Pursuing

Pursuing

Good morning, Lord! Thank You, Father, for helping me to get up this morning! Lord, I ask for Your face to shine on me and give me peace. More of You. I need more of You.

John 7

v.1 - even though Jesus is fully God, not only knowing what is to come, but able to create the future-still  Jesus stayed away from Judea when the Jews were there waiting to take his life, as His time to die had not come.

Lord, You could have went to Judea-God's plans will not be thwarted-and no one could have taken Your life. Yet You purposely stayed away… Pastor Tony stated the principle, "Human responsibility never trumps Devine Sovereign plan. Sovereign rule doesn't negate or nullify human responsibility." For example, we know from scripture that God knows what we need before we ask Him (pray). However, this does not allow us to say, "Why pray?" (It's about a relationship, anyway-not about getting what we want.)

I have found many times in my life, an answer to prayer before I remember to  actually pray for it. This is God. To say that I never need to speak to the One who loves me with unconditional love, to never bring my life before Him and ask, "Help" - this is not only sin, but it doesn't even sound tempting. It sounds more like a genie in a bottle type relationship than a relationship with abounding love both ways.

I love You, Father. I thank You for inviting me to have a relationship with You. Thank You for pursuing me. Thank You for not giving up on me. Thank You for loving me unconditionally. Father, forgive me for thinking I could "get on" in life without a deep relationship with You. My heart has been crying out for some time now, for these "streams of living water" (v. 37). I am not content with the world. My soul is crying out for You and a relationship with You. My flesh has been saying, "No, it is sleep you really need.  Now that everyone is awake, you need to get going on your list of things to do today. No time for devotions of any kind or at least not very long or meaningful or deep." Forgive me, Father, for this time with You is like a fresh babbling brook through my dry, cracking, breaking, desperately thirsty heart.

Lord, I am tired, I am hungry. But You are the Bread of Life. You have said, "He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35, 36) Lord, I have come to You, but I am thirsty because I do not continually come to You. I have left You many times throughout the day and many days. Please forgive Me. Enable me to walk with You daily and to follow You, to remember what You have taught me and not turn around and forget. Help me to seek You the whole day through, at every moment. I can't do any good thing on my own and I cannot remember You on my own. Enable me, Lord, to pursue You.

In Jesus' name, AMEN! Father, glorify Your name. AMEN! :D