And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13, 14.
By sin we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied…. The sense of sin has poisoned the springs of life.
By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: “Dead in trespasses and sins;” “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint”; “no soundness in it.” We are held fast in the snare of Satan; “taken captive by him at his will.” Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness.
Many realize their helplessness; they are longing for that spiritual life which will bring them into harmony with God, and are striving to obtain it. But in vain…. Let those desponding, struggling ones look up….
When sin struggles for the mastery … look to the Saviour. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin. Let your grateful heart, trembling with uncertainty, turn to Him. Lay hold on the hope set before you…. His strength will help your weakness; He will lead you step by step. Place your hand in His, and let Him guide you.
He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin….
He is always near. His loving presence surrounds you. Seek Him as One who desires to be found of you.
God’s promise is, “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
The Faith I Live By p. 87
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Dennis. His liver enzymes should be 35 and his is 400. Tests have not revealed what is going on yet. He is in the hospital and will have more testing today. Diane
—-Please pray this neighbor will move out. Jack likes to kill cats, harm his kids. I can’t call police. Has threatened to harm me and my cats. I need a full time job and have a interview tomorrow. Thanks. Ann
—-Please pray once again for my foster son and me. I don’t think I can take much more and unless the situation turns around I will have to give him up. Nancy
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Dear Friends,
When we moved to Berrien Springs in 1968, I got a job as an aide in the physical therapy department of the local hospital. On the first day, one of the other aides took me around to meet the patients. When we came to the bedside of one particular lady, I was surprised to see her condition. She was lying on her back with her knees bent and her arms drawn up to her chest. She spoke very unpleasant words through clenched teeth.
The aide explained that her family told her that this little lady had always been a very negative person who had a hard time if things were not as pleasant as she thought they should be and tended to wallow in self pity rather than dealing with the particular happening. As the aches and pains of arthritis began to come upon her joints, she refused to take her doctor’s advice to exercise even if it was painful. Instead she took the “path of least resistance:” if it hurt to move it, she would not move it. Gradually, she could do less and less for herself. Even when her jawbone was affected, still she did not learn that she must keep moving a joint to be able to move it. Since it hurt to open and shut her mouth, she kept it shut. Eventually, it became frozen and stiff like the rest of her.
There was little anyone could do for her outside of manipulation under anesthesia, but because of her negative attitude the doctors felt that it would do no good. Once they got the joint moving, she would have to keep it moving or her contractures would return. They had no choice but to leave her in her stiffened condition.
The Christian walk is not always pleasant. There are “aches” and “pains” along the way. Paul tells us that these troubles are for our benefit. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:11 Sometimes, however, we tend to be somewhat like that little lady. When trials come, we shrink from them, failing to “fight the good fight of faith,” wallowing in self pity as she did until our experience is weak and stiff and rigid. 1 Tim 6:12 We turn in upon ourselves, thinking only of ourselves until we become as unpleasant to be around as she was.
Paul urges us, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance” Eph 6:11-18
“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,” that we may keep moving onward and upward toward the Kingdom no matter what “aches” and “pains” we must endure. Heb 12:1,2 Let us wrestle, no matter how painful, against the evil one’s onslaughts, giving “diligence to make [our] calling and election sure: for if [we] do these things, [we] shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10,11
Rose