“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

Have you ever really wanted something? Wanted it so desperately that you were willing to spend whatever time, energy or resources it took to acquire it? Imagine seeking God in that manner

Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field or a pearl of great value – worth selling everything we own, in order to buy it. Zechariah prophesied that there will be a day when, “[T]he inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.’” (Zechariah 8:21)

Of course, it’s easier to be a follower than a leader; easier to wait for someone else to make the move to go against the flow of culture and risk everything in order to find eternal life. Yet when I read these words from Zechariah, I feel God calling me to be the first one to set out on this holy quest; the one who beseeches God for forgiveness and encourages others to do the same. I hear the call to be the one who humbly seeks God’s face, to know and be known by Him, and by example, urges others to drop whatever they’re doing in order to discover His will.

I sense within my heart the need to say, “I myself am going to seek God, won’t you come with me?”

Almighty God, thank you for the promise that I will find You when I seek You with all my heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Give me the courage and the strength to seek after You regardless of who goes before me or if anyone else follows.  Amen.

Questions: Is anything holding you back from seeking God now? Why is seeking God of greater value than any other thing?

Right now, what are the main priorities in your life? Take this online study.

My husband thought a garage sale would be a good idea to de-clutter our home. Once everything had been gathered from the far corners of every nook and cranny of the house, I stood staring at the tables loaded with our accumulated junk. Oh my goodness! How did we collect so much? Why had we thought that we needed all this?

Some items held fond memories but did I really need them? Seeing the mother-load collected there was fodder for thought.  My home isn’t the only thing that needs de-cluttering. My life, my goals and desires, places I’d love to visit, things I’d like to accomplish, all this needs to be weighed on the comparison scale of God’s surpassing greatness.

There’s nothing wrong with setting goals if they are aligned with Gods plan for our lives, but it’s amazing how many decisions in a day can detract us from the bigger purpose of knowing God.

Paul said that he considered everything a loss in comparison to knowing Jesus. In fact he went as far as to say that he thought of them as rubbish, worthless trash. I couldn’t help but think that my garage sale was a load of old rubbish.  Most of my heart’s desires have bordered on rubbish because He hasn’t called me to the things I’ve been chasing after.

When I stop and consider my pale desires in light of the surpassing greatness of knowing Him, how can they compare?

Remember the merchant in Matthew 13:45 looking for fine pearls? When he found one of great value he sold everything he had just to own the precious pearl. I want Jesus to be my precious pearl, to take the place of all the “rubbish” that distracts me from knowing Him.

Here’s something else I’ve discovered: when we let go of the clutter we find our greatest fulfillment in knowing Him, even on routine days.

Remind us Lord that nothing comes even remotely close to knowing You. Help us de-clutter our lives. We need You Lord, today and always. Live in us Father God, and may your resting place reside in us today and always.  Amen.

Questions: What clutter in your life today is keeping Jesus from taking first place?

About the author Beverley Rayner

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” Romans 8:6-9

In the lifelong struggle with temptation and natural desire, believers are told to “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ. This becomes a daily activity by which you decide who is going to live your life for you today. Are you going to live in the flesh, or is Jesus going to have the privilege of living His life through you?

People have different terms for the “flesh,” but simply put, it is the natural part of each person that desires to operate in opposition to God. It usually manifests itself by challenging the restrictions that the Lord set for mankind’s good.

Once we are saved, we fluctuate between two mindsets – that of the Spirit leading toward God and that of the flesh leading away from Him. While we will always retain old fleshly patterns of thinking, we do not have to succumb to living by them, because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. But since our two ways of thinking are in opposition to each other, conflict and warfare naturally result.

We are in a real battle, which requires real weapons. The Lord has given us the helmet of salvation so that we will not surrender our minds to ungodly thinking. The breastplate of righteousness protects our emotions from giving way to natural desires. We also put on the belt of truth, which enables us to walk in keeping with godly principles rather than according to the flesh. And the Lord has provided a true shield of faith for us because there are actual darts of doubt. In other words, we are at war, but we are well equipped for it. God always leads us in triumph.

Question: How would you define “the flesh” as Paul describes in Romans 8?

About this Author: Charles Stanley

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

I recently met a twenty-year-old, just discharged from the military, and pondering his future. He bore a square jaw, a forearm tattoo, and a common question. He didn’t know what to do with the rest of his life. As we shared a flight, he told me about his uncle, a New England priest. “What a great man,” the ex-soldier sighed. “He helps kids and feeds the hungry. I’d love to make a difference like that.”

So I asked him the question of this chapter. “What were some occasions when you did something you love to do and did it quite well?”

He dismissed me at first. “Aw, what I love to do is stupid.”

“Try me,” I invited.

“Well, I love to rebuild stuff.”

“What do you mean?”

He spoke of an old coffee table he had found in a garage. Seeing its potential, he shaved off the paint, fixed the broken legs, and restored it. With great pride, he presented it to his mom.

“Tell me another time,” I prompted.

“This one is really dumb,” he discounted. “But when I worked at a butcher shop, I used to find meat on the bones others threw out. My boss loved me! I could find several pounds of product just by giving the bone a second try.”

As the plane was nosing down, I tested a possibility with him. “You love to salvage stuff. You salvage furniture, salvage meat. God gave you the ability to find a treasure in someone else’s trash.”

My idea surprised him. “God? God did that?”

“Yes, God. Your ability to restore a table is every bit as holy as your uncle’s ability to restore a life.” You would have thought he’d just been handed a newborn baby. As my words sank in, the tough soldier teared up.

See your desires as gifts to heed rather than longings to suppress, and you’ll feel the same joy.

Reflect on your life. What have you always done well and loved to do?

From Cure for the Common Life
Copyright 2006, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Max Lucado
Used by permission.

Question: How has God uniquely gifted you to serve in His Kingdom?

About the Author: Max Lucado

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” Galatians 5:19-25

When we set our minds on things of the flesh – sinful attitudes, ideas and habits in our life – we are decreeing death to the things of God. What makes such desires hard to resist is that they are natural and involve common worldly aspirations like money, sex, prominence and power. But 1 Corinthians 2:14 says the natural man does not receive the things of God. Just because something is natural or “only human” does not mean it is right.

Notice that there’s nothing wrong with eating, but the Scriptures consider gluttony sinful. (Proverbs 23:20-21) Nor is there anything immoral about sex when it is practiced within God-given parameters. As long as our desires and appetites are subdued and brought under subjection to the Holy Spirit, our fellowship with God can continue harmoniously. But when yearnings are unrestrained, our closeness and communication with the Lord are hindered.

To give control of our life over to the Holy Spirit, we must be persuaded that we cannot live righteously in our own strength. Most of us already realize the attempt to live in a God-pleasing manner is a struggle; to correct the situation, we must surrender our entire being to Him: mind, will, emotion and conscience. Ask God to reveal areas of weakness and then give Him each frailty as it comes to light. This needs to be done not once, but every day. Each morning when you wake up, it’s wise to pray, “Father, today I’m totally Yours. I can’t live the Christian life, but You can live through me.”

Question: What are your own “obstacles to righteousness”?

About this Author: Charles Stanley

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV).

What is your greatest delight? What gives you great pleasure or satisfaction?

I am delighted when my grandchildren run up to me with a hug, or a friend calls me on the phone just to chat, or my husband brings me flowers.

To delight is to enjoy, take pleasure, be glad, satisfied, savor, or appreciate.

When we delight in the Lord, his desires will become our desires.

How do we delight in the Lord?

We will delight in the Lord when we develop an intimate relationship with him. We will become spiritually hungry, and passionately in love with Him. Jesus told his disciples in John 14: 15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Then, our desires will align with His desires and our hearts will desire to please him, resulting in peace and contentment.

However, our hearts desire is often contrary to what God desires for us and takes us in the wrong direction. When we don’t have an intimate relationship with the Lord, our human nature desires sinful things, as when we are angry, and we want to seek revenge. If we don’t delight in the Lord we won’t know what He desires for us. If we don’t have an intimate relationship with God it is hard telling what we would ask for. We may be asking for trouble missing God’s best for us.

Don’t be afraid to ask the Lord for His desires since His desires will be better than your own and you will find peace and contentment as you submit to them.

The Lord has not promised to give us all we humanly desire, but the desires of a heart submitted, and delighted in Him.

We must choose to delight and submit to the authority God has placed in our lives. If we don’t submit to those in authority over us, we will find it difficult to submit to God.

Priscilla Shirer writes in her Bible study He Speaks to Me, “Delighting ourselves in God rolls out the red carpet for God to march right in and plant His good, acceptable, and perfect desires in our hearts so that we can get busy praying them and getting some answers.” 1.

Psalm 37:4 tells us when we delight in the Lord He will grant us the desires of our heart. Our desires will be His desires and we will experience more answers to our prayers and contentment. We are not invited, we are commanded to delight.

Lord God, May my heart find delight in You. May Your desires be my own. Amen.

Father, I choose to delight in you. Show me the areas of my life I need to submit to you. I want to spend more time in your Word and grow into an intimate relationship with You so your desires will be my desires. In Jesus’ Name.

Questions: Do I delight in the Lord? Am I willing to up my desires for the Lord’s desires for my life? Which areas of my life do I need to submit to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord?

1. Priscilla Shirer, He Speaks to Me, (Nashville, TN; LifeWay Press) p. 114.

About the Author Lillian Penner

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Believe in Him, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

God’s power can be a daily reality in your life. Let this scripture soak into your heart and mind.  Write it out and read it every day for a week and ask God to make it a reality in your life.

“God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these (His glory and goodness) He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them (the promises) you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3 & 4).

Prayer to action this in my life:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that through Your divine power I have all that I need today to get through life and to be a godly woman in the process. Thank you that You have given me promises in Your Word. I believe Your Word; please open my heart today to the help of Your Holy Spirit. Thank you that I can actually participate in the divine nature of Jesus and be different where I walk today because of Your power at work in me and through me. Fill me with Your Spirit now. Help me in the practical circumstances of life today to be wise and careful. Help me in my relationships today to show Your love and grace. Give me physical and emotional strength. Thank you that I will need nothing today that You cannot lovingly and abundantly supply me with as I allow You access to my whole life today. In the strong name of Jesus amen.

Questions: Have you been appropriating God’s power for your daily living? How has God’s power helped you when attached by evil desires?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Keep These Things and Ponder them in your Heart, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EST.

Recently my husband and I were waiting for a connecting flight in a large airport. Our first flight arrived early enough to be able to request an earlier “standby flight” for our last leg of the trip home. We had already been in the airport about five hours and we were anxiously waiting for our “standby status” to be cleared. As weary travelers, we didn’t want to wait three more hours for our reserved flight. We prayed and waited while we watched the monitor for our “stand-by” clearance. Finally, the agent gave us clearance to board the plane.

This scenario reminded me of my prayer life. Many times, I have to wait and “standby” for God’s answer. God doesn’t always answer my prayers immediately when I pray and I have to wait in God’s waiting room for a while. Our society has conditioned us to expect immediate results. We find it very difficult to wait for anything.

In I John 5:14 we read, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” God always hears our prayers for our needs, desires, or wishes. Yet He may not be ready to answer them. While we are in God’s waiting room He may want to build our character, teach us patience, or it may not be the right time for the prayer to be answered. Spiritual growth may take place in our lives while we are learning to trust Him for the answer.

We must ask, wait, and trust Him for the answers to our prayers. He may answer our prayers more abundantly than we can ask, in His timing. Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Isn’t it wonderful that we can have the privilege of leaving our needs, concerns, and wishes with the Lord? Ask Him for patience as you wait for Him to answer.

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise in your Word that You hear my prayers when I pray. Teach me the things You want me to learn while I am waiting. Give me patience as I wait for You to accomplish Your will. Help me to trust You for Your timing while I wait for You to answer more abundantly than I have asked.     Amen.

Questions: Are you sitting in God’s waiting room for an answer to your prayers right now?  What is the Lord teaching you while you wait?

About Lillian Penner

Daily podcast: A second daily devotional, How to Pray Effectively, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

I often need to let things steep in my mind and heart much like making a good pot of tea. Lately I’ve been pondering a thought from Dr. Myles Munroe book on “Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer”. It is this…

“The backbone of prayer is our agreement with God’s Word…”

As this steeped in my heart I began to see my praying differently. Often I determine what would be the best answer in my situations and then ask God, in faith, to accomplish it. Scripture is sometimes a part of that. Yet God began to challenge my heart to ask Him first what His Word says about what I am praying for. How could I agree with His Word in the things that I felt prompted to pray for?

Here are some prayer nuggets I found as I asked God how to pray according to His word.

When praying for someone who seems oblivious to God’s care for her.
Show her the wonder of Your great love, O Lord. Psalm 17:7

When praying for someone who seems directionless in her work.
Establish the work of her hands, O Lord. Psalm 90:17

When praying for someone who sincerely desires to walk in God’s ways.
Since she lives in the Spirit, help her keep in step with the Spirit. Gal. 5:16-20

When praying for someone who is tempted to go back into her old ways.
Thank you Lord that it is for freedom that You have set us free. Help her to stand firm and not be entangled again in this slavery. Galatians 5:1

When praying for someone who is confused about how to live.
Lord, help her not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of her mind so she can prove out Your will in her life. Romans 12:2

When praying for someone who is distracted spiritually by acquiring things.
Lord, help her to set her affections on things above and not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

When praying for someone who is despondent and brokenhearted.
Lord, restore her soul and lead her in right paths for the sake of Your name.
Psalm 23

When praying for someone who needs to give her heart to the Lord.
Thank you Lord, that You are patient and desiring everyone to come to repentance. Help her to choose to turn her life into Your hands. 2 Peter 3:9

When praying for someone who desires a mate, a new job or a change.
Thank you Lord that You will perfect that which concerns her today.
Psalm 138:8

When praying for those worn out in ministry.
Lord, may she be energized today as she lives her life on the wavelength of the great commission. Matthew 28:19

Heavenly Father,
Thank you that Your word gives us everything we need for life and for godliness.
Teach us to pray according to Your Word and not according to our wishes. Lead us in new paths of prayer as we look to discover first what Your word says about what we are praying for. Teach us to pray, Lord. In Jesus’ powerful name I ask, amen.

Question: How can you use the Scripture to shape your prayers today?

About Gail Rogers

Daily podcast: A second daily devotional, When We Miss the Target, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Is success merely a matter of increasing in leadership?
Read Barb’s story of when success simply wasn’t enough.