November 18, 2024

Show Me Your Ways

November 8, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore He instructs sinners in His ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them His way.
Psalms 25:8 and 9 NIV

Show me Your ways
Teach me Your paths
Lead me in Your truth, O Lord
On You I will wait

You are upright
Teaching sinners the way
The humble You guide in justice
The humble You teach Your ways

All Your paths O Lord are mercy and truth
And Your secret is for those who fear You

You will teach me the way I should go
You will guide me in the fear of the Lord
In Your presence, You will give me rest

You will show me the path of life
In Your presence is fullness of joy
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore

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This Week…Psalms 25:8 and 9

November 7, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore He instructs sinners in His ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them His way.
Psalms 25:8 and 9 NIV

What a loving and kind God we have—He doesn’t just tell us that we must follow His ways (though He could do that).  He instructs and teaches us His ways. Who could be a better teacher than He?  No one.  And when we humbly seek His instruction and guidance, He faithfully teaches us His ways.

This week’s devotionals have centered on verses 8 and 9 of Psalm 25.  Earlier on in this psalm, David asks his God to teach him; listen:

Show me Your ways, Lord,
teach me Your paths.
Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are God my Savior,
and my hope is in You all day long.

And these are the very things that my friends…Ann, Ahmee, Cynda, Laura, and Tina…have shared in the Seeking Him devotional blog this week.  Here is a short synopsis of some truths that they have shared.

Laura shared about the vital importance of being in a relationship with our Teacher:
“We become wiser the longer we stay in the Word of God and immerse ourselves in our relationship with Christ…By allowing God to be our Teacher, we gain the wisdom to be able to discern what is right and wrong. We become humbled and are able to teach others about God.”

Tina reminded us how humility allows us to be teachable:
“We, as believers, continue to learn every day. Each day is a new opportunity to learn about the wonder of our God. He shows us what is available to us. All we have to do is look and take action. God wants us to seek after Him and be teachable. We can do this by becoming humble. We are to ask God to reveal His heart to us and we need to be receptive to His Word.”

Ahmee wrote about God’s accessibility and willingness to teach us:
“…all you need to do is ask Him for help and He will guide you…One thing I love about God is that He is accessible. Even though He lives where we cannot physically see Him (like we would our friends or family), He is still ever so close to us. He also has a limitless wealth of wisdom and knowledge, and He is willing to share with us!”

Ann brought us back to foundation of asking and seeking:
“…seeking His guidance. And also make sure we are guided by the Spirit of God through the Word of God.” Take a look, again, at the some of the Scriptures she shared with us.
When we allow God to guide us…Psalm 32:8
He will guide us into glory..Psalm 73:24
He will guide our path…Isaiah 42:16 (also Isaiah 48:17, Luke 1:79)
He will guide us in all truth…John 16:13

Cynda focused on the value of biblical humility—’a lowliness of mind’ and being ‘submissive, meek, contrite, teachable.’  She wrote, “I would much rather bask in God’s grace than have God oppose me; wouldn’t you? Psalm 25:9 states that if we are willing to be humble, God Himself will teach us His ways. I couldn’t ask for a better teacher!”

How very thankful I am for each of these reminders!  I want to be humble and meek…teachable…soaking up like a sponge all that my Father chooses to teach me.  You, too?

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God our Teacher

November 6, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in His ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them His way.
Psalms 25:8-9

No one is perfect.  No one is without sin.  If we were, we certainly would not be in this world.  We would be in the glory of God at this very minute.  However, we fall short—way short.  We needed Someone to teach us how we should act and worship in order to reach God’s glory.

Without Someone’s perfect ways and blood, we could not ever hope to reach God’s glory in the end.  We would be looking forward to an eternity of doom.  God instructs us to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior so that we may be reunited with Him in the end and be able to spend eternity in Heaven.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16

Jesus becomes our Guide and Teacher once we enter into a relationship with Him.  The relationship works to help teach yourself and others how God expects us to live.  We live in the Word to keep ourselves from falling in line with the world and with Satan. We become wiser the longer we stay in the Word of God and immerse ourselves in our relationship with Christ.  When we become wiser through God, we can help others become closer to God.  By allowing God to be our Teacher, we gain the wisdom to be able to discern what is right and wrong. We become humbled and are able to teach others about God.

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Father and Teacher.  With Your teachings we can walk the right paths and look forward to the glory of God in eternity.  Thank You for giving us the wisdom needed to teach others and be able to discern right from wrong.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Being Teachable

November 5, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore will He instruct sinners in [His] way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way.
Psalms 25:8-9

We have heard the phrase, “You are not too old to learn,” right?  We, as believers, continue to learn every day.  Each day is a new opportunity to learn about the wonder of our God.  He shows us what is available to us.  All we have to do is look and take action.

When we attend a Bible study, we have set certain expectations for ourselves and for the group.  God wants us to seek after Him and be teachable.  We can do this by becoming humble.  We are to ask God to reveal His heart to us and we need to be receptive to His Word.

When the psalmist writes, ‘therefore will He instruct sinners in His way’, he is telling us God wants us to follow the one true path to Heaven—which is through Him and belief in His Son, Jesus.  Then He wants to lead the afflicted in what is right and wants to teach them His way.

When we go through strife, it seems we become more teachable in those moments.  Our defenses are down and we are more willing to receive the instruction of the Holy Spirit.  Why?  Because we are seeking answers that are outside of our own understanding.  While we continue to seek His will for our lives, we will grow in knowledge.  It is only when we become comfortable and complacent that we begin to forget to seek Him first.

Let’s pray,

Father, thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for sending your son Jesus as an example for us to follow. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, our helper in all things. With praise and thanks and gratitude for your great mercy and grace. Forgive us when we take our eyes off of your will and look at things with our eyes, not with yours. Train us to seek your will, not ours. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Gone Astray?

November 4, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

The Lord is good and does what is right;
He shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.
Psalms 25:8-9

Are you confused?  Lost?  You don’t know what to do next?  Or have you knowingly wandered off the path you know was set before you?  Remember, God knows everything—all you need to do is ask Him for help and He will guide you.

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.
That is why He broke them with hard labor;
they fell, and no one was there to help them.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.
He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; He snapped their chains.
For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; He cut apart their bars of iron.
Psalms 107:10-14, 16

One thing I love about God is that He is accessible.  Even though He lives where we cannot physically see Him (like we would our friends or family), He is still ever so close to us.  He also has a limitless wealth of wisdom and knowledge, and He is willing to share with us!

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.
He will not rebuke you for asking.
James 1:5

God can be mysterious, but the more and more we grow in relationship with Him, the more and more we can understand Him.  So, go to God and let Him set you straight.

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Guidance

November 3, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

He guides the humble in what is right, and teaches them His way.
Psalms 25:9

Guidance is a word that communicates something for which we often ask.  For example “I need God’s guidance for me to find a spouse…how to do my business…, etc.  Good guidance is when we expect the Spirit of God to take full charge in us and when we listen and discern to what the Spirit is saying.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you saying “…this is the way, walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21

And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.
John 10:4

There are times we seek God’s guidance even though we have already made mistakes in some of our choices.  Before doing anything or embarking on any project we should seek God’s guidance.

When we allow God to guide us:
He will watch over us so that nothing comes against our plans and the plans of God and that the will of God on us will be accomplished. We shall have good success.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Psalm 32:8

He will be our God forever and ever.
…for this God is our God for ever and ever He will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48:14

We shall be walking in prosperity all the days of our lives.
The Lord bless you from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
Psalm 128:5

He will take us into glory.
You will guide me with Your counsel and afterwards You will take me into glory.
Psalm 73:24

He will guide our path.
I will lead the blind ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.
Isaiah 42:16
(also Isaiah 48:17, Luke 1:79)

He will guide us in all truth.
But when the Spirit of truth comes He will guide you in all truth. He will not speak of His own, He will speak only what He hears and He will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13

So, where do we get this guidance?  Joshua 1:8 tells us… “in the word of God.”

Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth meditate on it day and night
so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
THEN and I say THEN you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

(…In KJV the successfulness is connoted as having “good success”.)

Let us make a choice of involving God in everything we do, and seeking His guidance. And also make sure we are guided by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. I know we all need good success.  May God help us!

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Father, we thank You for the word that has come at the right time.  May we find pleasure in meditating on Your Word so that we may do everything therein allowing You to direct our path always for our good success.  In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

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The Humble

November 2, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
Psalm 25:9 AMP

As I read this passage, my eye kept returning to the word humble.  Being humble is something I have struggled with.  Not necessarily that I think I am better than anyone, but that I know what is best for them or the best way to handle a situation.

The world’s view of humble and the Biblical view of humble are vastly different.  The world tends to view humility as a weakness, being a wimp. The biblical Greek translation of humble is “a lowliness of mind.”  That doesn’t mean putting yourself down or talking bad about yourself.  As the Pulpit Commentary defines it, being humble means you are “submissive, meek, contrite, teachable.”

Humility is an absence of self. It is a heart attitude…not an act we put on.  A humble person willingly submits themselves to God.  Humility is giving up our desires for the good of another—a willingness to step aside so another can shine.  Being humble means giving up my right to be right in order to do what is right.  It takes a strong person to put oneself aside.

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves,
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic,
should love believers, and be compassionate and humble…
1 Peter 3:8 HCSB

But, why should we be humble?  1 Peter 5:5 (AMP) offers the best reason I can think of:

Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.

I would much rather bask in God’s grace than have God oppose me; wouldn’t you? Psalm 25:9 states that if we are willing to be humble, God Himself will teach us His ways.  I couldn’t ask for a better teacher!  Plus there are so many benefits to being humble:

  • If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
    2 Chronicles 7:14 HCSB
  • I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at My word.
    Isaiah 66:2 HCSB
  • Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully
    Psalm 10:17
  • The humble will eat and be satisfied.
    Psalm 22:26a HCSB
  • But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
    Psalm 37:11 NASB
  • The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
    Psalm 69:32a NLT
  • …a humble spirit will obtain honor.
    Proverbs 29:23b NASB
  • Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
    James 4:10 NASB

The world may try to convince us humility is a weakness, but all it offers in return is self-satisfaction.  It cannot offer anything that compares to what God offers the humble.  And there is not one of these benefits I am willing to give up.

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Father God, we thank You for Your grace.  We thank You for the blessings You are waiting to bestow upon us if we are willing to humbly submit ourselves to You.  What the world has to offer pales in comparison.  Gently remind us when our attitude shifts away from humility.  Continue to help us as we struggle to become humble and teach us Your ways.  In Your Holy name I pray, Amen – It is so!

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Answer My Prayer

November 1, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Answer me when I call to You,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

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You will answer, ask and it is mine
You will answer, seek and I will find
You will answer, ask and it is mine
You will answer, seek and I will find

Whatever I do and wherever I go You will be there
Whatever I need and whenever I call You will answer
I make the mistake of working on my own
But then I awake to see I can’t alone
You wrap Your arms around me, then You comfort me
And give me just what I need

When troubles defy You know that I can rely on Your providence
When tough times annoy I can count it pure joy, perseverance
The trials that I’ve had and the things I’ve done
The good and the bad comes to everyone
With any situation it’s assuring to know
Anytime I can go

That special place alone I long to meet You there
I’m happy knowing You’ll answer my prayer

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This Week…Psalm 4:1

October 31, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Answer me when I call to You,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

How many times have you prayed a prayer similar to this one?  Many times, if you like me, call out to God in times of stress and distress!  And this week my friends who contribute to our Seeking Him devotional blog have each shared on this verse with similar thoughts.  Here is a quick reminder of some of the things that Ann, Ahmee, Cynda, Laura, and Tina have written.

Cynda wrote in her devotional entitled, Perfect Prayers, how she loved the simplicity of David’s prayer.  She reminded us of how God always looks at the heart not all the superfluous things.  And she wrote, ‘ Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be heartfelt. It needs to be uttered with passion. God honors fervent prayers by being merciful and gracious to us.”

Ann shared her heart in Prayerfulness that there have been times when she ‘…cried to my God to answer my prayers because I felt that they were not being answered…this only brought discomfort and fear in me. All the faith had gone…all I could see was unanswered prayer.”  But the Holy Spirit spoke to her saying, ‘You know what, Ann? Cast all your cares unto God and He will give you rest.”  <Simple but oh-so-necessary!>  She compelled us “I urge each one of you to be earnestly prayerful and regularly engaged in prayer.  With faith, we will have answered prayers.  All that we need is to ask God for help. Our prayers will be granted.”

Ahmee encouraged us, in Just A Reminder, to see the importance of rest—directing us to Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 11:28-30.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  She also wrote: “So, take your request to Him and then rest. {Do not forget about the resting part!}”

Tina focused on The Provider aspect of God’s love and care for us. “When we are in distress, we call out to God. We expect Him to answer us immediately,” Tina wrote.  And she reminded us that God is able to handle our upsetment!  In addition, she gave us the example “…of Abraham who left his father, took his wife and nephew, and moved away from all that he knew. Just because God called to him. But Abraham received a promise. A promise to become a father of many.”  And we know how abundantly and miraculously God has provided for what He promised Abraham!

In her blog, Answering The Caller ID, Laura took the part of the verse that says ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness…” and brought it all back to a call we need to heed: “…Here is one call that we are supposed to answer no matter what.  The caller ID is our heart being tugged at by Jesus wanting us to accept Him as our Savior.  It is a call that should be answered every time.  By answering the call of Christ, our faith is strengthened and fortified.”  She also wrote, “When we answer Christ’s call, God hears us.  We become blessed even more.” Oh, yes we do!

My heart was encouraged day-by-day as I read and considered the words and Truth being shared by these friends of mine (and yours!).  As I prayed and studied, two Scriptures came to mind; may I share them with you?  I hope that they will encourage and comfort you…reminding you to always call out to your heavenly Father…who is always listening…He always hears and always answers!

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
Psalms 145:18-20

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 5:14-15

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Perfect Prayers

October 30, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Answer me when I call to You, O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me [be gracious to me] and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1 NLT

I like the simplicity of David’s prayer.  Reminds me of a Max Lucado devotional entitled, Prayer’s Aren’t Graded:

“Jesus downplayed the importance of words in prayers. We tend to do the opposite. The more words the better! We emphasize the appropriate prayer language, the latest prayer trend, the holiest prayer terminology. Against all this emphasis on syllables and rituals, Jesus says in Matthew 6:7: ‘Don’t ramble like heathens who talk a lot.’  There’s no panel of angelic judges with numbered cards.”

I love the line “There’s no panel of angelic judges with numbered cards.” Sometimes we pray like we think there is. God doesn’t count our words or measure our syntax. He doesn’t edit our grammar. God looks at our heart.  As the Scriptures tell us:

Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible,
but the Lord sees the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7b (HCSB)

For You look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.
Psalm 7:9b (NLT)

In this verse David used only a few words, but he prayed with passion.  David’s prayer came from deep within his heart.  Take a look at James 5:16b (AMP):

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man
makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

It doesn’t say the ‘perfect’ prayer.  It doesn’t say the prayer of 100 words or more.  It says the “earnest (heartfelt, continued)” prayer.  God already knows what is on your heart.  He just wants you to share it with Him.  It doesn’t really matter how you share it, as long as you do share it with Him.  Even if you can’t put it into words or express it verbally.  Romans 8:26 (AMP) states:

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness;
for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf
with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  It just needs to be heartfelt.  It needs to be uttered with passion.  Even if it is only to call His name – Jesus!  God honors fervent prayers by being merciful and gracious to us.

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Holy Father, I am so thankful my prayers do not have to be perfect to be heard. You know what is in my heart and You long for me to share it with You.  Thank You for the intimacy prayer brings.  Thank You for the mercy and grace you extend to me, undeserving as I am.  May I lift up my requests to You with heartfelt passion.  In Your Holy name I pray, Amen – It Is So!

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