August 17, 2012
Transformational Thought
We love our children. Nothing in this world is more precious. As a parent, I really get excited when my kids pursue me. The best is when they do it even though they don’t need anything … but because they simply love me and want to hang out with me. What they don’t realize is, I have been pursuing them all along, whether they liked it or not, whether they wanted me or not, and I pursued them even before they were born! If you are a parent, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
You see, we all come to a life-changing and eternity-determining fork in the road of life. Figuring out where we came from, what happens when we die, what our purpose or life path will be, or whether we can do it all on our own are questions that bring us to the all important juncture. At that point you have two options: answering these questions by pursuing God, or ignoring God and making yourself the center of these important answers.
Some arrive at the fork at age 4, others as teens, and some when they are adults. Even if we take the wrong path, we get to circle back many times in life. When we choose the correct path, setting out to know our God more intimately, He certainly rejoices but He is not surprised. If you are waking up and finally starting to pursue Him more intently, it’s because He has been pursuing you and you are finally realizing your need to acknowledge that call and responding to it.
While this longing for Him burns brightly in your heart, remember it originates from Him. Know, just as parents do, that God was pursuing you long before your quest for Him began. If you think your spiritual discipline keeps you close to God, you are at risk. If you are depending solely on your own efforts to stay close to God, you will surely find times where you are distant from Him. But if you put His love and pursuit of you as the first step, you will understand the bigger story of His love, sovereignty and sacrifice, your need for all He has, and your responsibility to steward your free will faithfully. To me, this is reassuring and freeing in many powerful ways.
Today, thank your Lord for awakening in your heart a strong desire for Him. The events in your life are meant to refocus the source of your answers from yourself to God. Even before you were born, He loved, planned, and pursued you. Take 2 separate breaks today and search your heart for what God is asking you to release, so you can answer His wake-up call and not hit the snooze button again. Answering His call or hitting snooze and missing out on His peace and joy is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, Thank You for awakening me and placing in my heart this strong desire for You. Before I realized Your consistent effort to wake me up, I took the wrong fork and found answers in so many different places. I tried so hard to fill the void – and many times I filled it in sinful ways. Forgive me, Lord. I realize now that I have thirsted for You as far back in time as I can remember. I know now that my desire for a closer walk with You grew out of all the work You have done in me. I know You have initiated this longing I have for You … and I know my response now pleases You. Lord, help me to set aside time and use the remote control of my mind to engage with You each day. I pray in the name of Jesus, who died for my ultimate awakening; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5