Seeking You - Psalm 119:58

This morning while reading Psalm 119:58 "I entreated Your favor with my whole heart:" The word "entreated" intrigued me, and I begin to read it over and over. As I begin to study it's meaning I found that the word comes from Strong's Number 8765, the word "Piel". Piel usually expresses an "intensive" or "intentional" action.

Verse 59-60 then says, "I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep your commandments." Oh, how easy it is to delay ...

God I pray that my eyes would be intensively fixed on you. That I would pursue you, your favor, intentionally.

What could matter more in the world than finding favor in your sight.

Oh God, that I would turn from "my" ways and seek you - Running hard after you. Holding nothing back. It's what you desire, It's what my soul longs for ... a passionate pursuit of you, my creator, my lover, my friend!

It goes against our culture! "Get all you can get; Be all you can be!" Even in our religious circles we're taught to work, work, work - give, give, give! Overload? 

Could it be that this is not what God desires at all. I believe that God wants all of us! Every single part! I believe that He wants & deserves the very best we have to give - only - at what HE's called us to! He has not called us to please people, to pick up loads that are to heavy. Why do we do it? To prove our own strength, to be pleasers of men, for our own pleasure? That's not what He's called us too. He has called us to a life of separation - even from the thoughts & mind sets of this world! To be focused on His calling & His purpose! We must set aside every weight that keeps us from sitting at His feet listening to His every word! Focused completely on His desires. All effort, strength, vision, must be placed in His calling! That His will might be accomplished!

"And give my son Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so that he can obey what you command, live by your directions and counsel, 

and carry through with building The Temple for which I have provided." 

1Chron. 29:19

The Destitution of Service

The following is taken from todays portion of "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

"Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." 

2 Corinthians 12:15

Natural love expects some return, but Paul says - I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service is exactly along that line - I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul. The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, this is , doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God's interest in other people, and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economical notions - "Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary? What about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things." All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz., not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.

The Real Life: Lose Your Self - It's Gain

Whoever finds his [ lower] life will lose it [the higherlife], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]. (Matt. 10:39) For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. (Matt 16:25) For whoever wants to save his [ higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life[which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God]. (Mrk 8:35)

*from The Amplified Bible

Matt 13:22

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; 

and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Waves of Mercy

Luke 1:48-50 (MSG remix)

What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.

Go Shine.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:3-7 NKJ

Today, I pray that we would shine truth and salvation into the lives around us. Lord, I pray that all fear and intimidation would be destroyed that we might accomplish your will. Let us die out to ourselves and confidence in you arise. That you might shine freely in us.

Go Shine, Shine Bright.