Encouragement for Today
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May 14, 2024
Taking Time To Seek the Lord |
“Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the LORD until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” Hosea 10:12 (CSB)
I hurriedly poured coffee into my travel mug, grabbed my purse, and dashed out — yet another frustratingly late start to my day. The night before. I’d expectantly set my alarm, planning to rise early to spend time with God. But once again, I hopscotched over my best intentions and plunged right into another busy day.
Will you ever get your act together spiritually? I scolded myself.
As a follower of Jesus, I understand how crucial it is to spend time studying the Bible, praying, and just being still in God’s presence each day. These are holy habits that help deepen my relationship with the Lord. Unfortunately, I must admit that even though I know how central it is to my spiritual life, I don’t always make time to seek the Lord.
Hosea 10:12 speaks about seeking the Lord in terms of growth and gardening. The prophet Hosea states, “Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the LORD until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain” (CSB).
The Hebrew word in this verse that translates to our English word “seek” is darash. It doesn’t just mean “to look at something or someone.” Its broad definition can mean any of the following: “to care for, to study, to inquire, to consult, to investigate, to question or to search diligently for.”
Isn’t this the goal of our time with Jesus? We show Him our care and love as we praise Him. We study His words. We consult with Him, inquiring as to what we should do about various situations. We investigate Scripture, carefully searching for His will and asking Him questions about following hard after Him.
Additionally — much like gardeners — we need to be patient, allowing the seeds that we sow to reap a harvest of faithful love. Sometimes we need to break up the unplowed ground, exploring new territory with the Lord. Sometimes this territory is fertile, and other times it may be frightening. But He is there all along.
As we seek the Lord, He “sends righteousness on [us] like the rain” (Hosea 10:12). These times refresh and renew us, making us grow. Just thinking of time with God in these terms can cause us to desire to meet with Him.
And on the days we fall short, we don’t need to beat ourselves up. God longs to connect with us, not to keep track of our missed meetings as a record of shame. Let’s grant ourselves the loving grace He offers us when needed.
Father, help me long to meet with You each day, recognizing how important it is to my spiritual growth. Thank You for not shaming me into obedience but lovingly embracing me each time we’re together. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
If God has felt silent as you’ve sought His wisdom and direction, we have good news: There is a way to hear His voice in His Word, giving the guidance you need. That’s why we made our next study, Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions, which starts May 27 in the free First 5 mobile app! Through the book of Proverbs, we get to see real-life examples of what it looks like to live in a way that honors Him. Click here to order your study guide now.
To be encouraged by a devotional that will help you spend time with God, check out Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk’s book Trusting God in All The Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day.
ENGAGE
Today Karen is giving away a free downloadable PDF entitled “Simple Ways to Seek the Lord Each Day,” and you could have a chance to win a bundle of Bible-study tools along with a few other goodies. Head to her Instagram for details.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 40:16, “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the LORD!’” (ESV).
How is seeking the Lord connected to joy and gladness? What one action step will you take this week when it comes to spending time seeking the Lord?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Chime in here in the comments.
© 2024 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org