Encouraging Notes

THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD Part 33

“Those who know their God will be strong and do great things.” Dan 11:32

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO KNOW GOD?

We are so blessed that the word of God is filled with clues to help us know what to do to know God. The people in the Bible who knew God were those who purposefully, systematically pursued him. We know that David was one of those people who had an intimate relationship with God. King David had a habit of rising early to seek the face of God.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

We know that Jesus had an intimate relationship with the Father. Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

I commercial fished for 11 years in Alaska. While I was there, I became friends with a fisherman who loved Jesus but was also very successful at fishing. He was so successful that he would usually end the season as number one or two amongst the thousand or so boats in the Bay.

One day, just before the beginning of a significant opening granted by Alaska Fish and Game, we were rushing around to get everything together so we could head out to sea. As I was getting ready to climb down into our boat, I noticed my friend, John, taking the time to share Jesus with someone on the dock. I wanted to know why he was not also rushing around like I was, so after a couple of minutes, when his conversation was over, I promptly engaged him with my question. What he said to me stuck! It was a moment that I will never forget! He said, “God told me years ago that if I would put his business first, that he would put my business first. The day I made that commitment to God marked the beginning of a great increase in my fishing business.”

Usually, what we do first is what we care about the most. For me, this is undoubtedly true. I need God more than I need anything else in life! I need his wisdom, I need his help, and I need his grace! I am convinced that putting God first in my day is the best possible way to start my day.

My dear friend, is God first in your life? Do you purposefully, systematically pursue him? One of the most essential choices you will ever make is what you put first in your life! The secret to your future is wrapped up in your daily routine! Yes, show me your daily habits, and I will show you your future. Dear partner in Christ, it is vital to note this truth – Those who want to know God…

PURPOSEFULLY, SYSTEMATICALLY GO AFTER GOD

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THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD Part 32

“Those who know their God will be strong and do great things.” Dan 11:32

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO KNOW GOD?

What do you see as your answer in life? When things go wrong, and you are faced with seemingly insurmountable trials, who or what do you turn to first? In Luke 18, Jesus told his disciples that they should pray and never give up. In his discussion with them, he told a parable about a judge who neither cared about people or God. In his town, there was a woman who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ The woman was persistent because she knew that her only access to justice was this unjust judge.

Do you know that your only access to the abundant life of heaven is through faith in God? In the story, the judge kept refusing her. But after persistent and consistent begging from the woman for justice, he finally said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so that she won’t eventually wear me out!” Luke 18:4-5

The woman’s persistence brought about justice for her despite the wicked disposition of the judge. Jesus went on to say, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:6-8

The woman believed that the wicked judge was her only avenue to justice and therefore pursued him with great persistence. Similarly, people who persistently pray to God are those who believe that he is their only answer. David said, “wait quietly before God, my victory comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2

Mark chapter 5 records the story of the woman with the issue of blood. After she had spent everything she had on doctors, she decided to pursue help from Jesus. After forcing her way through the crowd, she finally came near to Jesus. During that moment, she said within herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition..” Mark 5:20-29 This woman recognized that Jesus was her only answer and put all of her faith in him.

My question to you today is this; is God your only answer? Do you run to him first? Those who pursue God God as their only answer will never be put to shame. King David said, “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame. Psalm 25:3a

as you know, we have been discussing the question, what do people do to know God. I can assure you that those who want to know God are people who choose to…

SEE GOD AS THEIR ONLY ANSWER

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