!! The Creator of the Universe wants to have a relationship with me, with you. What I have learned in my more than ten year pursuit of the Lord is this: if I can't find Him, I am not looking hard enough. He is there. He ready to help me, bless me, and lead me.
Look at the meaning of the word seek: to go in search of, to try to find by searching and questioning. We are to do this continually which in the original Hebrew translates as evermore and means: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch continually. In other words we should never stop searching, questioning, stretching to know God and His plans.
The Message translates our key verse as:
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence.
But my favorite is the Amplified. You might have to shout Amen while standing in your chair when you read this. (My friend Micca does this all time-or so I hear.)
Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore.
My favorite word is crave. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good---crave Him, He will satisfy you with the finest delicacies.
15 Comments:
Wendy, I love everything about this post...and especially the title! "The Pursuit"! To me, it has such a sense of adventure and urgency. It also implies not only seeking, but following. Love it!
Three other verses came to mind when I read the verse you focused on: Heb.11:6 - that God is a rewarder of those who earnestly or diligently seek Him; Matt.7:8 - that he who seeks finds; and again in Jeremiah 29:13 - "'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD..."
In the reading today, 2 verses stole my attention. One was this one that you wrote about and the other was Psalm 106:15, "So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it." I love how the KJV expresses this verse: "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."
I want to give myself more time to think about the impact of what this would mean before I write my post today. Think I need to be careful what I ask for from the Lord. God may give me what I ask, because of my persistency, but at what cost? I believe I would rather have a 'no', than accompanying leanness to my soul. Another translation said that the Lord gave them their demands, but along with the answer came emptiness of heart. It makes me think about how "pursuing" anything other than Jesus will never satisfy our longings. We may receive these other desires, but our hearts will not only be unfulfilled but so lacking.
Praying today that the Lord will remove all other pursuits and that He alone will be my heart's desire,
Joy
Wendy - I began reading with you on January 1, but this is my first post. And I'm sure that there are many more like me out there! I just want to thank you for your obedience and leading on this journey.
The verse that stood out for me today was Psalm 106:20 "they traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull." How often do we do that? Chasing after other things, rather than our glorious God? Praying today that He will keep me focused...
Thank you, Wendy! I yearn to continually seek to know my Father better and to strengthen my relationship with Him. He's always with me;---I want to be alert for signs of His Presence. That He would be on my mind all day long, and that it would be my Father, that I would crave! Only, only God will satisfy me.
The Lord tests our character so that our relationship will be strengthened. Psalm 105:19 - "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character." Recall all of the series of circumstances that went from bad to worse with Joseph. Joseph could not have understood these events at the time. He suffered! During these years, his faith was tested. God moves in His ways, not ours; but, He always completes His purpose. This occurrence of divine providence encourages us to trust God even when we don't know why something is happening to us. His one desire is to build godly qualities into our lives that are pleasing to Him. Oh, that during my periods of "suffering," my hope, is that I would fully trust my Lord! He is my strength in the time of trouble.
Girlfriends I LOVE studying God's Word with you all! Thank you for your daily comments! May we all seek to yearn Him today in everything we are doing.
Intentionally living for Him,
Lori - AZ
Dear Anonymous~I'm so glad you posted today! I like what you wrote, and your verse is one that I should have underlined! I read right over it, and God spoke to me through you!
A couple of days ago I was "chasing" after things I absolutely did not need! Not one, but...two purses :) caught me eye. I really thought I needed them and I REALLY wanted them badly. I did walk away, but they have been on my mind since then! The last thing that I need is ANOTHER purse! :) But, they were so cute! So, so, many times my mind is on things of this world. I can't imagine just how close I would be to my precious Father if I would focus my yearnings towards Him. He is the only one that truly satisfies us! Things just don't cut it! Only God.
Glad you posted. :) Lori - AZ
Lori
I love purses!
smile
Goodmorning all!!
Thanks for today's thoughts Wendy, your words always encourage me.
I find it so amazing that we don't have to search far for the Lord..He is only a whisper, a prayer, a testimony, a touch away from us. He shows up in every circumstance, however, if we fail to acknowledge, we will miss Him and the search continues.
Lamentations 3:25 declares that the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, and to the soul who seeks Him.
Lord as we seek You, we put our hope in Your Word and ask that You fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit and wash away all anxiety and doubt. Help us to trust You enough to seek You more and more each day. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Be blessed all!
Chanan, Bahamas.
When you are alert to God, you can see Him everywhere, everyday in everything....I love those days when I am aware of Him.
Even in stories when someone tells you about an occurence in their day; I love it when I can say "that's such a God thing" or "God really had His hand in that". Oh, to be continually aware of Him and not me.
Morgen
ps....I second the purse addiction!!
Lori, thanks for highlighting Psalm 105:19...a reminder to me of valuing all that God is doing in the waiting times. As I've heard Lysa TerKeurst speak about, He is refining my character to match my calling.
Encouragement to my heart today,
Joy
I joined this study in February and
have not been very faithful(to the study or to God!)due to a demanding teaching job that seemed to consume my life. I almost didn't pick it back up this summer, thinking that I was so far behind and that I would jut start afresh in January. Then I remembered Wendy's encouragemnt back in February not to worry about being behind and to just jump in where I am. I am so glad I didn't wait. I have been faithful to the study(and God!)for about three weeks and have been truly blessed by what God's word is teaching me and by Wendy and all of the other Godly women in the study.
Thank you,
Carmen
SEEK the LORD, is what I journaled today also~I saw over and over how they rehearsed what God had already done for them in the Psalms that we read today! and yes, that Joseph was tested to improve his character! Another verse for me was, Ps. 106:24, 25...turning that verse around seeing that I need to BELIEVE that God will care for me and not to Grumble!...remember HIS FAITHFULNESS to me! Thanks for sharing ladies! Good words! Raylene
Wendy,
I love the post today. It has such application in today's life. There is a great line in the movie "The Devil Wears Prada". Andy keep answering the phone and her boyfriend says to her "the person's who phone call you take all the time is who your in the relationship your with".
That stuck with me, if I think about the things that keep me from the kind of relationship He desires of me, I am so ashamed.
There are way too many distractions in this world and they are just like looking at the forbidden apple.
Ladies, I need some unspoken prayers now and in the next week. My physical and mental resources are stretched beyond limits and I am so weary. My mouth is beyond words. I have to walk this dusty road and although I am not alone, it isn't easy. God gives me enough strength for the moment. Please stand with me as I ask for one more.
Broken and Humble,
Diane
I am really loving these psalms! I was really struck by how the three today were oral histories, reminding the people of all that God has done for them and continues to do for them. We need this too. I sometimes wonder why the Bible stops where it does. Surely in the last 2000+ years God has spoken again. I know He speaks to me.
Thank you Anonymous for posting! I too skipped right over that verse and you highlighted it so well!
Welcome back Carmen! I hope you continue in the study even when life kicks in again. But there is no condemnation in Christ, so even if life takes over, you are always welcome to jump back in when you are able!
Diane, I am praying... Over the past year I studied both "Praying the Names of God" and "Praying the Names of Jesus" by Anne Spangler. One of my favorite names for Jesus is "Bread of Life". There are two verses that speak to me about this name of Jesus;
“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which people may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:48 – 51
and
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Matthew 4:4
In my daily prayers I pray a modified version of the Lord's Prayer. At each stanza, I elaborate (like the amplified Bible). When I get to the part of "give (me) this day (my) daily bread” I expand on this by remembering the Jesus is the bread of life and I need a portion of Him, sufficient for the day. A portion of "real sustaining food"; time in His Word, time in His presence, a portion of His grace, patience, strength... I don't know if this will help you, but maybe when you feel at the end of your strength it will renew you.
I love you all,
Karen, CA
Oh Ladies, thank you for your comments today! I have been quietly present lately due to the summer hours and the final deadline looming for publication.
Thank you to all for remaining faithful. Today's reading was so refreshing and what a great reminder to us of how quickly our focus can turn to this world rather than the God of it. I wrote in my Bible "What have I been trading God for lately?" It is such a sobering question.
On a side note, I wanted to pass on a resource I found for all of us who struggle with husbands that do not share the faith that we do. I found it "accidently" (is anything with God an accident?) at my library while looking for another book. It is called "Between Two Loves - Devotions for Women Whose Husbands Don't Share Their Faith" by Nancy Kennedy.
Girls, this book is really opening my eyes to the love I have for my husband and the part I play in his life. Repeatedly, the author reminds us that God is responsible for their growth and belief in Him. You may want to check it out. I cannot say enough good things about what it is doing in my life.
Miss ya'll lots! And Diane, I am praying for you!!
Diane,
I'm praying for our Lord to give you His strength during this time in your life. I thank Him for His everlasting love He has for you.
Deborah
It is soooooo good that God does not play hide and seek with us! You are right! I really need to be chased by God...with beauty and love. Not chased as in running away..but chased as a carefree girl in a field of wild flowers, happy..free, running with her best friend.
Thanks for your post.
Kimberly, Isanti MN
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