Seek God With All Your Heart And SoulSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: Take an oath here and now, that you will never be found inadequate in seeking the Lord. If you adopt the view that God is all in all to you, He will guide you holding your hands, during these days of your youth. "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 10:12)
"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29)
If a man is "a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8), He will not receive anything from the Lord. Fickle-minded people who are in a dilemma as to whether to love the Lord or to enjoy the world, will be drifting away from God, little by little until they are completely cut away from Divinity.
Friend, most of us want to lead a life in the righteous path of devotion to God. But 'the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life' make us take a path diametrically against the will of God; 'but he who does the will of God abides forever' (1 John 2:15-17).
The Lord Jesus insists that His children should abide in Him just as the fruit- bearing branch abides in the vine (John 15:4,5). Without Him we can do nothing. When we live according to the will of God, our attachment to this world and its lusts will fade away. If you are seeking the Lord in a half-hearted manner, listen to God who presently talks with you. Wherever you are now, heed His majestic voice and start praying, "Lord, give me Your grace to enable me to live righteously a holy life". Then He will deliver you from all your bondages and transform you into His child.
Now, listen to what King David counsels his son Solomon, "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever." (1 Chronicles 28:9)
Dear friend, take an oath here and now, that you will never be found inadequate in seeking the Lord. If you adopt the view that God is all in all for you, He will guide you holding your hands and guide you.
My father-in-law was born and brought up in a family alien to Christ. But, because he was educated in a Christian school, he followed the Christian 'way' and ultimately married a Christian lady. But it cannot be vouched that he sought the Lord with a loyal heart. Yet, the metamorphosis came about when once he heard the message of Paul Kadambavanam, an evangelist on the ineffable love of Jesus, he surrendered his whole heart to the Lord and began to seek Him with his whole soul. When I entered his house as a daughter-in-law, saw him get up early in the morning, spread up a mat for the family prayer and sit up on it as the first person waiting for the other members of the family to join him in his search for the communion with the Lord. We would all join him for the family devotion. In the beginning, I was surprised. But now, I realise that because of that zealous father's devotion to God, brother D.G.S. Dhinakaran, myself, son Paul Dhinakaran, daughter Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran and grand children Sam, Sharon and Sweety have risen as the successive generations seeking the magnificent Lord. What a delightful phenomenon it is, to be a part of our Lord's generations.
Friend, let us abide by the verse found in Proverbs 8:17 and seek our Lord whole heartedly. He will reveal Himself and His wisdom to those who seek Him early.
"Abraham was called the friend of God." (James 2:23)
"A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation." (Psalm 22:30)
Through Abraham, the friend of God, Isaac, his son, Jacob son of Isaac and the whole race of the people of Israel were the chosen people of God. When you bring about a change in you as the true and whole-hearted seekers of God, all who see you will acknowledge that you are 'the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.' (Isaiah 61:9)
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
So, He is ever near to those who seek Him with a true and loyal heart.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
You are the Lord who never goes back from Your promises. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Teach me to seek You with all my heart, with all my mind and all my spirit. Help me to seek You early in the morning. Guide me to understand Your will and do accordingly. Protect me from the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |