Devotional:
TREASURE HUNTERS. Our theme is from Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement he hid it again, and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy that field. He Hid It. This man understood the value of what he found. He finds this valuable treasure and his response to it is to hide it again. This man hiding this valuable treasure speaks to me how we should steward our relationship with the Lord. Today let’s consider the field to represent our hearts, and the Lord is the treasure. We have found our Great Treasure In this time of prayer and fasting we all have opportunity to seek Him both publicly and privately. But today, I want to focus on the principle of privately seeking the Lord to simply know Him more. I’m talking about the hidden place, our private time in God’s presence. The secret place is where we find hidden treasure. The profound work of God that happens in the seclusion of private prayer. Psalm 45:10-11 “Listen Oh Daughter, Consider and incline your ear. Forget your own people also, and your father’s house. So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him. What makes us so beautiful to the King? A heart that is devoted to Him. The King delights in her beauty because she has given her heart to Him. Her worship is for Him alone. It is a beautiful thing to the Lord when our hearts value the Treasure of knowing Him above all else. In this time of prayer and fasting, what is God turning your attention from? Do you need to forget or turn from something to focus more on Jesus? Are your spending all you have for a greater revelation of His love? Because He is Your Lord, worship Him! Let’s seek a greater revelation of Who this awesome Savior truly is. Let’s forsake all to know Him more. The Lord greatly desires our beauty. We are transformed by His image when we seek Him with all our hearts. Our beauty comes by knowing Him and reflecting Him. When we spend more time praying in public than in private, something is are off. Or when in private we spend more time praying for child, a spouse, a healing, a financial situation or any other situation than simply to know God, it is telling what we value most. When Jesus becomes a means to an end, It is a revelation of where our treasure is. So many “things” can distract our hearts from our true treasure…. Jesus is our treasure. During this time of prayer and fasting, as we seek God, I want to encourage myself and you to treasure the presence of God above all else. As we respond to the call from our Pastor to seek the Lord with great intention during these 21 days, I want to purpose to make my prayer requests secondary to the true Treasure found only in Him. God knows our needs and even promises if we seek first the King and His Kingdom He will move in power on our behalf. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth looking for a people who are loyal to Him. He promises to move in power on behalf of those who are love Him above all else. These are the people He can work through! TREASURE HUNTERS! Here we are on day 5, with 16 days yet to go to fast and to quiet our hearts, still our souls and seek the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords alone. He is our treasure! Don’t rush through, or just endure, counting down the days. Meditate on Him. Wait in His holy presence. Sit at His feet Going back to our treasure map – Matt 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. NIV. Fasting and prayer is hard on our flesh, but it is life to our spirit and our relationship with Him. It is our joy to pay the price to apprehend Him who has apprehended us. We have a treasure church! Let’s seek Him with all our heart, mind, soul and spirit.
Questions:
1. Are you seeking Jesus as your true Great Treasure or as a means to end?
2. In this time of prayer and fasting, what is God turning your attention from to worship Him alone?
3. Do you need to forget or turn from something to focus more on Jesus?
4. Are your spending all you have for a greater revelation of His love?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come in the mighty Name of Jesus. We thank You for the Great Treasure of knowing Your love; for the Treasure of life and freedom in Jesus! We open our hearts to the Truth of Your Word and Your Spirit to search us out and to purify our desires. We pray that our hearts would be captured by You alone. It is our joy to pay the price of surrendering our life to know You more. We hunger oh God for a greater revelation of who you are and Your power working in us. Today, even now, we incline our ear to Your voice and our hearts towards You. We forsake all to follow You and know You. Show us Your glory. You alone are our Treasure. We love You Lord. Amen
Site by churchbrandguide.com