March 18, 2026

The Blessing of Mercy

April 7, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7

The Beatitudes were not given as commands but as realities for those who are part of Christ’s Kingdom.  We might call them Kingdom-Characteristics or Kingdom-Evidences.  They describe the believer; and, by the same token, they are effective instruments to root out unbelief in the heart and expose an unregenerate condition.  They do reflect attitudes of the heart, but they also explain the way believers will relate not only to God but also to those about them.  Without attempting to slice them too neatly, it does appear that the first four Beatitudes focus primarily on the believer’s relationship with God, while the latter four aim primarily toward others.  All of the Beatitudes have to do with Kingdom Life, and thus each of them will impact all of our relationships.

We speak of having mercy, or showing mercy, or being merciful, but we don’t speak of mercy-ing someone.  Yet mercy is more than a feeling–it’s something that is apparent in our actions.  As Christians, we have been on the receiving end of God’s merciful acts; and so we should be the first to make mercy a characteristic of our lives.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the story of a king who forgave one of his slaves who owed him a lot of money.  Although the slave had been forgiven a great debt, nevertheless he went out and had a man thrown in prison who owed him a relative pittance.  The king’s retribution against the slave was severe, because the slave was unwilling to show the same kind of mercy he had received.  Jesus told the story in answer to Peter’s question, “How many times should we forgive someone?”  This is how the Kingdom of Heaven operates, Jesus is saying…as much as mercy has been shown to you (and, in Christ, we have been shown greater mercy than we can comprehend), you show that mercy to others.

The previous Beatitudes have referred to blessings poured out upon those who are oppressed, weak, and in need of mercy.  This Beatitude directs those who might be in a position to help such people to show mercy. I think other Biblical teaching, particularly the example set by the early church in Acts 4, indicates that the Christian’s first object of mercy should be those within the Church. Every church has people who are in need of help—whether physical, financial, or spiritual—and the Body of Christ should be willing to help those people.

But then, every church should also look beyond their own walls to the community, and seek ways to show the love and mercy of Christ to those outside the church. And not simply as a tool to get them to come to church. But rather as a genuine, compassionate outreach that God might be pleased to use us to affect people’s lives–that we might be conduits of the Spirit’s blessings to people who desperately need Him. We can’t change people’s hearts but, through our actions, we can demonstrate the love and mercy of the One who can. It just might be that God would use us to draw people to Himself.

*  ~  ♥  ~   ✞   ~  ♥  ~  *

Lord, thank You for Your mercy upon us. Let the Holy Spirit help us show mercy as a sign of love, too. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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We Fall Down

April 7, 2014 by

We fall down, we lay our crowns
At the feet of Jesus
The greatness of mercy and love
At the feet of Jesus

And we cry holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy is the Lamb

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Songwriter: Kyle David Matthews  / Performed by: Kutless

 *  ~  *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

What a vivid image of worshipping our Lord and Saviour!  He made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me.  I know I am thankful for His love and mercy that is granted to me each and every day.  I am so often reminded of who He is and what He means to me.  He has forgiven me so much and I owe Him my life. After my son was born, I dedicated him to God.  I was so thankful for this child that was left in my care.  With the help of others, their prayers, and much of my own, my son has grown up to be a wonderful man of God.  He is still growing in the Lord and is pursuing a life that would be pleasing to our Father.  My step-daughter, who came to live with us about two years ago, has changed and grown so much.  I love watching what God is doing in her life.  She is pursuing God with a passion.  There were a few bumps in the road, but that is becoming less and less.  I have the daughter I never had and I am privileged to have her in my life.

May this song bless you with it’s simplicity!

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Remember

April 6, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

This is the Body that was torn for us
This is the Blood that was spilt
Points to the pain You endured for us
Points to the shame, the blame, the guilt

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come…move our hearts to remember

This is the Lamb who was slain for us
So we, the Church, may enter in
So bittersweet when we think of You
The One who bore our curse, our sin

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come…move our hearts to remember

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Singer / Songwriter: Laura Story

 *  ~  *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

Sometimes, we forget.  (And how could we forget?)  But we do.  (I don’t know how…but we do.)  We forget our Suffering Savior.  We forget His hurt and tortured and bruised Body.  We forget His spilled Blood.  And I think that our Lord knew we would forget; remember what He said to His beloved apostles as He shared His final meal with them?

Then He took a loaf [of bread], and when He had given thanks,
He broke [it] and gave it to them saying,
This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.
Luke 22:19

Undoubtedly, those twelve men had no idea what Jesus was communicating to them. But within a few days, they knew.  Perhaps, they then were asking God to move their hearts to remember also.

Paul also caused the believers in Corinth to remember:

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:24-26

There are many, oh-so-many, reasons for us to remember what Jesus accomplished through His death and sacrifice on the Cross. Here are just a few. “Lord,…move our hearts to remember!”

He himself bore our sins in His body on the Cross,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness
1 Peter 2:24

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,
which stood against us and condemned us;
He has taken it away, nailing it to the Cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the Cross.
Colossians 2:13-15

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us— for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
Galatians 3:13

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled,
shall we be saved by His life.
Romans 5:10-11

…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold
from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers,
but with precious Blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the Blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-19

…Having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt
that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the Cross.
Colossians 2:13-14

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21

And we must intentionally remember because

“…the message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly
to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition,
but to us who are being saved it is the manifestation of the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 AMP

These next couple of weeks are an excellent time to determine to focus on Jesus’ sacrifice, and all that He went through (His betrayal, His trial, His torture, His crucifixion) leading up to His death and (oh! joy!) His Resurrection!  There are many things one can do to purposefully ‘remember’ Jesus’ accomplishments, such as…

  • Read through Matthew chapters 26 and 27; Mark chapters 14 and 15; Luke chapters 22 and 23; John chapters 17 through 19
  • Download an app (on your tablet or smartphone) of a daily devotional focusing on Jesus’ last days. One suggestion would be the YouVersion of the Bible.
  • Listen to hymns and other Christian songs which help you to recognize and remember what Jesus went through. And sing your praise! (Perhaps make a playlist.)
  • Ask a loved one (a family member or a friend) to be your accountability partner during this time.
  • Watch a movie depicting this time period of our Lord’s final days.
  • And finally, but most importantly, pray…asking God through the Holy Spirit to help you to remember.  It is a prayer I know He will answer.
Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Am I Merciful?

April 6, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—
with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of their outward conditions)
are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
Matthew 5:7 AMP

As I was researching this verse, what struck me was the call for self-evaluation—am I merciful?  What does it mean to be merciful?  Systematic Theology defines mercy as “…the eternal principle of God’s nature which leads Him to seek eternal salvation….even at the cost of infinite self-sacrifice.”  He extends mercy and grace to us, even to those who oppose Him, both now and forever more.   Am I willing to sacrifice in order to show mercy?   Do I show mercy to those I don’t like, even to those who have hurt me or oppose me? Easton’s Bible Dictionary says mercy is a Christian grace. The Greek Dictionary uses words like “tender, kindly, compassionate.”  Is that who I am?

Joyce Meyer calls the Beatitudes the “Be-Happy-Attitudes.”  Mercy (and being merciful) is just that—an attitude.  It is more than taking action, more than a surface experience.

  • Mercy needs to become ingrained in me.
  • Merciful should be what I am as a Christian.
  • Merciful means I need the right attitude before I take action.

Mercy is not  about overlooking sin or being easygoing in the face of wrong.  It is having sympathy and compassion for those who are hurting.  To be merciful is a heartfelt desire to help, or to alleviate suffering.  Being merciful is to bear the pain and misery of others, without pride, (being aware of the mercy I have been shown) with no expectations, not seeking anything in return.  For Matthew 25:40 tells us “…to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

There is no better reason to be merciful than the mercy that has been extended to me.  Undeserved mercy!  But our gracious God rewards us when we are merciful. The Amplified Bible says we are “…happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous…” when we are merciful.

  • Proverbs 11:17 tells us: “The merciful man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him].”
  • James 2:13 puts it this way: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”  But we should be merciful even if there are no rewards simply because we are called to be merciful.
  • Micah 6:8 says “And this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
  • Luke 6:36 states: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

So today I am examining my attitudes.

I want mercy to be who I am, not just something I do.

Maybe you do, too.

*  ~  ♥  ~   ✞   ~  ♥  ~  *

Lord, I am so very thankful You chose to extend mercy to me, even before I knew You.  I did not nor do I deserve the sacrifice You made for me.   But I gratefully accept Your merciful gift.  Please remind me to be merciful in heart and spirit as well as action and deed.  My desire is to become more like You and for others to see You shining through me.  In Your precious and holy name!  Amen, so be it.

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As The Deer – Matthew 5:6

April 5, 2014 by

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. 
Matthew 5:6

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This Is Amazing Grace

April 5, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings.

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings.

This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love.
That You would take my place. That You would bear my cross.
You laid down your life that I would be set free.
Oh, Jesus I sing for all that You’ve done for me.

Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King of glory.

Who rules the nations with truth and justice?
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?
The King of glory, the King above all kings!

Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain.
Worthy is the King Who conquered the grave.
Worthy! Worthy!

This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love.
That You would take my place. That You would bear my cross.
You laid down Your life, that I would be set free.
Oh, Jesus I sing for all that You’ve done for me.

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Written by Phil Wickham and Jeremy Riddle/Performed by Phil Wickham

 *  ~  *  ~    ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

It was five words that would change my life forever: “God is not mad at you.”  Let me give you some backstory.  I have a rich heritage of Christ followers in my family.  My grandparents laid a strong foundation of faith that has reached and shaped generations.  I was attending church in the womb – you know what I’m saying? I came to Christ at an early age, but for some reason this truth never really sunk in as it should.  I heard those five words a little over four years ago, after I married and began to return to worshipping regularly.  I thought “This guy is crazy.  He needs to stop telling folks that God is not mad at them. We’ve all sinned. God hates sin. How can he tell these people God is not mad?”  The man continued to talk about how much God loves us.  I mean, I knew that. But I began to read in my Bible to get some answers.  I needed proof to back up everything I’d learned, right?

Perhaps you’ve heard the same things I did growing up.  That my sin placed Jesus on the cross.  That every time I sinned I nailed him back up there. We learn guilt and shame and “we’re not worthy of the blood of Jesus.”  True.  We are not worthy. But what does John 3:16 say?  “God so loved the world….” Loved. LOVED the world. Loved the world so much that he gave his Son. Not that He was so angry with the world.  Not that He was so mad at the world.  Not that He was so exasperated that He was forced to send Jesus.  Nope.  LOVE.  It took me a while to come to grips with that truth, to be honest. I had to pray about it. I needed God to help me break some strongholds of religion and denomination and come to grips with what The Word said.  Can you understand what I’m saying?  You want a pure relationship with God?  You need to allow Him to break down your barriers to his unbelievable, unfathomable, supernatural, all-powerful, relentless love for you. “Yeah, but you don’t know….” I can hear those wheels turning in your head.  So can God.  Sorry, friend. God is bigger than your objections. HE. LOVES. YOU.

He loves you so much that He GAVE His Son in your place. It’s called the “divine exchange.”  Jesus took on your garbage so you could have the good stuff. MANY books have been written on the topic.  If you’d like some awesome reading, I will suggest “Bought with Blood” by Derek Prince. With Scripture it shows you exactly what Jesus took in our place when He died for us, and what we receive in return.  I could seriously be here all day talking about what happened on the Cross, but here’s a teaser, so that you can allow God to show you Himself:

  • Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven
  • Jesus was wounded that we might be healed
  • Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might be made righteous with His righteousness
  • Jesus tasted death for us that we might share His life
  • Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the blessing
  • Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance
  • Jesus bore our shame that we might share His glory
  • Jesus endured my rejection that I might have His acceptance with the Father
  • He was cut off that we might be joined to the Lord
  • Our old man was put to death in Him that the new man might come to life in us

Hallelujah!  This is why I love this song – it reminds me of how AWESOME God is and how deeply Jesus loves us.  “Jesus, I DO sing for all that You’ve done for me!”  Friend, let me tell you today: God is not mad at you.  God loves you.  Don’t believe me?  Ask Him to show you, just like I did.  Believe Him when He shows you.  Then watch what unfailing love can do in YOUR life!

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Biblical Common Sense

April 4, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, 
for they will be satisfied. 
Matthew 5:6

Every year for the past eleven years I have filled out a survey at my children’s annual physical checkup.  From ages 2-6, I am required to ask them the question, “What do you do when you’re hungry?”  Of course they respond with “Eat,” or “Ask for food,” things such as that.  I’ve always wondered why this question is asked…why such a common inquiry is made; even small children know what to do and how to respond.  But there must be a reason that each year we are reminded to quiz our children on such a simple thing, something we see as common and natural.

When I read this Scripture, I thought of this scenario.  We know we’re supposed to seek God and do as He commands and instructs; doing this leads to righteousness.  In a sense it is biblical common sense.  We hunger for God’s Word and for His guidance and love. and when we hunger, when we strive, we find righteousness.  Just as the pediatrician reminds us to look closely at common things, so does Christ.  Sometimes we become so engulfed in our life that we forget to consciously thirst for Christ and to be hungry for His word, His direction.  So He has given us reminders, such as these verses, to look at and to remind us.  This is more than an answer on a piece of paper.  It is a reminder that when we seek Him and when we thirst for him, He will fill us.  When we seek…we will find.  When we thirst…we will be filled.  Common sense, yes; but the reminders are much needed, much desired.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7

He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty
Luke 1:53

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, there are times we forget common things, like what to do when we’re hungry.  Like the pediatrician, You remind us of what we sometimes forget to see—that our thirst for You will lead to righteousness and that we will be filled when we hunger and thirst for Your Word.  Lord, remind us to seek You daily.  And to thirst for You always.  Increase our desire to be filled, so that we will not forget the common things, so that we will not forget to seek, and ask, to find and to hunger.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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The Cross Is My Confession

April 4, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The Cross is my confession
Approach my soul, the Mercy Seat
Where Jesus answers prayer
For none can perish there
Your promise is my only plea
You gather broken souls
Oh, Healer, draw me close
Bowed down beneath a weight of sin
By war without and fears within

Oh, the Cross
Oh, the Cross
The Cross is my confession
Your Cross, Jesus

You are my Shield
And now In Christ
I’ll face my every foe
And tell them they have died
Oh, wondrous Love
Eternal Life
As we all plead Your name
All sinners such as I
By grace received my soul be still
Your work in me both power and will

Oh, the Cross
Oh, the Cross
The Cross is my confession
Oh…Your Cross

For I believe in God the Father
And in His Son there is no other
His very life living inside

This I confess my righteousness
His very life living inside
Jesus, Your Cross
Your Cross

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

*  ~  *  ~    ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

Are you a prayer warrior?  Do you know that prayer paves the way for the answers that you so desire?  Look back to the times of Moses…he and Caleb and Joshua learned that giants are best slain by a conversation with God before the battle.  They asked and they praised Him and they listened to His voice.  He answered their prayers!  What are the giants that they faced?  Probably similar to the ones we face today.  Difficulty, discouragement, and detours sometimes caused by our own lack of confidence or our own pride.  Or the biggest one—fear.

Prayer is more than just believing in God.  It’s believing that He is hearing you and He is answering you, whether you actually see it or not. We approach His Throne, or Mercy Seat, sometimes on our knees and other times just exactly where we are.  Sometimes we are confessing our sins, asking His mercy and grace to give us peace.  Other times we are in need of something…like a new job, financial freedom, healing from a disease, or whatever we need at the time.  He promises to always listen.  He hears every prayer.  And He takes away our fears and replaces it with courage in Him.

He is our Shield.  We are always protected under His mighty arms.  We can face anything this world has to throw at us as long as we arm ourselves with His Word— our Shield and Sword.  He wants the best for you, His child.  No matter what we have gotten ourselves into, no matter how low we have gone, or how far we have moved away from Him, we can never go so far that He can’t reach us.  He is our Beloved, our Eternal Love.  He gave His son in our place, so we can live forever.

At the Cross, we can go and find rest. We can find forgiveness for our sins and we can leave our brokenness at the foot of the Cross and walk away free.  Do you want that freedom?  Do you know how to have it?  Just ask Him.  Tell Him you need Him and He will meet you right where you are.  He loves you and is waiting….

*  ~  *  ~    ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

Let us pray:  Dearest Lord, we praise You for Who You are.  We thank You for letting us come before You and praise Your name.  You are the Authority over all.  You are patient, kind, and loving.  You give grace and mercy, You fill us with peace and joy.  Thank You for being our Shield, our Deliverer.  You answer our prayers, and we trust You.  For sending Your Son, we are ever grateful.  We believe in You, we believe in Your Son, we believe in the Cross. We will try to live out our confessions and be a witness to all around us.  Thank You for prayer…for listening…for saving us from ourselves.  It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Spiritual Hunger and Thirst

April 3, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, 
for they will be satisfied. 
Matthew 5:6

As children we hunger to learn what is right and what is wrong.  We are supposed to learn this from our loving parents—the ones that God has blessed us with.  From a young age when we start to learn between right and wrong, we hunger and thirst to do right so as to please those around us.  As children of God, we should do the same.  We should hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God.

The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

John 4:9-15 NIV

As Christians, we have a hunger and thirst for a relationship with God.  Once we accept Christ, we begin that relationship.  Even before the Samaritan woman received Christ, she thirsted for the righteousness of God.  The Samaritan woman was already thirsting for Jesus before she even met and spoke with Him.  When she asked for the living water, Jesus told her everything about herself. He already knew her.  She ran back to tell the people who shunned her.  That day many became children of God.  Even though she had sinned, Jesus blessed her.

As the children of God we, like the Samaritan woman, have sinned.  However, if we want to be in a relationship with Jesus, our spiritual thirst and hunger can be satisfied by accepting Him.  All we have to do is believe that He died on the Cross for us and rose three days later to defeat death and sin.

 *  ~  ♥  ~   ✞   ~  ♥  ~  *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for satisfying our thirst and hunger with Your righteousness.  Without You, our spirit would be forever hungry.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

My Redeemer Lives

April 3, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning
Who taught the ocean you can only come this far
And Who showed the moon where to hide ‘til evening
Whose words alone can catch a falling star

Well I know my Redeemer lives; I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies tthat here’s life within the Christ
I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn, and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken
They conquer death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives; I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify that there’s life within the Christ
I know my Redeemer…

He lives to take away my shame
And He lives (forever I’ll proclaim)
That the payment for my sins was the precious life He gave
Now He’s alive and there’s an empty grave

And I know my Redeemer lives; I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify that there’s life within the Christ

I know my Redeemer
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
He lives….

  ~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~   Nicole C. Mullen   ~

*  ~  *  ~    ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

When you really stop to think about those things (and really reflect on them): Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?  And Who taught the ocean to only come so far…and then stop and go back out?  Or Who taught the moon where to hide ‘til evening?  It is AMAZING and something most of us cannot even begin to comprehend!   The Creator of the universe didn’t miss a detail…so powerful!

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28

• The very same God that spins things in orbit, runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

• And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken…

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

• (The same gentle hands) they conquer death to bring me (and you) victory…

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable.
Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know
that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Sisters, we have SO MUCH to be thankful for!  A heavenly Father who went through so much to redeem and restore our lives.  Even though in this world we know we will have trouble, be encouraged!  Jesus has overcome the world!  This week I encourage you not to focus on the circumstances. Instead choose to have joy in your journey and be thankful for ALL the Blessings you do have.

*  ~  *  ~    ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥    ~  *  ~  * 

Heavenly Father, I pray for each one of my sisters this day that they would be strong and immovable and that they would know that nothing they do when they do it for You is useless. When they choose to have joy in their journey, and choose thankfulness and victory in You over their life’s circumstances, I know You will be smiling.  And I pray You would bless them through their obedience in Jesus’ name!!  AMEN!!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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