6/10/2020 – Pastor Brian’s Blog
Last Saturday Judy and I were riding our motorcycle in a fundraiser for Teen Challenge called “Ride for Freedom.” We find it quite enjoyable whenever we get to do God’s work with God’s children. Judy and I got to go with others from our church as we formed our own “bike gang” to participate in our small way to impact eternity.
As we were riding our bike, my mind began to wander. For Judy who is riding on the back of our bike, that can be a scary thing as she feels that happens way too often!! She much prefers that I pay attention more, but that is a blog for a later time!
As I was “wandering” my mind went to these verses…
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then my mind went to that time when these verses really affected my life, so much so that I actually wrote the experience down on paper. Yet I am not the only one that earnestly prayed to God and then had God show up.
Remember that time when Moses caught his brother and the Israelites in “golden calf worship?” God wanted to destroy them, so Moses went to prayer and sought God with an “all your heart” prayer…
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he cried out, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'”
Exodus 32:11-13
Moses found God and God responded…
Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Exodus 32:14
This kind of “all your heart” prayer and God reacting, just didn’t happen in the Old Testament, it happened in the New Testament too. If you are a mom, you can probably relate to this mom’s passionate “all your heart” prayer…
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matthew 15:22, 25, 28
And it doesn’t necessarily require fancy words or even a lot of words, just some meaningful “all your heart” words…
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
Matthew 14:29-31
Not only did it happen in the Old Testament and not only did it happened in the New Testament; it still happens today! It has now been a number of years, but there was this time when God allowed something devastating to happen to my family. It rocked Judy so much emotionally that I was not sure that she would recover. Heidi was in Jr. High at the time and it actually took months for her to overcome the painful effects of this situation.
The day after this happened I am sitting in my office saying one of those “all your heart” prayers, seeking out God and asking Him what I was to do. Like He did for Moses, the woman with the demon possessed daughter and Peter, God showed up for me.
God did not show up to me physically like He did for the other three, but then in all honesty, I am not sure I could have handled that! God spoke to me, not in Hebrew or Aramaic, but through my English Bible. I prayed, God spoke, and although my situation didn’t instantly change, I changed.
So this is what God said to me…
I am fair; I will not forget the work that you did and the love you have showed for me by helping my people.
Hebrews 6:10
Be gentle and ready to forgive: never hold grudges. Remember I forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Colossians 3:13
The Lord your God is with you; the mighty one will save you. I will rejoice over you. You will rest in My love; I will sing and be joyful about you.
Zephaniah 3:17
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in your faith.
I Peter 5:8-9
Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.
Luke 10:20
Please run the race that is before you and never give up.
Hebrews 12:1
May I enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope my call holds for you, what rich glories I have promised the saints will inherit.
Ephesians 1:18
I don’t know what situation you are facing, nor do I know what kind of pain you are experiencing. I may not understand the circumstances you find yourself in, and chances are, I have no clue to what God is trying to accomplish in your life. But I do know this to be true…
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
May you be encouraged to run to Jesus today. He is not looking for fancy words, or a perfect life, He is looking for “all your heart.” And as you being to run, you will be pleased to find out that He was always there, ready for you to come to Him.
