FOLLOWING HARD AFTER GOD

08/23/2024

"My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:8)

Far too often, Christians neglect the spiritual currency of giving God their full attention. This lack of focus stems from a heart that isn’t fully devoted to Him.

In 2 Kings 14:1-3, we read:

“In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, became king. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like his father David; he did everything as his father Joash had done.”

However, in 2 Chronicles 25:2, it is further explained: “And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.” This raises the question—what does it mean to have a loyal heart towards God?

A loyal heart is one that eagerly seeks God, clinging to His every move with deep devotion. The psalmist captures this beautifully in Psalm 42:1, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” David’s heart was in tune with God’s every move; his curiosity, inquiries, and obedience were all driven by his constant awareness of God’s presence. David declares in Psalm 63:8, “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” This means that David gave God his undivided attention and devotion. Such unwavering focus on God is how we accomplish things in His Kingdom.

The Message translation of Hebrews 12:28-29 reminds us:

“Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!”

With this unshakable kingdom and the presence of God Himself, you have everything you need to overcome any situation. So today, heed the call to perceive and respond to God in every moment of your life. This is the call of Jacob—the call to seek the Lord’s will in all things. As Psalm 24:6 declares, “This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah.”

Be someone whose heart follows hard after God.

Have a blessed day!

Faith-Filled Confession

My heart is fixed on the Word and the Holy Spirit. It is my delight to know the mind and move of the Lord. I wait on His counsel and strive to do what pleases Him in every matter. Hallelujah!

Prayer Direction

1. Pray against every claim of the spirit of rebellion on our children, declaring that it will be futile. Affirm that our children belong to the Lord.

- Psalm 127:3: "Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward."

2. Pray that our children bring honor and joy to their parents throughout this school year. Pray against any attempts by the enemy to use our children to hinder the grace of God in our lives.

- Proverbs 15:20: "Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother."

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: Psalm 119:105-176; 1 Corinthians 5