There are many things in our lives that matter to us; our family, friends, career, health, and the list can go on. But at the end of the day, there is only one thing that matters and that is God. As we set our hearts on God, all other things that matter to us will be taken care of. Set your heart on what matters.
I have needs just like you. I was caught up with my needs and found myself seeking God for his hands and not simply for more of Him.
I spent weeks fasting and praying but it had a lot to do with looking for God to do miracles through me and in my situation. I needed to see a breakthrough in my situation, but without me realizing my heart was set on His Hands and not His face.
The Holy Spirit convicted my heart as I read Psalm 27:4 which was written by David:
"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
David had many needs and was going through so many struggles. King Saul was after his life, yet David made one request to God - it wasn't to be raised up as a king, nor for provision and safety, nor for any other need He may have had, but to simply to be in God's presence and gaze upon His beauty.
David's heart was after God.
Was my heart after God alone? Not completely.
My heart was too focused on my needs that I forgot the most important thing that my heart needed which was God. I lost the joy of His presence because I was too focused on what I lacked. I needed to remember that I have all I need in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 reminds us, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
As we set our hearts on God, all our needs will be met.
Jesus is all we need and everything else comes secondary after Him. Many times we put our needs over Jesus. Maybe you're thinking that you need that boyfriend to make your life better, or that you need success to feel good about yourself. The truth is you just need Jesus. He is the source of love, joy, affirmation, peace, comfort and any other need you may have.
Your needs should only be pointing you to Jesus.
It can be easy to focus on what Jesus can do through us and for us that we miss Jesus himself. I was caught up with seeking the signs and miracles of Jesus that I forgot the greatest miracle of all which is His love for us. He died on the cross for our sins and was raised back to life to redeem us. He loved us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).
If Jesus was willing to go that far to die for us, will He not meet our needs today?
God is a good father and will take care of our needs, but He wants us to learn to put Him first. God wants us to love Him and not for what He can do for us.
Matthew 6:33 reminds us, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
May we be like David, whose only request was to dwell in the presence of God and gaze at His beauty. It’s ok to be asking God for a breakthrough, but ultimately our hearts must be set on Him and not on what He can do for us.
David says in Psalm 28:8,"..Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
For what reasons have you been seeking God lately? Is your heart set on your needs or on God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to open and search your heart to show you anything that is hindering your heart from being pure before Him.
Make Psalm 139:23-24 your prayer to the Lord, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
As you set your heart on God, He will quiet all the worries of this world and bring you in a place of complete joy and stillness. So remember, set your heart on what matters.
Prayer: Lord, I trust that as I set my heart on you, all my needs will be met.
Monday, August 27, 2018
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Keeping Joy In The Midst of Chaos
Life will never be perfect and buttoned up the way we want it to be. We are going to go through dry and hard seasons, but keeping joy in the midst of chaos is possible.
As much as I want to avoid conflict and chaos, I realize it can't be avoidable.
The discomfort, pain, and heartbreak were all so real. I was in a situation that seemed hopeless. The more I tried, the worse the situation became.
There was nothing I could do to fix the chaos. As I fixed my eyes on the situation, I found my joy and peace getting stripped away from me. But during my alone time with God, he reminded me to fix my eyes on Him, and not my circumstances.
As I chose to fix my eyes on God, I realized I had an impossible God who was greater than the impossibilities I was facing. My hope and joy became renewed despite the chaos around me.
Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
It may be impossible for us to fix the mess, but it's not impossible for God.
When we put our hope in our own strength and circumstances, we lose joy and peace because we know we can't do anything. But when we put our hope in a God who is able to do all things, our joy and peace become restored.
God isn't asking us to fight our battles but to be still and trust in Him.
We read in 2 Chronicles 20 of an army waging war against Jehoshaphat. God spoke through Jahaziel and told Jehoshaphat "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.." (2 Chronicles 20:17). God reminded Jehoshaphat that "the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15).
Instead of giving in to fear, Jehoshaphat, after praying and fasting, got everyone to sing praises to God. God came through and defeated their enemies without them having to fight. 2 Chronicles 20:22 says, "As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."
Jehoshaphat and his army could have run away out of fear, but they would have missed their victory and God's glory shine. They instead stood firm, praising and believing God would come through - and He did.
Just as God fought Jehoshaphat's battles, He wants to fight our battles as well.
Will you believe that God will come through in your situation?
I don't know what chaos you are facing, but know that you have a God is who is greater than your chaos. God is your greatest defender. He is asking you to do is to stand firm in faith and trust in Him.
Jehoshaphat was filled with joy because he chose to praise God in the midst of the chaos. He didn't focus on the battle, but on the God who is able to win the battle.
Where are you focusing your attention on? Are you focusing your eyes on the chaos or on an almighty God?
God will never fail you. He is faithful to those who walk according to His word and direction. Psalm 25:3 reminds us, "No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause."
Joy will rest in us as we trust that God is in control even when things are not in our control. Fear cannot shake us when we choose to stand firm in God's word. Psalm 16:8 says, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
As we fix our eyes on Jesus, our circumstances will not move us because our faith is rested in a God who is mighty to save.
Meditate on God's word and allow your mind to be renewed with his truth as you face hardships. Be ready to replace every fear and doubt with God's promises. Joy will follow you as you seek God's presence and truth. He promises those who seek Him will find him (Jeremiah 29:13). So remember, keeping joy in the midst of chaos is possible with God.
As much as I want to avoid conflict and chaos, I realize it can't be avoidable.
The discomfort, pain, and heartbreak were all so real. I was in a situation that seemed hopeless. The more I tried, the worse the situation became.
There was nothing I could do to fix the chaos. As I fixed my eyes on the situation, I found my joy and peace getting stripped away from me. But during my alone time with God, he reminded me to fix my eyes on Him, and not my circumstances.
As I chose to fix my eyes on God, I realized I had an impossible God who was greater than the impossibilities I was facing. My hope and joy became renewed despite the chaos around me.
Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
It may be impossible for us to fix the mess, but it's not impossible for God.
When we put our hope in our own strength and circumstances, we lose joy and peace because we know we can't do anything. But when we put our hope in a God who is able to do all things, our joy and peace become restored.
God isn't asking us to fight our battles but to be still and trust in Him.
We read in 2 Chronicles 20 of an army waging war against Jehoshaphat. God spoke through Jahaziel and told Jehoshaphat "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.." (2 Chronicles 20:17). God reminded Jehoshaphat that "the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15).
Instead of giving in to fear, Jehoshaphat, after praying and fasting, got everyone to sing praises to God. God came through and defeated their enemies without them having to fight. 2 Chronicles 20:22 says, "As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."
Jehoshaphat and his army could have run away out of fear, but they would have missed their victory and God's glory shine. They instead stood firm, praising and believing God would come through - and He did.
Just as God fought Jehoshaphat's battles, He wants to fight our battles as well.
Will you believe that God will come through in your situation?
I don't know what chaos you are facing, but know that you have a God is who is greater than your chaos. God is your greatest defender. He is asking you to do is to stand firm in faith and trust in Him.
Jehoshaphat was filled with joy because he chose to praise God in the midst of the chaos. He didn't focus on the battle, but on the God who is able to win the battle.
Where are you focusing your attention on? Are you focusing your eyes on the chaos or on an almighty God?
God will never fail you. He is faithful to those who walk according to His word and direction. Psalm 25:3 reminds us, "No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause."
Joy will rest in us as we trust that God is in control even when things are not in our control. Fear cannot shake us when we choose to stand firm in God's word. Psalm 16:8 says, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
As we fix our eyes on Jesus, our circumstances will not move us because our faith is rested in a God who is mighty to save.
Meditate on God's word and allow your mind to be renewed with his truth as you face hardships. Be ready to replace every fear and doubt with God's promises. Joy will follow you as you seek God's presence and truth. He promises those who seek Him will find him (Jeremiah 29:13). So remember, keeping joy in the midst of chaos is possible with God.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Instant Intimacy
It’s easy to get impatient in our singleness and desire instant intimacy from people. While instant intimacy may make us feel loved at the moment, it will later leave us more empty. Nothing can compare to intimacy with Jesus.
I was sick of being single and waiting on God’s perfect timing. I wanted to take things into my own hands so I began the quest for a man and downloaded Tinder.
Swiping right if I found him attractive and left if he was too creepy, I was making every decision based on looks. During this season in college, I was a believer but lacked intimacy with God.
Instead of growing in intimacy with God, I wanted instant intimacy with a man.
At the time I believed intimacy was only found in the love of a man, but I soon realized the feeling of love didn’t last.
Have you ever sought out intimacy, yet remained unsatisfied?
Relationships aren’t bad, but they will never completely satisfy us. They are instant intimacies that leave us feeling more empty afterward.
God designed us as intimate beings, so our desire for intimacy is normal, but we must fill that need with God, not people.
Jesus says in John 4:13-14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Until Jesus becomes our ultimate source of intimacy, we will never fully enjoy life and the blessings that God gives us. No one can ever love us perfectly except for God. When we depend on others for love, we will always be left unsatisfied.
When we understand that we are fully loved by God, we take off the expectations from others to be our God. The reality is no one can love us like Jesus.
The cure to the temptation of instant intimacy is the love of Jesus.
There is nothing we can do for God to love us more or less. God sent Jesus to die on the cross so that we could be made spotless before Him. It is not by our works, but by grace that we are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Jesus loved us at our worst and died so that we could experience life to the fullest. He wants an intimate relationship with us but it starts with our understanding that we are simply loved by him.
We have a God who wants to speak to us and do life with us. There is no greater joy we could experience than seeing God revealed in our lives. The countless dates that I have been in cannot compare to the joy I experience with Jesus.
Do you desire lasting intimacy? Will you turn to God and devote to spending time with him?
Like in any relationship, it takes spending time with Jesus to grow in intimacy with him. If we want to experience an intimate relationship with Jesus we must devote our time in his word.
As we turn to Jesus in times of trouble, we give him the opportunity to comfort us with his words. If you’re struggling in singleness, feeling impatient, or wanting to take control, use that energy to seek God. Share with him your heart and ask him in prayer to experience his presence and love.
Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
The word of God has the power to transform our thoughts and heart. If we want to experience God, we must allow his word to do a work in us. Intimacy is about being one Jesus. The Holy Spirit will align us with his desire as we immerse ourselves in his word.
The enemy will try his best to pull us farther from God by replacing him with relationships that were never meant for us. The enemy’s tactic is to prevent us from experiencing the best intimate relationship we could ever have which is with Jesus. I challenge you to read God’s Word as a love letter and spend time in his presence. Hold on to God's promises and let it be the hope that keeps you going. So remember, say no to instant intimacy and run to Jesus.
Written by Joy Pedrow
I was sick of being single and waiting on God’s perfect timing. I wanted to take things into my own hands so I began the quest for a man and downloaded Tinder.
Swiping right if I found him attractive and left if he was too creepy, I was making every decision based on looks. During this season in college, I was a believer but lacked intimacy with God.
Instead of growing in intimacy with God, I wanted instant intimacy with a man.
At the time I believed intimacy was only found in the love of a man, but I soon realized the feeling of love didn’t last.
Have you ever sought out intimacy, yet remained unsatisfied?
Relationships aren’t bad, but they will never completely satisfy us. They are instant intimacies that leave us feeling more empty afterward.
God designed us as intimate beings, so our desire for intimacy is normal, but we must fill that need with God, not people.
Intimacy is found in Jesus.
Jesus says in John 4:13-14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Until Jesus becomes our ultimate source of intimacy, we will never fully enjoy life and the blessings that God gives us. No one can ever love us perfectly except for God. When we depend on others for love, we will always be left unsatisfied.
When we understand that we are fully loved by God, we take off the expectations from others to be our God. The reality is no one can love us like Jesus.
The cure to the temptation of instant intimacy is the love of Jesus.
There is nothing we can do for God to love us more or less. God sent Jesus to die on the cross so that we could be made spotless before Him. It is not by our works, but by grace that we are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Jesus loved us at our worst and died so that we could experience life to the fullest. He wants an intimate relationship with us but it starts with our understanding that we are simply loved by him.
We have a God who wants to speak to us and do life with us. There is no greater joy we could experience than seeing God revealed in our lives. The countless dates that I have been in cannot compare to the joy I experience with Jesus.
Do you desire lasting intimacy? Will you turn to God and devote to spending time with him?
Like in any relationship, it takes spending time with Jesus to grow in intimacy with him. If we want to experience an intimate relationship with Jesus we must devote our time in his word.
As we turn to Jesus in times of trouble, we give him the opportunity to comfort us with his words. If you’re struggling in singleness, feeling impatient, or wanting to take control, use that energy to seek God. Share with him your heart and ask him in prayer to experience his presence and love.
Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
The word of God has the power to transform our thoughts and heart. If we want to experience God, we must allow his word to do a work in us. Intimacy is about being one Jesus. The Holy Spirit will align us with his desire as we immerse ourselves in his word.
The enemy will try his best to pull us farther from God by replacing him with relationships that were never meant for us. The enemy’s tactic is to prevent us from experiencing the best intimate relationship we could ever have which is with Jesus. I challenge you to read God’s Word as a love letter and spend time in his presence. Hold on to God's promises and let it be the hope that keeps you going. So remember, say no to instant intimacy and run to Jesus.
Written by Joy Pedrow
Website: www.joypedrow.com
Instagram: @joypedrow
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