April 30, 2024
"How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart ... Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! (Psalm 119:2,5)
It seems that in every arena of life—sports, business, family, relationships, education—that those who are most successful and accomplished are those who are all in.
And yet, the most important arena of life (the pursuit of God) is often haphazard and half-hearted. The wise Psalmist begins the glorious 119th Psalm by reminding us that we should "seek Him with all (our) heart." We should be all in.
All-in believers find themselves willing to do whatever God asks, for they have determined that God's ways are the most beneficial and God-glorifying. Gradually, their "ways are established to keep (God's) statutes." Obedience isn't an occasional, random step, but the established pattern of behavior. They have chosen to let God rule and lead. And what you observe in this individual’s life is what God is being allowed to produce in and through them, for Christ is in control. This is what brings blessing, for God's ways are always right.
To resist anywhere is to restrict everywhere. One private closet, one unsurrendered plot of ground, gives the devil a foothold he doesn’t deserve but will use to maximum advantage. This is why God is in the continual process with His children of helping them relax their hands on the whole. “All to Jesus, I surrender; all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him; in His presence daily live.”
Lord Jesus, show me my heart. Teach me any area that is resistant to your rule. Let me fling wide the door and give you absolute access to all that I love and cherish, and worship. And then fill each room with Yourself! Let me be the man of Psalm 119 who seeks you with all my heart and is established in following you.
March 11, 2025
God knows what He is about. Always include in your request the greatest prayer—the prayer of surrender. “Lord, Your will be done.” This is the prayer, when humbly prayed, that will always be answered and yield the most valuable result from the God who loves us best ... even if the answer is hard.
March 05, 2025
Every created man or woman must make their choice. What will you do with God? Will you embrace or reject Him? Draw near or run away? Trust and serve Him or doubt God and serve yourself? This foundational choice determines everything.
March 04, 2025
As you evaluate your faith, is it “God and?” God and others. God and the world’s ideas. God and my best thoughts thrown in. God and some money. God and a clear path. Or simply: God. Are you vainly clinging to the idea that you need more than Him?
