1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 13-16
2 Chronicles 15:11 At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back. 12 They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. 13 All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. 14 They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side."
Before Asa, the kings of Judah worshiped idols and not the one and true God. Asa made sacrifices to the Lord and led his people into an covenant to seek the Lord with ALL their heart and soul. They verbally and internally made the covenant and to show that he was serious, Asa killed all who would not seek God. After seeking God eagerly, they found God and God gave them peace with the nations surrounding them.
When God tells us to seek Him in Matthew 7, He is not asking us to just look. He is asking us..no telling us to seek wholeheartedly, EAGERLY. That is the only way we will find Him. I must seek Him in prayer EAGERLY, seeking verbally and internally.
Lord!
You are amazing. You said that if we are to seek, we will find. So Lord, I am seeking You. I want to find You and will look with my heart and my soul. You are my One and Only, and will continue to seek You with everything I have!! This is my verbal covenant and I am proclaiming that You are the one I wish to find, every day, every moment. I yearn to be in Your presence.
Amen.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Eyes Open, Ears Attentative
2 Chronicles 6, 2 Chronicles 7, and Psalms 163
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
After years of building and perfecting the Lord's temple, King Solomon dedicated it to the Lord. The Lord then came down and spoke to Solomon. The Lord promises to hear their prayers from Heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. He promises to open His eyes and ears to their prayers. However, He says only if they not only pray and seek, but also humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways.
Many times we come to God expecting Him to answer our prayers, but we fail to humble ourselves. We also forget that it has to be a intentional decision to turn from our wicked ways. We must remember that although God has promised to hear our prayers, it is still our responsibility to make sure our prayers are coming from a humble and sanctified heart.
Lord God,
I know I am guilty of coming at You with just requests. I pray that You forgive me for treating You like You are my personal wishing well. I am once again reminded of what the state of my heart must be. I love You and everything that You continue to do in my life.
Amen
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
After years of building and perfecting the Lord's temple, King Solomon dedicated it to the Lord. The Lord then came down and spoke to Solomon. The Lord promises to hear their prayers from Heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. He promises to open His eyes and ears to their prayers. However, He says only if they not only pray and seek, but also humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways.
Many times we come to God expecting Him to answer our prayers, but we fail to humble ourselves. We also forget that it has to be a intentional decision to turn from our wicked ways. We must remember that although God has promised to hear our prayers, it is still our responsibility to make sure our prayers are coming from a humble and sanctified heart.
Lord God,
I know I am guilty of coming at You with just requests. I pray that You forgive me for treating You like You are my personal wishing well. I am once again reminded of what the state of my heart must be. I love You and everything that You continue to do in my life.
Amen
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
He is my Lover, and I am His Beloved
Song of Solomon 1-Song of Solomon 8
I have to start off, by saying this was such a poetic and beautiful love letter conversation, however sometimes I got a little lost, so I had to use The Message Translation to help me understand.
Song of Solomon 2:7 "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." [NIV]
Song of Solomon 3:5 "Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready." [The Message]
Song of Solomon 8:4 "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." [NIV]
Wow. Just wow. Reading these beautiful, romantic, sensual songs would make any woman want to fall in love. However, three times in eight chapters we are warned that us women should not force love. We should not MAKE it happen, but wait until the time is right, wait until we are ready.
I'm at a point in my life where I want to be romanced. I know I SHOULD be romanced and sometimes expect it to happen. [whoa there's the evidence of my honesty]. This love letter conversation is a tangible representation of what I want. I want to courted and for it to be natural and beautiful and sensual and REAL. So I know I am guilty, as many woman are. Guilty of trying to MAKE something that's supposed to be natural happen. **sigh...**
Lord Jesus, My Lover, My Friend
I lay it down..I've already chosen you to be my Lover..and in many ways You continue to romance me. Lord, I know I didn't MAKE that happen. So I pray Lord that You take away my control. The control that I hold on to when it comes to Love. I pray that You teach me to "not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." Lord God, reveal to me when the time is right who it is You've set apart for me and in the meantime I pray that my relationship with You as my Lover grows deeper.
By Your love always,
Amen
I have to start off, by saying this was such a poetic and beautiful love letter conversation, however sometimes I got a little lost, so I had to use The Message Translation to help me understand.
Song of Solomon 2:7 "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." [NIV]
Song of Solomon 3:5 "Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready." [The Message]
Song of Solomon 8:4 "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." [NIV]
Wow. Just wow. Reading these beautiful, romantic, sensual songs would make any woman want to fall in love. However, three times in eight chapters we are warned that us women should not force love. We should not MAKE it happen, but wait until the time is right, wait until we are ready.
I'm at a point in my life where I want to be romanced. I know I SHOULD be romanced and sometimes expect it to happen. [whoa there's the evidence of my honesty]. This love letter conversation is a tangible representation of what I want. I want to courted and for it to be natural and beautiful and sensual and REAL. So I know I am guilty, as many woman are. Guilty of trying to MAKE something that's supposed to be natural happen. **sigh...**
Lord Jesus, My Lover, My Friend
I lay it down..I've already chosen you to be my Lover..and in many ways You continue to romance me. Lord, I know I didn't MAKE that happen. So I pray Lord that You take away my control. The control that I hold on to when it comes to Love. I pray that You teach me to "not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." Lord God, reveal to me when the time is right who it is You've set apart for me and in the meantime I pray that my relationship with You as my Lover grows deeper.
By Your love always,
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)