God Desperately Wants You, and You Desperately Need Him
It is so easy to subconsciously allow the things of this life to have the priority God is supposed to have. Then, when tragedy or serious need arises, we run back to Him in an awkward attempt to recommit our focus. What can we do to build a foundation that stays nested in Him despite the good and the bad that come our way?…
The foundation of our life is supposed to be an intimate relationship with Him. And although that is easy to say and even believe, I believe it is common for us to not realize what this really means. First of all, He is God, and He is to be worshiped and exalted as Lord of all. However, as Psalm 8 so intently points out, despite His glory and dominion, He is peculiarly interested in us personally, and above all things. He has such an insatiable desire to dwell with us, even in us. This thread of persistent pursuit can be found all throughout the Old Covenant, and it is opened up and poured out like a well bursting with living waters in the New Covenant through Jesus the Messiah.
When understanding this perspective, and realizing that this has been the case from the beginning of the creation of man, we can properly lay a foundation on which to build our lives…a foundation that is like the rock of Matthew’s parable, where the house will stand despite any storm (7:24-27). When we understand that our purpose for being created is most importantly fellowship with Him, we are tapping into the heartbeat of God…a beat that has never lost or changed its rhythm. So, in fulfilling our purpose for being here, as Jesus admonishes us to seek to do–seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mat6:33a)–then we open our lives up to experiencing the rest of that same passage: and all these [other] things shall be added unto you (6:33b). Essentially, life gains a greater sense of purpose, direction, and fulfillment in a context of selflessness. Of course, never to imply freedom from struggle, pain, heartache, or tragedy…but rather freedom within these very things, when they come. God is not a get-out-of-tribulation-free card. Though we all will experience pain, those who learn the secret of abiding in Him will find its eye and reside in its peace.
There is an eye to every storm, and that eye is a secret place of trustful intimacy with Him. There is a difference between pain and torment. You can have one without the other. Pain will happen in this life. But torment can be diffused by His peace while experiencing pain. (Ph 4:6-8)
This is what it is to abide in Him, to be hidden in Him. It takes time to focus your trust and pursuit of Him in this manner, but so does it take time to build a solid foundation on which to build your house. However, you are investing in your life, in your destiny, in eternity. And your labor today will determine your peace for tomorrow. So take the time to train yourself to trust Him, and allow your heart to worship Him with a hunger for more of Him that cannot be quenched. And you will find that the challenges of this life will not be quite able to shake you or take your house down like it used to.
Eagles Point | A safe place of rest...
The foundation of our life is supposed to be an intimate relationship with Him. And although that is easy to say and even believe, I believe it is common for us to not realize what this really means. First of all, He is God, and He is to be worshiped and exalted as Lord of all. However, as Psalm 8 so intently points out, despite His glory and dominion, He is peculiarly interested in us personally, and above all things. He has such an insatiable desire to dwell with us, even in us. This thread of persistent pursuit can be found all throughout the Old Covenant, and it is opened up and poured out like a well bursting with living waters in the New Covenant through Jesus the Messiah.
When understanding this perspective, and realizing that this has been the case from the beginning of the creation of man, we can properly lay a foundation on which to build our lives…a foundation that is like the rock of Matthew’s parable, where the house will stand despite any storm (7:24-27). When we understand that our purpose for being created is most importantly fellowship with Him, we are tapping into the heartbeat of God…a beat that has never lost or changed its rhythm. So, in fulfilling our purpose for being here, as Jesus admonishes us to seek to do–seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mat6:33a)–then we open our lives up to experiencing the rest of that same passage: and all these [other] things shall be added unto you (6:33b). Essentially, life gains a greater sense of purpose, direction, and fulfillment in a context of selflessness. Of course, never to imply freedom from struggle, pain, heartache, or tragedy…but rather freedom within these very things, when they come. God is not a get-out-of-tribulation-free card. Though we all will experience pain, those who learn the secret of abiding in Him will find its eye and reside in its peace.
There is an eye to every storm, and that eye is a secret place of trustful intimacy with Him. There is a difference between pain and torment. You can have one without the other. Pain will happen in this life. But torment can be diffused by His peace while experiencing pain. (Ph 4:6-8)
This is what it is to abide in Him, to be hidden in Him. It takes time to focus your trust and pursuit of Him in this manner, but so does it take time to build a solid foundation on which to build your house. However, you are investing in your life, in your destiny, in eternity. And your labor today will determine your peace for tomorrow. So take the time to train yourself to trust Him, and allow your heart to worship Him with a hunger for more of Him that cannot be quenched. And you will find that the challenges of this life will not be quite able to shake you or take your house down like it used to.
Eagles Point | A safe place of rest...
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