Seek First His Kingdom

Do not worry. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt. 6:25-33)

Who provides food for the ravens when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:41)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penney? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of the father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:29-31)

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field [with lilies], which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothes you, O you of little faith! (Lk. 12:28)

How much does God love us? He knows the number of hairs on our head! He WANTS good things for our life. God not only clothes us with our material needs, he also clothes us through His righteousness. He clothes us with His peace and His strength. He fills us with His love and showers us with His grace and Mercy. And all that is required of us is to "Seek first His Kingdom..."

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.(Lk. 12:11-12)

Whether its facing the court systems, being the recipient of false accusations, or dealing with an unreasonable spouse, we ultimately have no idea what God is doing on the other side. Seek God. That is our answer. HE will fill us with the wisdom we need to endure whatever comes in our path.

Do not be like them [the ones who pray, babbling like pagans, using many words], for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matt. 6:8)

We don't have to be eloquent as we Seek God. Take Him with you throughout the day. Talk to Him as you would talk to a trusted friend. Let Him into every area of  your life. Seeking God is simply desiring to know His way in our lives and PAYING ATTENTION to keep our thoughts focused on Him. 

One of the biggest obstacles in our search for The Kingdom for our lives is our lack of faith. We MUST BELIEVE in The One we profess! We see the circumstances swirling around us and we are caught up in the winds. Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith, " he said. "Why did you doubt?" When did Peter become afraid? When he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the waves. He began to doubt. We all do it. We take once glance at our impossible situations and all it takes is that glimmer of doubt to creep in. But we can do as Peter did. He cried out to the Lord, "Save me!" And when did the Lord answer? IMMEDIATELY! It is true for us too. There WILL be times of doubt, but that's when we cry out to Jesus, "Save me!" We turn our focus to Him and He will meet us at our greatest place of need.

Martha was distracted. Mary spent time listening to Jesus."Only one thing is needed" Jesus said as he rebuked Martha. Mary was seeking the Kingdom.  Martha got caught up in the circumstances.(Lk. 10:38-42)

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'' (Matt. 3:2-3)

 What could possibly be in the way of the Lord in our lives? OURSELVES! In order for the Lord to make His way into our situation, then WE have to get out of the way. Our "repentance" isn't simply a spiritual change, turning away from our sin, but it also a moral change...it is a change of the heart, a new perspective. When we focus on another person or on a situation instead of focusing on Jesus, then we start thinking in our minds how we can "fix" things, or we try to figure things out, or we try to rationalize things away. Jesus has His hand on our situation. HE knows what needs to be done. If we are trying to work, then why do we need God? We need to get ourselves out of the way so that our Lord has a clear path to work in our circumstances.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. How can we know this is true? (Ps. 37:4)

Because as we "Seek His Kingdom," HE plants the desires in our hearts. They are desires that HE wants to fulfill in our lives. But it is all in HIS timing. We much be in such a relationship with Jesus that our eyes remain on the Giver of the blessing and are not easily diverted onto the gift of the blessing.

And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.  (Matt. 19:29)

Seek Christ! Some peoples marriages survive, some don't. Seek Christ! Some spouses who are standing will lose their homes. Seek Christ! Each of us is in our own "variety" of trials. And there are some who will receive their answers sooner than others. Seek Christ! Because as we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will receive a HUNDRED TIMES as much! A hundred times as much of what?? OUR HEARTS' DESIRES!!!  

Do not worry. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

God IS Doing a New Thing

Is. 43:8-19 – Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the waste land.

A new thing! Not only do I see God moving in new ways in my life, but I also see it in the lives of people around me. Whether it’s coming out of the wilderness, seeing that long awaited prayer answered, or being given new eyes to see God in a new way… It is very clear that God IS doing a new thing. Each of us, in our various situations, are on the same journey. Yet, each of us, also has our own daily “crosses” that we must carry. No matter what fears may assault us as we all begin our “new” things, don’t ever forget that we walk in victory beside Jesus! 

Is. 43:15 -  I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s creator, your King.

·      This got my attention. The next verse I was supposed to go to was Is. 42:15…by the time I realized I was in chapter 43, I had already highlighted and dated my Bible! So, from here on out, I continued my Bible walk with EYES AND HEART WIDE OPEN. In my heart, I felt like he was speaking. Not only for me, but for the people that I try to encourage.

I AM THE LORD, YOUR HOLY ONE, ISRAEL’S CREATOR, YOUR KING…..

I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, alone unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light for them; and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do.  (Is. 42: 15-17)

·      For me, personally, it is an answered prayer about your journey into the college seeking. This happens to be where I am “in this journey.” However, there are many, many people I pray for that when I read this verse it gives me confirmation that HE has our backs….HE will guide you when you don’t know the way….HE will guide that prodigal even if the prodigal does not acknowledge His guidance. TRUST GOD!

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. (Is. 42:9)

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    God’s Holy Word telling me that He will guide me. I just have to keep my eyes on HIM. I can’t be looking at the past. I can’t be running ahead of Him in the future. As the Israelites were guided by the cloud and the fire, as long as I stay focused on Jesus, I will see His guidance through His Holy Spirit that lives inside of me.

“However, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when men will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave your forefathers.” (Is. 42:9)

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     I pray for a LOT of prodigals through the web site. So as I looked closer into this verse, it occurred to me that for some people that I pray for, these “new beginnings” (new things) that are coming will be restoration. Going back to the verse, “out of Egypt” is the EXODUS. The people fled, the marriage died, whatever type of exodus there was in someone’s life. Then, look at “land of the north”. The land of the north they are talking about here is Babylon. And Babylon in the Bible is where the Israelites ended up when they took their eyes off of God and ended up in captivity for those 700 years! When the Israelites were in Babylon, they were considered EXILES because the were not LIVING IN THEIR HOMELAND. So, for all those I pray for, I say, hang in there. Because this next foretelling is the icing on the cake….I WILL RESTORE THEM…..RESTORATION…First it will be our personal restoration with HIM, and then, we are prepared to see the restoration of our families!

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. (Rev. 21:5)

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       So, since He had my undivided attention at the first verse of this walk, I am trying to be obedient and “write this down.” For whatever reason.

A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our god. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground will become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed; and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Is. 40:3-4)

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     How do I make a highway for God? I get myself out of the way! I cast my concerns, my what ifs, my worries at the cross. As it pertains to my prayers of today, God is saying, “you’re worries and frets about the future are hindrances in the path for me to work.” TRUST GOD. However, when I was going through the separation, God gave me this verse as in reference to the restoration of my marriage. He told me then, as He’s telling me today, to get myself out of the way. Keep my eyes focused on Jesus. Keep my eyes focused on TODAY. TRUST GOD!

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. (Ps. 126: 4-6)

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    “Fortunes” doesn’t necessarily have to do with a monetary thing. Just think about what’s important in your heart. But also remember that a stream is of constant motion. There is a source in, and there is a place out. There are many who are hurting so bad that they are paralyzed by the depth of the hurt. When we are at these times, we need to carry the “right” seed to sow. The negative weeds in our minds can cloud our motives. When there is weeping, learn how to sow the seed thoughts of God…think of His blessings…there is ALWAYS a blessing in your life…Thank Him! Praise Him! Reach out to others who have needs, because when you do, you are acting on the LOVE of God. And he says that when we sow these God seeds, we will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves.” And I found it interesting that when I looked up “sheaves” it means something bound.

There, the Lord will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no might ship will sail them. For the Lord is our judge, The Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; It is He who will save us. (is. 33:31)

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     “There” is Zion. The restored Israel and HE will be our Mighty One. When we get to our restored places, we can’t take our eyes off of Him. HE is the very reason for the restoration! The “broad rivers and streams” represent safety and security. The word picture is that they are so wide that no boat can cross it, and no ship can sail it! “The Lord is our Judge” in that we are accountable to HIM alone. We play to an audience of ONE. And He judges our hearts! Who we are is much more important than what we do, although what we do is a reflection of who we are! “The Lord is our lawgiver.” He has given us His Written Word to be our roadmap for this life. Every situation we will encounter is outlined in the Bible. HE enlightens our hearts to know how He wants us to live. “The Lord is our King.” He is our leader, and our example. “It is He who will save us.” Easily summed up….TRUST GOD!