Seek Him With Your Whole Heart

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.

Though the Lord was speaking this to Judah, it is true for all who seek Him. He has good plans for all who would seek Him with their whole heart. Sometimes we have a subconscious idea of God as the big policeman in the sky. He does execute justice, but in doing so, He turns us from evil.

He has an intended plan for every life. It is a good and prosperous plan. It is better than we could possibly plan for ourselves. His desire is for our good. If we could grasp that our Creator wants to bless us, and be a Father and friend to us, our whole outlook on life would change. That simple understanding would end most depression in the world today. Why do we think He is out to harm us? That is satan's goal, not God's.

When the people of Judah were restored from captivity, they learned a lesson from their punishment. They had a more serious attitude toward God's instruction. They made mistakes, but on the whole they were willing to receive instruction. When our hearts are in that condition, we pray for things that are in line with God's will for us, and God hears us. We seek His presence and He is there, meeting us as we pray. It must be a wholehearted seeking, because He deserves nothing less.

Prayer: Lord, help me to seek You with all my heart!

Andrew-Gone To Heaven

I'm joining Lisa Smith today....



Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:13

Update: Andrew

Update: Andrew

Urgent Prayers Needed

Please pray for dear Andrew, the Doctors are saying he does not have long to live, maybe even a matter of hours. But, his true Physician is the One who is in total control here. Please lift Andrew way up in your prayers, stand with his family as they believe for healing. God be with this precious family in their time of need.

Sacrifice

Am I willing to surrender? Not only what I want, but who I am. Can I give up all that I have in submission to God? Jesus did. Now, it is my turn to follow His example.

We seldom think of the act of submission at Christmas. Our minds turn, instead, toward giving gifts, and making ourselves happy. What greater gift could there be, than our own life? Jesus showed us what to do, and how to do it. He was willing, to surrender His life when He left His throne in heaven, and came to earth as a child.

His was the ultimate sacrifice. He willingly gave up all He had, to be crucified for us. Yes, there is great joy in His birth. As we celebrate this wondrous occasion each year, we do so knowing the full magnitude of His physical life, and death. His story is one of surrender, both to the world, and to the will of the father.

Jesus laid down His life for you and me. We need to recommit ourselves this season to do the same for Him. He knows the cost, and the price we will pay, but He also reminds us, of the promise of salvation. His birth in the manger, is a sign of how we will one day be reborn in heaven. Like a tiny child, we will be made new in Him, and live without any pain or suffering. In eternity, it will be Christmas every day, forever.

Keep Seeking Him

Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

"O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. "

Remember when you were first born again? You had such a strong desire to find out everything the Bible has to say! Are you still as thirsty for God? It's time to stir up your hunger & thirst! Today, choose to seek God and meditate on His Word with the zeal you first had - that's how you can continue to grow and develop as a Christian.

God With Us

Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us.""

My prayer for you over this Christmas season is that you will enjoy the presence of the Lord as never before - and that you will enter the New Year with an even greater revelation of the God who is with you. I hope you'll celebrate God's gift of Jesus Christ today and everyday!