Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: JOURNEY (01/13/22)
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TITLE: Seek Him With All Your Heart | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
01/20/22 -
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It starts with the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says “The Lord does not look at the outer appearance but at the heart.” As David writes in Psalm 139:23, 24. I wanted God to search and know my heart and to know my anxieties. And to let me know of any wicked ways that were inside of me. I prayed and meditated on these verses asking the Lord to show me any sin that may be lodged in the deepest crevices of my heart. It is my responsibility to guard my heart from the arrows Satan shoots at me daily.
My desire is to be a part of God’s story. For this to happen, I must seek God in all I do. It is written in Jeremiah 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” That is the key. Searching for the Lord with all my heart. I wanted a pure heart as David wrote in Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” I am a human being and my heart will never be completely pure until I am looking in Jesus’ eyes.
I do not have to seek the Lord alone. The Holy Spirit is my guide. He is always with me. The Holy Spirit leads me into all truth. John 16:13. Seeking God is not a straight line. It consists of valleys and hilltops and I will spend time in both areas. Trust in God plays an important role in life. How much time I spend in those valleys depends on how much I trust the Holy Spirit in leading me out. When Peter started his walk across the sea he was focused only on Jesus. Suddenly, he looked at the waves and felt the wind blowing against him and he began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him. Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him. John 16:29–31. I am like Peter and allow circumstances to dictate my actions. When this happens, I am back in a valley.
Solomon knew the importance of guarding our hearts when he wrote Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Problems will arise. We will face some financial difficulties, relationship upheaval, job loss, or health issues. How do we handle it? Do we get angry or splash around in self-pity. This only separates us from the goal of seeking the Lord. What happened to trust? When I react in a negative way, it shows me where my relationship with God is at that moment. I can turn these thoughts around by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work through me.
The Lord is molding me to be like his Son Jesus. He could do it with the twinkle of an eye but that is not how He works. When I encounter obstacles, I can’t go around them, under them, or over them. I must go through them. The power of the Holy Spirit guides me through the adversities I encounter. Paul writes in Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The peace of God is a fruit we can enjoy as we journey in seeking Him.
All verses are from NKJV.
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