This week in our current series, Seeking Him, we will focus on the joy of intentionally seeking the Lord and His presence during our quiet time.
Each Saturday we have been looking in-depth at a few of the most important aspects of having a dedicated, purposeful quiet time. At the beginning of this series I had the privilege of sharing with you a few thoughts from some friends about their own quiet time. Gathering from their experiences, there seem to be a few basics which include:
Bible reading
Prayer
Praise Songs
Meditation
Seeking the Lord
As we have taken the time each week to consider each of these aspects in turn, we have learned that the quality and the depth of our quiet time is truly based on our hearts’ attitude as we enter into it each day. If we force ourselves to simply eke out a few minutes…sing a song…and read a few verses…voice a quick prayer—and be done—we surely are not going to experience the joy of what the Psalmist communicates as he wrote about how important his time with the Lord was. Here is just one example from the book of Psalms where we read of David expressing his absolute need of, desire for, love for seeking his God and being in His presence. Listen….
Psalms 27:4-11
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness]
of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me;
in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need].
My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek,
inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].
Hide not Your face from me; turn not Your servant away in anger,
You Who have been my help! Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Although my father and my mother have forsaken me,
yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path
because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me].
Can you feel yourself being drawn into David’s experience? Can you ‘hear’ the passion in his voice? Can you understand, to an extent, just how very much David yearned to just dwell in his Lord’s presence?
Here…try this: read these verses through again and this time, in each place where David speaks of and about himself, think of yourself. Put your name in there. Try it, would you?
Almighty God desires to make Himself known to you.
He wants you to seek Him with all your heart.
“As we seek Your face…May we know Your heart…Feel Your presence, acceptance…As we seek Your face. At Your feet we fall…Sovereign Lord…We cry ‘holy! holy!’…At Your feet we fall.”
Keep seeking Him and enjoy your quiet time with your Lord! As you seek Him, He will be found…He promises!
Jeremiah 29:12,13
Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me,
and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Praying for each of you! I know that the Lord will answer your heart’s cry as you are seeking Him with ALL your heart!
♥ coleen
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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning the series, Seeking Him, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com
