Today’s Truth
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).
Friend to Friend
God promised, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). This is more than a casual glance before heading off to work or to the carpool in the morning. It’s more than a hit and run encounter with God. He desires to speak to us through the pages of our Bible and it requires meditating and seeking God with our whole heart.
Jesus told His followers, “If you abide in my Word then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Abide means to continue in, to tarry on, to dwell on, and to remain. It is not reading the Scripture for information, but for transformation. There are many scholars who have read the Bible for information, but have never entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This reminds me of the difference between the woman who memorizes a menu at a restaurant and a woman who enjoys the food. Only one gets truly fed. Let me ask you, who can describe a sunset more accurately — a blind person who has read all about sunsets (what causes the colors, the time of day they occur, the effect of clouds on the hues) or the person who has seen and experienced the vibrant oranges, blues, pinks and purples painted across the sky as the sun creeps below the horizon and the rays play peek-a-boo behind the scattered clouds? I dare say the one who has experience the sunset for herself.
When we study God’s Word and couple that study with listening to His voice, we will come to know Him on a much more intimate level than a Biblical scholar who has studied the words on the page but never taken the time to converse with the Author Himself.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that You have given me Your Word as a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I pray that as I spend time with You each day, You will open the eyes of my heart to see You more clearly. I pray that I will be able to hear Your still small voice in the clatter of everyday life. I love You, Lord, and can’t wait to see what You have in store for me today!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
As you read the Bible today, ask God to show you something that you have never seen before.
As God reveals His truth to you today, write down what you’ve learned.
As you write down what you learned from God’s Word today, also write how you are going to apply it to your life.
How passionate are you about hearing from God through the pages of His Word?
With that in mind, how much opportunity are you giving God to speak to you? In other words, how much time are you spending abiding in Him?
Remember, abiding in Christ is not necessarily how many verses you read, but how in tune you are with God.
Comments 12
Thank you so much for the reminder that I am always in need of. Meeting with God and spending time in His word was a priority for me when I was in High school and college but fastword 23 years and it has become such a struggle. I work a full time (40 hr) job and a part time job (15-25 hours weekly); I have 4 chicldren and a husband that until 2 months ago had been in full time Christian ministry for over 20 years (10 of that we spent on the mission field). I appreciate your devotions and God always uses them to speak to my heart and convict me and encourage me in the things that I know but need reminding of. I want His Word to be a priority in my life and must just keep on working on my priorities to make it a reality.
Sharon. . . what a great explanation of the difference between knowing of God and having a personal relationship with him!!! With your permission, I am going to use it.
Dear Sharon, Thank you for letting the Lord use you to encourage us who are trying to keep our priorities in order. I can relate to Mari Lee, it can be tough at times when you have a Family. I’m a Housewife so I can make more of an effort to make time for what I know I need each and every day in order that I stay close to the Savior. Just a little reminder to all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ…remember the Pharisees and Saducees they knew God’s Word like the back of their hands but their Heart was far from Him: Dear Lord, Please let this not be said of us…may our righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees…help us to seek Thy Face and Learn of Thee in a more itimate way…so we do not go astray in Jesus Name I Pray,Amen! “I SURRENDER ALL, ALL TO THEE MY BLESSED SAVIOR, I SURRENDER ALL”
I receive your devotionals each day, and enjoy them so much. Many times they present things in a way that I had not thought of before. Today’s devotion reminded and convicted me of how much more time I need to give to God’s Word. I am a recent Christian and still a baby in my walk with God. I know I spend way too much time with my computer and not with Him. Please pray for me about this.
thank you for this word in due season for me.
it has made me realise that we need to spend more time with the word of God.
things just crowd in on our daily lives & we have to make more time for you.
thank you for your word .
Dearest Sharon…I recently started reading the devotions and I must say I get up pray and head right to my computer to receive inspiration for the day. Your devotion for the 7th touched my heart, because I realized the time I spend connecting to God is hit and miss. Skimming through the bible is like trying to swim on dry land, you have to dive into the water to appreciate the coolness it brings to your body. Please pray for me as I journey to build a stronger connection with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This message has touched my heart so deeply. I am so greatful to have read this. I am excited to share this with everyone, I know it will touch everyone as much as it touched me. Thank you for these words.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT! I REALLY NEEDED TO HEAR IT. I HAVE BEEN STRAYING FROM THAT CLOSENESS WITH HIM AND SO NEEDED TO HEAR IT!! IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT I HAVEN’T BEEN SEEKING HIM WITH MY WHOLE HEART AND I NEED TO. THANKS!
I so agree. When I take the time to relax and just sit and meditate on God’s word I feel so much at peace. I spend lots of time in my car for my business and I’ve also found it really helpful to listen to Christian books and the Bible on CD during this time. Some days when I don’t have time to read, I can usually be uplifted when I’m on the road too. Modern technology can sometimes be really helpful.
I have been struggling for a while now. Like almost a year. Not sure of anything? About to weeks ago i knew it had to end! but i could not get out of it. In my heart i was saying Lord help me fight. But on the outside i made no effort or changes. This past week I was on a mission trip in south florida. It resparked everything i once knew i was called to do. I was in bible college to be a missionary.
Today as I was waking up I knew the first step to recovery. Get in the word FIRST. My homepage is facebook. I always choose that first. I prayed Lord Help me to have a new daily pattern, the first few times will be the hardest but it will get easier as i start to fall in love with you again. Lord convict me hard when i start to make a wrong choice.
Made it safely to the website with little temptation to facebook. Luckily I did not give in. I first looked up the scripture. Jeremiah 28:13 ……………I cannot beleive it!!!! Its on a index card now and i’m putting it everywhere.!!! car ,bathroom, by my bed, on my computer!!!! This is the first day of a change of heart.
God and me are already discussing wheather i should go back to bible college or just community college. Either way I will be a missionary !!! Thank you for creating this website! I first found a magazine from my church then heard where i could see it online. About a year now i’ve been toning in. But now it is helping me to abide in God’s word! Thank you!
so agree. When I take the time to relax and just sit and meditate on God’s word I feel so much at peace. I spend lots of time in my car for my business and I’ve also found it really helpful to listen to Christian books and the Bible on CD during this time.
Seeking God is a decision that does not come very easily,you have to first surrender yourself totally to be transform into the person that He intent for you to be and that too is with the help of his grace. I think that you are being tested from the moment you surrender because then you will come to realize that God have a purpose for your life and his will,will be done. Seeking God is loving him with your whole heart, mind, body and soul.