Rest - It's time to seek the lord.

Need a Holiday.

A few weeks ago I was surrounded by groups of people excited by the prospect of travelling to far-flung places, waiting expectedly to fly off to exotic places, anticipating seeing loved ones or imagining how they will, in just a few short hours, be relaxing at the side of a pool or walking on a beach next to an azure sea. Regrettably, I wasn’t joining them. I was sat in a hotel at Heathrow, I was there for work and wasn’t going to be boarding any planes, but it really got me thinking about holidays and my need for one.

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, starts with the Creation story. God spent the first six days creating day & night, separating land & sea, forming animals & plants, and breathing life into humans. On the seventh day, He rested. Even given the enormity of creating the universe, I don’t for one-minute think that an all-powerful God was tired and needed a sit-down. Instead, I believe that God sets a precedent for each of us to set time aside to ‘take a break’, to have a Sabbath. In previous generations, this was a set day a week and there is something to be said about keeping a day set-aside for not working. With the pressures of life in 2019, this is increasingly hard. That does not change our fundamental need to stop and rest.

Studies show that there are benefits to taking time out to rest, even just 24 hours. These range from reduced stress levels to increased immune responses. It is physically healthy to rest. People who take time out also tend to have better positive family relationships and even ‘enjoy’ work more; are more productive and have better short-term memory.

Rest is important

Rest is important but rest is more than just stopping!

God wants us to enjoy our everyday lives.  says that Jesus died for us so we may have life and have it abundantly. But it is so easy to believe in Jesus but not enjoying out lives.

It’s tragic to think that Jesus paid the price for our sins, that He suffered to make that sacrifice, and yet there are many of us who are struggling just to get by and make it through each day because of the lack of rest.

The lack of true rest. True rest is resting in God.

It is about spending time in his presence.

A key to having abundant life in Christ is to take some rest.

A key to having abundant life in Christ is to take some rest.

We need to recognise that resting is not 100 percent doing nothing.

The rest that the Bible talks about is an action to do between you and God. It is a partnership that we develop with our creator.

It is not simply about stopping, which is good but not complete, it is not just about resting but about resting in him

How do we rest in God.

Seek Him

If we are to rest in God we are to seek him

Isaiah 55:6 NIV

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Seeking the Lord means seeking his presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek his “face.” To be before his face is to be in his presence.

It is true that God is omnipresent so in some ways we are always in his presence, as children of God that is especially true in that He is within us (Holy Spirit) and always near us (he will never leave us) “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” ().

And second, yes, he is always present with his children in the sense of his covenant commitment to always stand by us and work for us and turn everything for our good. “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” ().

When He’s Not with Us

But there is a sense in which God’s presence is not with us always. We don’t always feel it, we don’t always recognise it and it is not always demonstable in our lives or supernaturally.

For this reason, the Bible repeatedly calls us to “seek the Lord . . . seek his presence continually” (). God’s manifest, conscious, trusted presence is not our constant experience. There are seasons when we become neglectful of God and give him no thought and do not put trust in him and we find him “un-manifested” — that is, unperceived as great and beautiful and valuable by the eyes of our hearts.

His face — the brightness of his personal character — is hidden behind the curtain of everything else that is in our lives, behind business, familiarity, sin, This condition is always ready to overtake us. That is why we are told to “seek his presence continually.” God calls us to enjoy continual consciousness of his supreme greatness and beauty and worth.

What does it means to seek

Both the Old and New Testaments say it is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. () If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ()

Set my mind on seeking God - something else to do.

I thought this was about rest - We all have enough to do right? so let me help by giving permission to remove four things to make room for seeking God,

Practical things to do, to rest in God.

The obvious one - stop doing stuff. at least for a moment.

Multi tasking - is not always possible

Multi tasking demonstration

If we are to seek God we sometimes have to stop doing stuff and concentrate on seeking God. We have to rest, to start to rest in God. We have to rest in God to truly rest.

There are three other things that I think resting in God requires us to stop.

there are three other things that I think resting in God requires us to stop.

Cast your Cares

The obvious one - stop doing stuff. at least for a moment.

but there are three other things that I think resting in God requires us to stop.

Cast your Cares

Resting in God is casting your burden on Him. When you are feeling discouraged, get still in prayer, and tell the Lord that you trust Him to move on your behalf. There is no protocol. All you need to do is to be yourself. He knows you anyway so their is not much point in being someone else

Release Your Burdens

Our problems are not a surprise to God. When we try to make things happen and work in the natural to vindicate ourselves or promote ourselves we often end up in trouble. We can lean on God and find the rest in Him. We can enjoy life no matter what is going on.

Worrying is useless to you and will cause more stress in the mind and body. Don't wear yourself out by controlling what you can't anymore.

Trusting God means we give over worrying, reasoning, and anxiety and we enter into His rest with simple childlike faith—we live by grace through faith,”

Stop worrying for a moment, put it down.

Surrendering Your Will Put Him First

Resting in the Lord is also giving up the ego and not having your way. You have to stop doing the things that are so important to you and put God first for a moment -

Surrendering to God’s Will helps you rest.

You will know that you have reached this when you trust Him to work all things without your help. That although we have to play our part, we don’t control God’s plans.

Stop being a control freak for a while. - Let God take over.

It is the difference between tying and trusting

I’ve know that much of the stress in my life is caused by the way I approach my circumstances and the attitude I have toward them.

We have a part to play, and He has a part in everything He calls us to do. We have issues though when we don’t do the part we can do and we instead we try to do His part, that’s when we live stressed-out with worry, fear, anxiety, frustration, no peace and no joy.

We seem to think God needs our help in working things out, in worrying things through. It’s like we’re telling God, “I kind of think You need my help, and I’m not sure You can take care of this situation, Lord.”

Trusting God means we give up worrying, reasoning, and anxiety and we enter into His rest with simple childlike faith—we live by grace through faith!

Know You are Loved

Know You are Loved

Stop trying to get God to love you

God loves us unconditionally. No matter what nothing can separate us from His love. His love does not fluctuate as it does with people. The Lord does not hang it over our heads when we mess up or sinned.

Stop running around trying to be lovable to God.

Ask the Lord to show you His love to you, so you can enter in His rest. When we experience His love it will flow to others. On your darkest days when there is nothing to keep you going, He loves you. It is the kind of love no one can match. No husband, parent, friend, or child will love you the way the father can and will love you. When we understand this we can move ahead and love ourselves, our enemies, and love God.

Finding Hope

We need to hope in order to find peace. Hope is the assurance that he cares for us, and will provide for us moving forward. This is a blind faith, and it tests our very soul at times. When you don’t feel like you can make it another day, turn to the Scriptures to feed your soul and drown out any voices that are condemning, or causing anxiety. God promised to renew our strength like the eagle, and we will run and not faint. Also, go to the Bible, a devotional, enter into prayer, or play worship music to encourage yourself and to keep your spirit energized.

No one is secure enough that they don’t need reminding of this.

Refresh morning story

The ability to step away from the busy world and to enter into a divine rest is a blessing that we all can have. Stepping away from the world and trying to figure everything out never works. Try to surrender your will and dreams, your worries—allow Him to take it. Allow rest to become more of an active part of your life.

living by God’s grace through faith. Because grace is His power working in us, enabling us to do whatever we need to do in life.

This i

The ability to step away from the busy world and to enter into a divine rest is a blessing that we all can have. Stepping away from the world and trying to figure everything out never works. Try to surrender your will and dreams, your worries—allow Him to take it. Allow rest to become more of an active part of your life.

living by God’s grace through faith. Because grace is His power working in us, enabling us to do whatever we need to do in life.

When we try to do everything in our own strength and leave God out of the equation, we just get worn-out and frustrated by our mistakes and failures. But when we lean on God, we actually enter into His rest and can enjoy our lives, no matter what our circumstances may be.

says, So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…

Resting without resting.

Now the rest of God is not just a rest from work—but can be a rest in work.

While physically resting is sometimes a great way to focus on resting in God, you can be bust and still rest in Him. It’s partnering with God to do what He is calling you to do by His grace, and leaving the part you can’t do in His hands, trusting Him to do it.  puts it this way: For we who have believed enter that rest… So we start by believing.

Landing - Live by Grace and Enjoy God’s Rest

When I’m trying to believe, I haven’t entered God’s rest. But when I do believe, I have complete rest in Him. Living by faith is not a struggle—it’s rest. And you can enter into God’s rest in every area of your life.

I’ve discovered that the stress in my life is caused by the way I approach my circumstances and the attitude I have toward them. It was a turning point for me when I realized that the world will probably never change, but I could learn how to change the way I go about handling situations that are challenging.

One key to this is knowing that as believers in Christ, we are partners with God—we have a part, and He has a part in everything He calls us to do. When we don’t do the part we can do and we try to do His part instead, that’s when we live stressed-out with worry, fear, anxiety, frustration, no peace and no joy.

The reason this happens sometimes is because we think God needs our help. We meditate on the problem—rolling it over and over in our mind, worrying, trying to figure out how things should work out. It’s like we’re telling God, “I kind of think You need my help, and I’m not sure You can take care of this situation, Lord.”

We need to realize that worrying is useless! It’s like sitting in a rocking chair, rocking all day, wearing yourself out and getting nowhere. Trusting God means we give up worrying, reasoning, and anxiety and we enter into His rest with simple childlike faith—we live by grace through faith!

Live by Grace and Enjoy God’s Rest

 is a great scripture that says we’re saved by grace through faith. And we walk out our relationship with God and His plans for our lives the same way we receive salvation: by grace through faith. This is possible because Jesus made the perfect sacrifice for us when He gave His life, taking our guilt and condemnation and paying for our sins. Through a personal relationship with Jesus, we access God’s grace so we can do what He’s calling us to do.

It’s so amazing to know that God is always with us, giving us His grace for everything we need to do in life. Trust God’s unconditional love for you today. Do what you can do and give Him everything else.

And when you find yourself getting frustrated or feeling overwhelmed, like you just can’t do it anymore, remember to stop, get your focus back on Him and enter into His rest once again.

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When God commanded us to take a rest, He did it in the full knowledge that as humans with free will, we are the only people who can grant ourselves a holiday. I don’t know what your plans are for the summer, but I do hope you give yourself a break. It doesn’t have to be a week on a far-flung beach; just some time doing something different or doing as little as possible whatever suits your personality. Taking time out alone or with family and friends to recharge physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually is both the focus of a holiday and of God’s command to rest on a Sabbath day. Holidays are less about where you go and more about giving yourself permission and time to take a break.

I pray that this summer you will grant yourself a rest, a holiday and that it will restore and refresh as God intended.

You may enjoy it enough that you make it a weekly event.

Isaiah 55:6 NIV

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Seeking the Lord means seeking his presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek his “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having access to God. To be before his face is to be in his presence.

But aren’t his children always in his presence? Yes and no. Yes in two senses: First, in the sense that God is omnipresent and therefore always near everything and everyone. He holds everything in being. His power is ever-present in sustaining and governing all things.

And second, yes, he is always present with his children in the sense of his covenant commitment to always stand by us and work for us and turn everything for our good. “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” ().

When He’s Not with Us

But there is a sense in which God’s presence is not with us always. For this reason, the Bible repeatedly calls us to “seek the Lord . . . seek his presence continually” (). God’s manifest, conscious, trusted presence is not our constant experience. There are seasons when we become neglectful of God and give him no thought and do not put trust in him and we find him “unmanifested” — that is, unperceived as great and beautiful and valuable by the eyes of our hearts.

His face — the brightness of his personal character — is hidden behind the curtain of our carnal desires. This condition is always ready to overtake us. That is why we are told to “seek his presence continually.” God calls us to enjoy continual consciousness of his supreme greatness and beauty and worth.

What It Means to Seek

This happens through “seeking.” Continual seeking. But what does that mean practically? Both the Old and New Testaments say it is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. () If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ()

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Sometime the best way to find something is to stop.

Live by Grace and Enjoy God’s Rest

A few weeks ago I was surrounded by groups of people excited by the prospect of travelling to far-flung places, waiting expectedly to fly off to exotic places, anticipating seeing loved ones or imagining how they will, in just a few short hours, be relaxing at the side of a pool or walking on a beach next to an azure sea. Regrettably, I wasn’t joining them. I was sat in a hotel at Heathrow, I was there for work and wasn’t going to be boarding any planes, but it really got me thinking about holidays and my need for one.

I’ve discovered that the stress in my life is caused by the way I approach my circumstances and the attitude I have toward them.

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, starts with the Creation story. God spent the first six days creating day & night, separating land & sea, forming animals & plants, and breathing life into humans. On the seventh day, He rested. Even given the enormity of creating the universe, I don’t for one-minute think that an all-powerful God was tired and needed a sit-down. Instead, I believe that God sets a precedent for each of us to set time aside to ‘take a break’, to have a Sabbath. In previous generations, this was a set day a week and there is something to be said about keeping a day set-aside for not working. With the pressures of life in 2019, this is increasingly hard. That does not change our fundamental need to stop and rest.

One key to this is knowing that as believers in Christ, we are partners with God—we have a part, and He has a part in everything He calls us to do. When we don’t do the part we can do and we try to do His part instead, that’s when we live stressed-out with worry, fear, anxiety, frustration, no peace and no joy.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Studies show that there are benefits to taking time out to rest, even just 24 hours. These range from reduced stress levels to increased immune responses. It is physically healthy to rest. People who take time out also tend to have better positive family relationships and even ‘enjoy’ work more; are more productive and have better short-term memory.

The reason this happens sometimes is because we think God needs our help. We meditate on the problem—rolling it over and over in our mind, worrying, trying to figure out how things should work out. It’s like we’re telling God, “I kind of think You need my help, and I’m not sure You can take care of this situation, Lord.”

When God commanded us to take a rest, He did it in the full knowledge that as humans with free will, we are the only people who can grant ourselves a holiday. I don’t know what your plans are for the summer, but I do hope you give yourself a break. It doesn’t have to be a week on a far-flung beach; just some time doing something different or doing as little as possible whatever suits your personality. Taking time out alone or with family and friends to recharge physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually is both the focus of a holiday and of God’s command to rest on a Sabbath day. Holidays are less about where you go and more about giving yourself permission and time to take a break.

We need to realize that worrying is useless! It’s like sitting in a rocking chair, rocking all day, wearing yourself out and getting nowhere. Trusting God means we give up worrying, reasoning, and anxiety and we enter into His rest with simple childlike faith—we live by grace through faith!

I pray that this summer you will grant yourself a rest, a holiday and that it will restore and refresh as God intended.

 is a great scripture that says we’re saved by grace through faith. And we walk out our relationship with God and His plans for our lives the same way we receive salvation: by grace through faith.

Live by Grace and Enjoy God’s Rest

You may enjoy it enough that you make it a weekly event.

This is possible because Jesus made the perfect sacrifice for us when He gave His life, taking our guilt and condemnation and paying for our sins. It is not affected by how much you do or how much you worry.

 is a great scripture that says we’re saved by grace through faith. And we walk out our relationship with God and His plans for our lives the same way we receive salvation: by grace through faith. This is possible because Jesus made the perfect sacrifice for us when He gave His life, taking our guilt and condemnation and paying for our sins. Through a personal relationship with Jesus, we access God’s grace so we can do what He’s calling us to do.

Through a personal relationship with Jesus, we access God’s grace so we can do what He’s calling us to do.

It’s so amazing to know that God is always with us, giving us His grace for everything we need to do in life. Trust God’s unconditional love for you today. Do what you can do and give Him everything else so that you can rest in him

And when you find yourself getting frustrated or feeling overwhelmed, like you just can’t do it anymore, remember to stop, get your focus back on Him and enter into His rest once again.

The reward of rest

Benefits of seeking God.

In many ways, taking a physical rest, stopping worrying, taking a break from trying to control the world and not having to work at being loved is benefit enough but resting in Gods Presence positions us for more.

It places us in a ready position for God to hear our prayers and for us to hear him

For God to meet us supernaturally and move in power in our lives

For God to give us Gifts

tells us that in his presence we wili lack no good thing, says in His presence He showers us with his rightousness

Jeremiah says if we will seek Him we will Find him

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

,

 (New International Version) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Possibly best of all

Why should I seek the Lord? Well, besides the promise that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing(), there are a number of other benefits to following God’s command to seek Him ().

Amos says it gives life.

Amos 5:4 NIV

4 This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live;

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We don’t need to worry about everything everyone worries about

 (New International Version) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

God’s ears will be attentive to our prayers

When God commanded us to take a rest, He did it in the full knowledge that as humans with free will, we are the only people who can grant ourselves a break to seek rest. To look to rest in God.

 (New International Version) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

. I don’t know what your plans are for the summer, but I do hope you give yourself a break. It doesn’t have to be a week on a far-flung beach; just some time doing something different or doing as little as possible whatever suits your personality. Taking time out alone or with family and friends to recharge physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually is both the focus of a holiday and of God’s command to rest on a Sabbath day. Holidays are less about where you go and more about giving yourself permission and time to take a break.

I pray that this summer you will grant yourself a rest, a holiday and that it will restore and refresh as God intended.

We’ll be delivered from our fears

You may enjoy it enough that you make it a weekly event.

 (New International Version)

Resting in God

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears

We’ll Live!

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 (New International Version)

This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live;

Read more at >>> http://revtrev.com/live-intentional/why-seek-the-lord-7-reasons/

God will be found

I pray that this summer you will grant yourself a rest, a holiday and that it will restore and refresh as God intended.

 (New International Version) “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

You may enjoy it enough that you make it a weekly event.

 (New International Version) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Why should I seek the Lord? Well, besides the promise that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing(), there are a number of other benefits to following God’s command to seek Him (

Psalm 34:10 NIV

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Hosea 10:12 NIV

12 Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.

).

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 (New International Version) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

— It is not about seeking “religion”, but seeking God. — It is not just seeking “an answer to prayer”, but seeking God Himself. — It is not just seeking health, but seeking God. — It is not seeking money or provision, but seeking God — It is not seeking “feelings”, but seeking God Himself! Be sure that when you are “seeking God” that that is really what you are doing: that you are seeking GOD Himself, not any substitutes for Him.

God’s ears will be attentive to our prayers

 (New International Version) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

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We’ll be delivered from our fears

 (New International Version)

CONCLUSION: But the Bible tells us here that if we will do these things: if we will call upon God in prayer, and repent of known sin, and seek HIM personally — then we will be successful. Verse 7 says “He WILL have compassion of us”; “He WILL abundantly pardon”!

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears

BUT NOTICE something very important here before we close. There are a couple of important phrases here: — it says seek the Lord “while He may be found”; — it says call upon Him “while He is near.” In other words, you can’t just “pick” when you want to come back to God, at your “leisure.” If God is speaking to your heart today, and calling you to return to Him, and seek Him, then you need to respond now. That kind of conviction is a mark of God’s grace and working in your life, and you must never take that for granted. You can’t be sure it will continue if you put Him off. That’s why says “NOW is the acceptable time; NOW is the day of salvation.” That’s why says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.”

WOULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS, AND JUST LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD: “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD; and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

INVITATION: God has brought some of us here today to meet Him — and you need to respond: — Some of you need to respond to God for the first time by repenting of your sin and following Jesus as your Savior. If you are ready to turn to Him today, ask Him to forgive your sins, and come into your life, and help you to follow Him. If you are doing that, or if you have questions about it, come and share that with me — I’ll get you with a counselor who will pray with you and help you to nail that down today.

— Or maybe you’d say, I am a Christian, but I need to seek God in a special way right now. If you need Him in a special way, then DO what this passage says: call out to Him in prayer: humble yourself and seek Him during this invitation, make a commitment to seek Him in prayer early every morning; pray throughout the day; really seek Him in quality and quantity of prayer — seek Him more than your watching television.

Amos 5:4 NIV

4 This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live;

(New International Version)

This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live;

— And be sure to seek Him by turning from sin in your life. You WILL NOT get any closer to Holy God if you don’t get serious about turning from sin. Some of you know what specifically needs to change in your life. Ask God to forgive you for that specific sin — AND for His power to turn away from today, as you seek Him.

— And others of us would say, I really need to seek GOD HIMSELF: not just my “religious” acts of reading the Bible & praying, not just doing good things; I need to seek GOD — just meeting HIM, loving HIM, spending time with HIM. Talk to Him about that this morning.

God will be found

If you need to visit with someone about some of these things, or you need to be baptized, or want information about how to join the church, I’ll be here, and we have other counselors who can pray with you as well. You respond and seek God this morning, as He has spoken to your heart.

 (New International Version) “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

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— is not about seeking “religion”, but seeking God. — is not just seeking “an answer to prayer”, but seeking God Himself. — is not just seeking health, but seeking God. — is not seeking money or provision, but seeking God — is not seeking “feelings”, but seeking God Himself! we need to seek GodGOD Himself, not any substitutes for Him.

Isaiah 55:6 NIV

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

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AND

Isaiah 55:6

2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV

2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

CONCLUSION: But the Bible tells us here that if we will do these things: if we will call upon God in prayer, and repent of known sin, and seek HIM personally — then we will be successful. Verse 7 says “He WILL have compassion of us”; “He WILL abundantly pardon”!

Today is a good day to start to rest in God.

You can’t just “pick” when you want to come back to God, at your “leisure.” If God is speaking to your heart today, and calling you to return to Him, and seek Him, then you need to respond now. That kind of conviction is a mark of God’s grace and working in your life, and you must never take that for granted. You can’t be sure it will continue if you put Him off. That’s why says “NOW is the acceptable time; NOW is the day of salvation.” That’s why says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.”

says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.”

Hebrews 3:15 NIV

15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.”

WOULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS, AND JUST LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD: “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD; and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

INVITATION: God has brought some of us here today to renew the call to meet with Him — and I belrive you need to respond:

— Some of you need to respond to God for the first time by repenting of your sin and following Jesus as your Savior

— Or maybe you’d say, I am a Christian, but I need to seek God in a special way right now. If you need Him in a special way, then DO what this passage says: call out to Him in prayer: humble yourself and seek Him during this invitation, make a commitment to seek Him in prayer early every morning; pray throughout the day; really seek Him in quality and quantity of prayer — seek Him more than your watching television.

— And be sure to seek Him by turning from sin in your life. You WILL NOT get any closer to Holy God if you don’t get serious about turning from sin. Some of you know what specifically needs to change in your life. Ask God to forgive you for that specific sin — AND for His power to turn away from today, as you seek Him.

— And others of us would say, I really need to seek GOD HIMSELF: not just my “religious” acts of reading the Bible & praying, not just doing good things; I need to seek GOD — just meeting HIM, loving HIM, spending time with HIM. Talk to Him about that this morning.

Close -

rest in God.

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”