Pastoral Devotional 2/3/22

We are Christ-followers (Disciples of Jesus / Empowered by the Holy Spirit / Living His Word /Set apart for Him / To make new disciples by), boldly reaching out to proclaim his transforming love, so that all may know and follow Him. Our whole purpose is to honor and adore the Living Lord!

“Therefore, … since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, … Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. … let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25

This is a call from God to us His people, to enter into His Presence through reflection & repentance, seeking & crying out to Him, with praise & adoration, and expectation of His Holy Spirit’s refreshing & anointing. The prophet King David knew how to draw into God’s presence and revealed that to us in his prayer found in Psalm 139:23-24.“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Search me God and know my heart. This simple prayer has the power to convict you, correct you, change you & the way you see others around you. Prophet Jeremiah wrote The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Jer. 17:9 NLT Our hearts are all about self — about what’s easy — about what we want, not what God wants. The Bible warns us that our ways are not God’s ways! That’s why we need Jesus to transform us, redirect us, and make us new!

Know my anxious thoughts. David was troubled and afraid, and wise enough to know that he needed God’s help to face his fears if he was to overcome them. What fears are gripping you? It’s an important question because those fears reveal where we trust God the least! Our fears show how reliant we are on our own efforts, instead of trusting in Him.      

To please God, serve God, honor God, live for God, we cannot be driven by fear. We must be led by faith! Pray and step into your fear by faith, remembering: “without faith it’s impossible to please God.” and “His perfect drives out all fear”

 See if there is any offensive way in me. David was devoted to God. He worshipped God passionately. He gave extravagantly and he led courageously. YET, he made some really big mistakes that hurt and offended God. Sometimes to see where we have hurt or offended God, we need others to help us see it. Sometimes we just need God’s help to see the sin that’s so difficult for us to see. “I don’t lose my temper” – “I don’t gossip” – “I’m not selfish” That’s one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit – to help us see what we like to rationalize away.

Lead me in the way everlasting. In order for this to happen, we must learn to listen for what God says. Watch for what He shows you. See how He points you to your deepest need. And then, when He does, and He will, don’t be discouraged, be full of faith.

Discovering your deepest need is a gift, an opportunity, a blessing from God. Where you may be weak, He is strong. When you hurt, His comfort is available. When tempted, He provides a way out.

 Ask God to show the truth of this simple prayer, because The truth will set you free.