DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD TO RECEIVE HIS BLESSING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MARCH 11, 2024.

SUBJECT : DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD TO RECEIVE HIS BLESSING!

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

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

34:5: They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.

34:6: This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of his troubles.

34:7: The angel of the LORD encamps all round those who fear Him, and delivers them.

34:8: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

34:9: Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

34:10: The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

34:11: Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

34:12: Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

34:13: Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

34:14: Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

34:15: The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

34:22: 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 of the people in seeking Him. In the passage we read today, 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). 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 Him (34:9), refrain from lying (34:13), turn from evil, do good, and search for peace (34:14), and serve Him (34:22).

Prayer is our lifeline to God, hence we should prayer regularly to ensure our line of seeking Him is open at all times. The apostle Paul echoed it thus, "Pray without ceasing." (First Thessalonians 5 vs 17.) Seeking God in prayers regularly, ensures God's guidance and strength that we need at all times, and 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.  

The Scripture, in Daniel chapter 6, enumerated Daniel’s prayer discipline. He  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). 

God is waiting for us to find Him, and He rewards those who sincerely look for Him (Hebrews 11 vs 6). In our anchor Scripture, Jesus promised, “Seek, and you will find.” The Bible records the history of God’s people, and in searching its pages we will discover a loving God who is waiting for us to find Him. 

Become familiar with the way He has helped His people  in the past. When we take the first step of obedience in following God, we will discover that He is good and kind. When we begin the Christian life, our knowledge of God is partial and incomplete. As we trust Him daily, we experience how good He is.

All those who call upon God in their need will be answered, sometimes in unexpected ways. Remember God knows what we need, and our deepest needs are spiritual. Even though many Christians face unbearable poverty and hardship, they still have enough spiritual nourishment to live for God. If you have God, you have all you really need. God is enough. 

If you feel you don’t have everything you need, ask (1) Is this really a need? (2) Is this really good for me? (3) Is this the best time for me to have what I desire? Even if you answer yes to all three questions, God may allow you to go without the perceived need to help you grow more dependent on Him. He may want you to learn that you need Him more than having your immediate desires.

Prayer: Abba Father endue me with the spirit of constant prayer, supplication and raw obedience to You, realizing that by You all things consist. In so doing I may appropriate to myself Your promised blessings for those who seek You diligently, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!