Looking Back - Day 22

When I think of seeking God, I picture a pursuit. In many ways that is true, but I have learned in the course of doing this series it is not nearly as difficult as I have sometimes imagined. The staggering truth is, the Father first pursued me. Apart from that I would be wandering, lost in a world I can never call home. Once captured by love and grace, I am never separated from Him.

Now begins the process we've talked about over the past three weeks - this passionate pursuit of Him. I imagine myself running hard and laying aside the things that hinder my progress. But what if part of that progress is going back?

Not too long ago I heard someone say (and I can't remember who), "Sometimes seeking is looking back, remembering what God has done." It is stopping, turning and retracing the steps of faith. It is kneeling beside the markers we've placed in remembrance of those times when God met us in a special way.

Perhaps it was a moment of sheer joy - a prayer answered, a gift given, a glimpse of His face in the face of a loved one, a gentle whisper of the Spirit, a deep time of worship.

Or it may have been during a time of great suffering when you knew He was there - a sense of peace in the midst of turmoil, a word of encouragement when it seemed all hope was gone, a sense of His presence in the darkest night, joy in spite of great sorrow, a breaking of the chains, a deliverance, a healing, a miracle.

Every once in a while, especially when the landscape of your soul looks like a desert and you are parched and dry, it is good to look back and see the faithfulness of the One who loves you with unfailing love. To be reminded of the ways He has loved and cared for you.

He never changes. What He has done before, He will do again. And in the pursuit, we rest a while.

Blessings,
Linda

Prayer of Humility - Day 21

"Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase; let me sink that Thou mayst rise above."
A Prayer - A.W. Tozer

Blessings,
Linda

In Your Presence - Day 20

 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Joining Sandy and Deidra this weekend:

Blessings,

Linda

 

Pretense or Peace - Day 19

My heart has been preoccupied with thoughts of seeking God - of drawing near to Him and knowing He is with me. In the midst of a world that seems to have lost its center, I long for the One who never changes. In the midst of chaos, I long for peace.

I have been learning, on this journey of seeking, it isn't the outward circumstances alone that rob me of the peace that Jesus has promised. More often than not it is self - the me that screams for attention and approval...

This Friday is my day to write at Laced With Grace. If you'd like, you can come there and read the rest. 

Blessings,
Linda

Rest - Day 18

When Jesus takes up residence in our hearts, He brings with Him priceless treasure. He offers, with open hands, the gifts He has promised, but they are not ours until we claim them. Often times there are other things we call "treasure" filling the nooks and crannies of our hearts, and He is hard pressed to find room for the ones He brings.

Jesus has said:

"Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you shall find rest for you souls."
Matt. 11: 28,29

Rest. Don't we all long for it? Our days are filled from the moment are feet hit the floor in the morning until we climb wearily into bed at night. We are burdened with so many things. But is it things that weigh us down? Mr. Tozer believes the real burdens are found within the heart.

The first one is pride:

"The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. The heart's fierce effort to protect itself from every slight, to shield its touchy honor from the bad opinion of friend and enemy, will never let the mind have rest. Continue this fight through the years and the burden will become intolerable - challenging every word spoken against them, cringing under every criticism, smarting under each fancied slight, tossing sleepless if another is preferred before them."

This one hits home. Pride wears many different masks. This one fits me well. This longing to find approval in the sight of others. This need to find favor and nursing every perceived slight. It is all so exhausting.

Jesus stands quietly offering the gift. He tells me the way to rest is meekness - a humble heart. It is a knowing how weak and full of failure I am and at the same time recognizing my worth in His eyes.

"He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him, and he has stopped caring. He is willing to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own."

In the meantime, there is rest. No more striving to be noticed; instead a willingness to leave my honor in His hands. 

There are other soul burdens. Their names are Pretense and Artificiality. We'll talk about them tomorrow.

Blessings,
Linda

Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart -Day 17

Today a hymn:

"Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
 Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
 Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
 And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

 Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
 Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
 To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
 Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

 Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
 One holy passion filling all my frame;
 The baptism of the heav'n-descended Dove,
 My heart an altar; and Thy love the flame."

George Croly

Blessings,
Linda

A little confession....we were out all day and then spent the evening watching the debate. I didn't have time to write an in-depth post. :)

Intentions of the Heart

So we set our hearts to follow hard after God and before the day is two hours old, we've blown it. What then? Will He somehow hold Himself aloof - pull away and become cool and distant? Hear what Tozer says:

"The man of God set his heart to exalt God above all; God accepted his intention as fact and acted accordingly. Not perfection, but holy intention made the difference."

God looks beneath the surface to the heart of things and knows our intentions. He understands our weakness and with great grace and mercy accepts us right where we are. We do not have to be perfect to know His presence in our lives. He honors our choice and our efforts to exalt Him above everything and everyone else. Everything He allows into our lives is directed toward making us all we desire to be.

"The position (to exalt God) is one not easy to take. The mind may approve it while not having the consent of the will to put it into effect....The whole man must make the decision before the heart can know any real satisfaction. God wants us all...."

Blessings,
Linda