What Are You Looking For?

Have you heard the expression, "deep calls to deep"? I read that as deep love calls to deep need! In other words, God and His deep love for us calls us to Himself, so that He can meet our deep needs.

What are you looking for, is it hope? Maybe it's guidance, direction, answers, help, purpose, or love? Whatever it is we all have deep needs that can only be fully met in Christ. Sometimes it appears as if these things can be found in other things or even other people. Sometimes we go to things and other people because that seems to be the easiest way to get our needs met. Going to other things and people can become, like the Staples commercial demonstrates, our 'easy buttons'. However, it is only in a relationship with Jesus Christ that whatever we are looking for can truly be found.

God has already sent the answer to whatever it is we are looking for, and it is found in the reality of the Christmas message. God knew our need and out of His great love He sent His only Son. Through a relationship with Jesus we can find everything we might need; hope, guidance, direction, answers, help, purpose and great love! He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us (John 3:16).

Read more:
Luke 2:1-20
Prayer:
Thank You Father for the gift of Your Son. I know that like any other relationship, a relationship with Jesus takes some work. Father, help me to seek Him with all my heart.

Plan of Action:
Set aside time to pray everyday.

Are you suffering?

In Exodus 4:31 we see that God is concerned about every part of our lives and He sees our anguish. My Utmost for His Highest, on May 15th says, "God is the master designer, and He allows adversities into our lives..." (Chambers, O. 1963. My Utmost for His Highest.) He is not just a good designer, but a master designer, so that every adversity has a purpose, Romans 8:28.

When we are suffering and greiving perhaps at times like these God sits with us in silence, like Job's friends did with him in Job 2:11-13. Know that in the middle of your pain God hears and answers prayers. My pastor recently gave a message entitled, "There is no limit to what God can do." During difficult times that can be hard to remember, but through faith know that Jesus has the answers, that He is the answer because He is the Truth, and His ways are right. The devotional book, Streams In the Dessert, on Nov. 9th says, "Seek communion with Christ and you will receive strength...for God has promised, I will strengthen you. Isaiah 41:10" (Cowman, L.B. 1997, Streams In the Dessert.)

Read More:
Exodus 33:14, Psalms 46:1, 2 Cor. 1:3-4
Prayer:
Thank You Lord that You are with me even when I can't percieve it.
Plan of Action (James 1:22 & James 1:25):
Be still in prayer, take heart, and breathe.

Be Brave!

2 Samuel 23:16 "He would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord."

Recently at work I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Don't believe everything you think!" I don't know about you, but I can think of something that I am anxious about and then I end up dwelling on it trying to figure out the best way to handle it. Then I feel even more anxious. Usually what I am anxious about doesn't turn out like I expected anyway!

We all have something to 'pour out' before the Lord. It may be anxiety, rage/anger, pornography, alcohol, loneliness, depression or some other thorn in our side. Choosing not to do something, or dwell on something we have been giving ourselves over to is difficult. First, pour it out to the Lord, telling Him everything about the issue. Why does this issue/struggle seem to draw us in? What is it about this that captures us? Why haven't we stopped prior to this? Why are we trying to deal with this issue now? What do we want the outcome to be? What do we believe the Lord wants the outcome to be? Answering these questions as truthfully as we can while praying can ease our burden (Matt. 11:28).

Begin deciding not to give in to it, or start making the decision to stop doing whatever it is that has become an issue. Sometimes we may feel like we can't stop or we may feel like whatever it is, has the power to control us. Is it possible it could be an addiction? Whatever it is that needs to be 'poured out before the Lord' will be a journey to overcome. Memorizing God's Word to combat it is a great comfort and encouragement. When those bothersome thoughts surface again instead of dwelling on them and giving them power give God the glory by dwelling on His Word, the Truth, and choose to fill your cup with praise. As Hebrews 13:15 states, 'offer a sacrifice of praise'. Believe by faith God is saying, "Be brave, things aren't as they appear. Trust Me, not your feelings or even your own thoughts."

Read More:
Isaiah 43:1-4, Isaiah 43:7, & Isaiah 43:18-19

Prayer:
Father help me choose to obey you by dwelling on Your Word and not on my feelings about the issue. Thank You that You are with me every step of the way.

Plan of Action (James 1:22 & James 1:25):
Memorize one or more of the verses from Isaiah 43:1-4, 7, 18-19.