THE BLESSINGS IN SEEKING THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY AUGUST 28, 2021.

SUBJECT : THE BLESSINGS IN SEEKING THE LORD!

Memory verse: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7 vs 7.)

READ: Psalm 34 vs 4 - 15 & 22

34 vs 4: I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5: They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.

6: This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of his troubles.

7: The angel of the LORD encamps all round those who fear Him, and delivers them.

8: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9: Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

10: The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11: Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12: Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13: Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

14: Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

15: The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

22: The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

INTIMATION:

God promises great blessings to His people, but most of these blessings require active participation in seeking Him. In the passage we read, He promised to set us free from our fears (34:4), deliver us from trouble (34:6), guard and defend us (34:7), show us goodness (34:8), supply our needs (34:9), listen when we call to Him (34:15), and redeem us (34:22). The Lord continues to deliver His people in order that they not become desolate. 

But we must do our part. We can appropriate His blessings when we seek Him (34:4, 10), that is, cry out to Him (34:6), trust Him (34:8), fear (reverence) Him (34:9), refrain from lying (34:13), turn from evil, do good, search for peace (34:14), and serve Him (34:22). The fear of the Lord delivers us from the fear of man. The result of keeping one’s face toward the Lord is that the radiance of the Lord flows from one’s heart and is perceived in one’s life. God is ever willing to protect and provide for those who seek peace with man as a result of their desire to do God’s will. 

Prayer is your lifeline to God, hence we should prayer regularly to ensure our line of seeking Him is open at all times. The apostle Paul echoes it thus, "Pray without ceasing." (First Thessalonians 5 vs 17.) Seeking God in prayers regularly, no matter what, ensures God's guidance and strength that is needed at all times, to appropriate His promised blessings to ourselves. Regular and constant praying habit ensures a disciplined life of prayer. Though our prayers are usually interrupted by pressures of our schedules, developing a regular prayer time makes you develop a prayerful attitude at all times. 

This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. This would be obedience to the Lord as a result of recognizing His awesomeness. In order to be God’s son, one must have a right attitude toward God that results in a life-style of obedience to His will. If one will see good in his life, then he must submit to the will of the Lord.

Daniel had a disciplined prayer life and prayed three times daily. He never allowed threats or pressure of his schedules interrupt his prayer life. Daniel was a foreigner, exiled in Babylon, but never gave up his disciplined prayer life amidst all pressures of life. Daniel hugely partook of the attendant blessings associated with seeking God. God bestowed great wisdom on him and he enjoyed the presence and favour of God in his life. Daniel, a captive from Israel, became an adviser of kings in a foreign land. He served as an adviser to two Babylonian kings and two Medo-Persian Kings (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus). (Daniel chapter 6 .)

The Bible interchangeably uses fear of the LORD, for seeking the LORD. The fear of the LORD in the Scriptures denote reverential fear of God, not to dread Him, or being scared of Him. It is to show Him deep respect, reverence, and honor, demonstrated by a humble attitude and genuine worship. We reverence God as a controlling motive of our lives in spiritual and moral matters. It is not mere fear of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him. A fear which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence, and which influences the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God, through the indwelling Spirit of God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit absolute dependence and obedience to You that will engender a regular praying life-style, that I may, all the time, appropriate to myself Your promised blessings in seeking You, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!