November 6, 2024

Circle of Hope

June 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction,
so that through perseverance
and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 NASB

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Have you ever noticed when we have God our hope is extended?  Our hope expands as we study Scripture.  The verse above breaks it down like this:

Scripture
Purpose = Instruction
Result = Hope

The purpose of Scripture is our instruction.  The Scriptures encourage us to persevere, to endure.  They offer us comfort and give us hope. Psalm 119 reiterates how closely hope is tied to the instruction of Scripture. Look at the following verses:

Do not snatch Your Word of truth from me,
for Your regulations are my only hope.
verse 43 NLT

You are my Refuge and my Shield;
Your Word is my source of hope.
verse 114 NLT

This is the circle of hope—the more we seek God through His word…the stronger our hope becomes; the stronger our hope…the more we seek God.  This serves us well in times of trouble.  Instead of being filled with despair, we can remember the nature of God and be filled with hope.  Psalm 94:19 NLT puts it this way: “When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”  And Lamentations 3:21 NASB says, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope….”  When we recall the comfort and encouragement of the Scriptures, our hope abounds.

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Lord, thank You so much for the hope we find in Your Word.  Thank You for providing Scripture for my instruction.  Help me to recall Your Word when troubles abound and my hope begins to fade.  In Your holy name – Amen, it is so!

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Thy Word

May 31, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

For whatever was thus written in former days
was written for our instruction,
that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance
and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures
we might hold fast to and cherish hope.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path

When I feel afraid, and think I’ve lost my way
Still, You’re there right beside me
Nothing will I fear as long as You are near
Please be near me to the end

I will not forget Your love for me and yet
My heart forever is wandering
Jesus by my guide, and hold me to Your side
And I will love You to the end

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This Week…1 Corinthians 3:16

May 29, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Do you not know that you are a temple of God
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

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This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, Ann, Ahmee, Cynda and Tina have reminded us that we ARE a temple, a sanctuary that God chooses to dwell in.   In light of the importance of this subject, and the fact that we desperately need God’s help to do this, I would like to repost the humble prayers that our sisters included in their devotionals this week.  May each of us be drawn into a closer relationship with Almighty God recognizing the privilege of living as a sanctuary and a temple for Him.

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Cynda‘s prayer in Living Sanctuary…

Father, gently remind me that Your Spirit permanently dwells in me.  Let my actions reflect that I am a sacred and holy place.  Taking care of Your temple, Your sanctuary is in itself an act of worship and gratitude.  Thank You for being there…a proven help when I struggle.  I am so thankful Your mercies are new each day and that I do not have to do this on my own.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen – It is so!

❦

In Spiritual Temple, Ann prayed….

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us this insight that our bodies are Your temple and the Holy Spirit dwells in it.  We feel honored to be loved in such a way!  However we confess our sins of not doing the right things at the right time with our bodies.  Cleanse us with hyssop; let us be whiter than snow.  We pray for new beginnings in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

❦

In Sanctuary, Tina prayed…

Father, I thank You again for Your wonderful example of how to trust You and how to seek You in all things.  Forgive us when we forget to seek You first.  Holy Spirit, come back to us!  Do not grow weary with our stubbornness to not seek You first.  We need you—like a headstrong child needs a patient, loving, and caring parent—be there with us.  We want to have solid food from our Father.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

❦

And Ahmee asked in We Are Stewards of Our Bodies…

Lord, help us to be good stewards of the body that you have provided in whatever fashion that looks like in your eyes for us. Help us to have open minds and to seek your guidance in how you would have us care for this gift you have given us. Thank you, amen.

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Sanctuary

May 28, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary
and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

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From Dictionary.com:

  • Sanctuary – a sacred or holy place
  • Temple – an edifice or place dedicated to the service or worship of a deity or deities

Paul was writing to the Corinthian Church, which was surrounded with idols and other pagan ways.  He was trying to encourage them to keep on the right path.  As with today’s church, we have to be mindful of the teachings that we submit ourselves to.

Oftentimes, when I hear someone speak of ‘keeping the temple pure’, I think of what I eat…not necessarily what I watch on television or what I might listen to on the radio, but those are important, too.  If I allow negative thoughts and feelings to enter my mind and stay there, I will become depressed and will struggle to focus on what is right and true.

It can also be the result of negative words spoken to us as a child.  Those can be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us to give us the power to overcome.

Just as the Spirit of God was there from the beginning.

Now the earth was formless and empty,
darkness was over the surface of the deep,
and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:2  NIV

The Spirit was also there when David fought Goliath and defeated him (see 1 Samuel 17).  David had no doubt that God would be there.  When the giant appeared to insult God, David knew he needed to defend Him. We know God could have struck down the giant, but this was the opportunity David needed to show himself worthy to be chosen as the next king of Israel.

What giants are you facing?  Have you faced them already?  I pray you will have the simple courage David displayed.  His faith was borne out of continued living in God’s presence and seeking God’s help in all situations.  Being a shepherd requires a lot of care and attention to the small things. David was such a man.

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Father, I thank You again for Your wonderful example of how to trust you and how to seek You in all things.  Forgive us when we forget to seek You first.  Holy Spirit, come back to us!  Do not grow weary with our stubbornness to not seek You first.  We need you—like a headstrong child needs a patient, loving, and caring parent—be there with us.  We want to have solid food from our Father.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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Living Sanctuary

May 27, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Do you not know that you are the temple of God
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 HCSB

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Ouch!  This verse steps all over my toes.  Especially right now.  We just made a rush trip to Texas this weekend to visit an old friend who is in the end stages of liver failure.  It was emotional and stressful.  We also spent time with other friends that we haven’t seen in ages.  Not to mention all the yummy foods available in Texas that we can’t get here in Colorado.  (Can you say Tex-Mex heaven?)  I overindulged repeatedly…justifying my actions because it would be a loooong time before I could have such goodies again. The NLT version asks, “Do you not realize…”? The AMP version questions, “Do you not discern and understand…”?  Did I even think about being a living sanctuary—God’s temple?  Not really.

For we are the sanctuary of the living God…
2 Corinthians 6:16

And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple.
What’s more, you are His holy priests.
1 Peter 2:5 NLT

As I read this verse, I thought about what a temple or sanctuary actually is….

Wikipedia defines a temple as “a temple (from the Latin word templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur.”
Dictionary.com defines a temple as “any place or object in which God dwells.”
Dictionary.com and Wikipedia both state a sanctuary is “a sacred or holy place.”

So, I am a ‘sacred precinct’, a ‘holy place’ where God dwells.  Am I taking care of it properly?

Rick Warren puts it like this: “When you don’t take care of your body, you are vandalizing God’s temple.”  That is a very scary thought because I sure haven’t been treating my body as I would something sacred and holy!

And I “know” all this.  Why do I find it so hard to put this knowledge into action?  God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in me!  But there are times you would never know it by my behavior.  James 4:4 HCSB asks

“Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?
So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.”

Yet I still can’t seem to do what I know is right!

Romans 7:21 NLT describes this perfectly: “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.”  The struggle is constant and real.  It is a battle I cannot win alone.  It would be very easy to feel hopeless and give up.  Thankfully, Psalm 73:26 NASB whispers to me: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

These verses remind me I do not have to do it alone:

The Lord hears His people <me> when they <I> call to Him for help.
He rescues them <me> from all their <my> troubles.
Psalm 34:17 NLT

God is our <my> Refuge and Strength; always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1 NLT

For You have rescued me from my troubles
and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
Psalm 54:7 NLT

God will give me victory over my fleshly desires if I call out to Him. He is always there…waiting to help…if I am willing to give control to Him.

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Father, gently remind me that Your Spirit dwells permanently in me.  Let my actions reflect that I am a sacred and holy place.  Taking care of Your temple, Your sanctuary is in itself an act of worship and gratitude.  Thank You for being there…a proven help when I struggle.  I am so thankful Your mercies are new each day and that I do not have to do this on my own.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen – It is so!

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Spiritual Temple

May 26, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary
and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Our bodies are a temple of God and so we have to keep them holy for the Lord is also holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).  We need to not corrupt our mind, body, and soul by participating in evil activities; we are to reject all forms of immorality.

God speaks to us about the many ways of not corrupting our bodies.  This also can be done in churches. Churches are a temple of God so those who go to church should not be corrupted—the elders, deacons, pastors, Sunday school children, and the youth.  All manner of people in the church should reject corruption in the church.  Read through these Scriptures and see how serious God is on this issue of temple of God:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you,
Whom you have received from God? You are not your own….
1 Corinthians 6:19

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God.
As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
2nd Corinthians 6:16

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone;
In Whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Ephesians 2:20-21

Therefore, as Christians/believers, what we do surely matters.  We need not misuse our bodies in any way.  Our individual bodies are not ours; they are God’s creation and are to be used for God’s purpose.

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Dear Lord, thank You for giving us this insight that our bodies are Your temple and the Holy Spirit dwells in it.  We feel honored to be loved in such a way!  However we confess our sins of not doing the right things at the right time with our bodies.  Cleanse us with hyssop; let us be whiter than snow.  We pray for new beginnings in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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We are Stewards of Our Bodies

May 25, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Do you not discern and understand that you
[the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary),
and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you
[to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?
1 Corinthians 3:16 AMP

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Who are we in relationship to the things around us?  God made it very clear that we are His stewards.  Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.”  Remember this as you continue to read.

I have always been overweight.  I cannot remember a time that I was ever a size that would be considered “normal weight.”  Weight is often one of those things that make people uncomfortable.  Here recently I have been teetering on 300 pounds.  According to health charts, for my height I am supposed to weigh 140-160 pounds.  I weigh almost twice as much as recommended.

Why am I mentioning this?  Well, because!  Because God made us stewards of our bodies.  Our body is a temple.  Temples are regarded as holy places.  Have you ever met a person who would cuss anywhere under the sun except for in a church?  There are many things that people would do OUTSIDE of a church that they would never do INSIDE of a church.  I suppose it makes sense.  People often view a church as God’s house.  When people go searching for God, they often go to a church.  People somehow understand that inside the church is a sacred place.

Just as we would treat the inside of the church, we should treat our bodies.  This means taking care of ourselves.  This means maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  We are stewards of our bodies and should not do anything to intentionally hurt the gift we have been given from the Lord above.  This does not just pertain to weight alone, but also our mental and emotional health are important, along with not smoking or excessive drinking.

I’d venture to say that we should also utilize the tools that have been provided to us, i.e., doctors.  God loved us enough to provide a shelter for our souls to dwell within.  He Himself dwells inside this body in the form of the Holy Spirit.  So!  As you would behave in a certain way inside a church, so you should behave within your own body.  God dwells in us and we are stewards of His little personal temple that is our body.

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Lord, help us to be good stewards of the body that you have provided in whatever fashion that looks like in your eyes for us. Help us to have open minds and to seek your guidance in how you would have us care for this gift you have given us. Thank you, amen.

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Sanctuary

May 24, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary
and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You

It is You, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
Of every man
It is You, Lord
Who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength,
With Thine own hand

Lead Me on, Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
Your Holy Spirit
Take away all my sin

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You

Unknown vocalists
Written by Randy Scruggs, John Thompson
additional lyrics by Lloyd Larson

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This Week…Ephesians 2:10

May 22, 2015 by

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For we are His workmanship,
having been created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God has before prepared that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

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This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, our sisters have reminded us that we ARE God’s workmanship, handiwork…truly His masterpiece.  Here are a few highlights from the devotionals that Ann, Ahmee, Cynda and Tina wrote earlier this week.

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In Finding Purpose, Ahmee shared her own struggle in the past in finding her own purpose…and coming to realize that we do not have one single purpose in life.

“What is my purpose?  This is a question that everyone has to answer.  People struggle with answering this question…people die trying to answer this question…people search their whole lifetime trying to answer this question.  Some of us start asking this question at a very young age; some have just always known.

So, your purpose?  Well, your purpose can be in the moment. Your purpose doesn’t define your worth…your worth is always found in God Himself.  Your purpose is simply the role(s) you are in at any given moment.  Your attitude during any season determines whether you see yourself in your purpose.  Purpose isn’t just a one-time ultimate goal.  It shifts.  God has “good works” for us.  Not just one single work / purpose.

Make sure that you are mindful of your current purpose…and not blinded by your end game goal.”

❦

In Good Works, Ann focused on what are the good works God has created us for.  She wrote,

“The anchor Scripture for this week says we were ‘created to do good works.’  What then are the good works, those that God prepared for us to do in advance?

  • Matthew 5:16
    In the same way let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
  • 1 Timothy 6:18
    Command them to do good to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share.
  • Titus 2:7
    In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity seriousness.
  • Hebrews 10:24
    And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
  • James 2:17
    Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by good deeds, is dead.
  • James 2:18
    But someone will say you have faith I have deeds show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith but I do.

Brethren, as we are doing good works it is not unto man but it is unto God (according to the Scriptures).  Let us take up this noble call with our whole hearts and pursue the calling.”

❦

In Seond Chances, Tina reminded us of David (a man after God’s own heart) and God’s purposes for him…and us.

“While David was living his life, he did not know what he was going to be or where God would have him.  He served God in the areas where he was needed.  From being a shepherd in his father Jesse’s household to showing up where his brother’s were serving in the king’s army.  I am certain David did not plan on slaying a giant that day!  But David did what was asked of him.  David was not perfect.  But he did do what was required of him to serve God and His people.

Can you and I have a relationship like David did with God?  Of course we can.  God will always be there for us to call upon Him and for us to talk to Him.  All we have to do is trust Him and believe God wants the best for us.  Why else would God send His Son Jesus to live among us? Why would God sacrifice his only Son?  Because He loves us.  As our Father, He disciplines us, loves us, hugs us and holds our hands all throughout our lives.  All we have to do is reach for Him.”

❦

And in Living the Good Life, Cynda wrote about the good, blessed life God has prepared for us—truly, a gift!

“When we carry out the good deeds God has predestined for us, it is a way of expressing our gratitude for the good life He has provided for us.  In turn, God blesses us even more.

The Lord will open for you His abundant storehouse….
Deuteronomy 28:12 HCSB

I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
Zephaniah 9:12 NLT

Job was blessed more in the latter part of His life than in the beginning (Job 42:12).  As if His abundant gift of mercy and grace wasn’t enough, God chooses to bless us even more.  We cannot outdo God.  His gifts are never ending!

Why does God give us gifts we could never earn or hope to repay?  Because we are His handiwork—His masterpiece —born anew through the death of Christ on the Cross; which is the greatest gift of all.  All because God loves each one of us more than we could ever imagine!”

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Living the Good Life

May 21, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship),
recreated in Christ Jesus,
[born anew] that we may do those good works
which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us
[taking paths which He prepared ahead of time],
that we should walk in them
[living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Ephesians 2:10 AMP

Did you catch that?  We are ‘predestined for…living the good life’!  Not only has God prepared us to do the good works He planned before we were born, He also prearranged a good life for us.  Psalm 16:11 HCSB states, “You reveal the path of life to me.”  God reveals the paths He has made ready for us.  We don’t have to earn the good life.  We don’t have to work for it.   It is a gracious gift from God (should we choose to receive it).

John 10:10 NKJV tells us Christ came so “…that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  In Jeremiah 31:12 NLT it says, “They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts—the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden….”  Not once does it mention that we must work to receive these blessings.

I love this quote from the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Bible Commentary:
“Works do not justify, but the justified man works.”

Works will not save us.  Works will not earn us the love of God.  But works are something we do because we love God.  When we carry out the good deeds God has predestined for us, it is a way of expressing our gratitude for the good life He has provided for us.  In turn, God blesses us even more.

The Lord will open for you His abundant storehouse….
Deuteronomy 28:12 HCSB

I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
Zephaniah 9:12 NLT

Job was blessed more in the latter part of His life than in the beginning (Job 42:12).  As if His abundant gift of mercy and grace wasn’t enough, God chooses to bless us even more.  We cannot outdo God.  His gifts are never ending!

Why does God give us gifts we could never earn or hope to repay?  Because we are His handiwork—His masterpiece—born anew through the death of Christ on the Cross; which is the greatest gift of all.  All because God loves each one of us more than we could ever imagine!

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