Your Daily Devotional for July 14, 2006

 

July 14, 2006

 

Truly Seeking God

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

 

Psalms 55:16-17, 22

 

Have you ever entered God’s presence with a million different things on your mind? Do you ever just whisper a quick prayer and then run on with your life? Did you ever feel as if you didn’t really get anything from God? Did God forget to show up? Or, did you not let Him speak to you?

 

All too often, we become so engrossed in our busyness that we fail to stop and truly seek God. We may read a small portion of our Bible then pray a quick, rehearsed prayer, but never meet with Him. We need our time alone with God if we are to ever make it through life. We need that daily refreshment of His promises and truths.

 

How are we to truly meet with God in a world filled with appointments, deadlines, and endless meetings? Well, first of all, we must designate a specific place. Choose a place where you can meet God alone. Make sure it is a quiet place with no disturbances.

 

Next, choose a specific time. Some people can get up early and be awake enough to meet God, while others are more alert at night and can talk with Him then. Whichever one fits you, designate a time when you meet God. This is an official appointment! Don’t be late or miss it!

 

Also, choose a specific posture. Daniel knelt in faith and prayed toward Jerusalem (the sanctuary of the Lord). Daniel 6:10 says, “…and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God…”

 

Finally, decide upon a specific attitude. Daniel gave thanks unto God for all that He had done for him. We have so much to thank God for! Let your praise be one of thankfulness and honor. Do you think that God will be truly praised if you are in a bad mood or if you have a bad attitude? God deserves the very best! Leave all that behind before you enter your specific meeting place.

 

In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.

 

Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”

 

Do you truly seek God in your devotions or are you allowing grass to grow in your path towards God? Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Take time today to write down your specific time, place, position, and attitude, and allow this to be your start to truly seeking Him.

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