1 Chronicles 16:11 - Seek The Lord Continually, Seek His Presence and Strength.
1 Chronicles 16:11 (ESV) Seek the LORD and
his strength; seek his presence continually!
INTRODUCTION
Continuous Access
This stanza is from a song of
thanksgiving which David offered the worshipers, the
Levites, who presided over the Ark of the Lord. As we
worship the Lord, we are to search for him. He is
easily found! He has given us open access through
his Spirit. We don't have to go to a specified
place or relic in order to worship the King of
kings. This is incredibly liberating and humbling
news.
Wherever you are today, take time to
worship the Lord. Whether it is through meditation,
singing, walking in nature, or dancing before him,
etc., make it an offering that flows from your
heart to his. The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13,
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me
with all your heart." Look for him, and you will
find him.
Spend time today in dedicated worship to
the Lord. Offer him your heart. [365 Days of
Courage by Sara Perry of Broadstreet Pub]
COMMENTARY PEARL
As activity increases, and men become
successful in doing any work for God, there is danger
of trusting to human plans and methods. There
is a tendency to pray less, and to have less
faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of
losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking
to make a saviour of our activity. We need to
look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is
His power which does the work. While we are to
labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we
must also take time for meditation, for prayer,
and for the study of the word of God. Only the
work accomplished with much prayer, and
sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end
prove to have been efficient for good.
No other life was ever so crowded with
labor and responsibility as was that of Jesus; yet
how often He was found in prayer. How constant
was His communion with God. Again and again in
the history of His earthly life are found
records such as these: "Rising up a great while
before day, He went out, and departed into a
solitary place, and there prayed." "Great multitudes
came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of
their infirmities. And He withdrew Himself into
the wilderness, and prayed." "And it came to
pass in those days that He went out into a
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer
to God." [2 Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15, 16; 6:12.]
In a life wholly devoted to the good of
others, the Saviour found it necessary to withdraw
from the thoroughfares of travel and from the
throng that followed Him day after day. He must
turn aside from a life of ceaseless activity and
contact with human needs, to seek retirement and
unbroken communion with His Father. As one with us, a
sharer in our needs and weaknesses, He was wholly
dependent upon God, and in the secret place of prayer
He sought divine strength, that He might go
forth braced for duty and trial. DA 362, 3
ILLUSTRATIONS
I sat in my car in front of Anne's house.
The engine hum was comforting. I watched digital
numbers on my display change and change again.
"Lord, be with me," I whispered. Then I pulled keys
from the ignition and dropped them into my bag.
Anne was mama to two young sons and a
newborn, and a few minutes later I sat at her table
while she served chicken salad. Recently, Anne
asked me to be her mentor after I'd been on a
panel of experienced mothers at a brunch she and
her friends organized. I didn't know Anne well,
but I liked what I did know. She was a gifted
teacher. A boy mama. Her love for the Lord was
tender-fierce.
But a mentor? I had one - an older, wiser
woman I'd walked miles of life with. But be one? I
wasn't sold.
I wore worry like a sweater. I dragged my
feet through life change. My husband and I had
mountain-size parenting issues. My spiritual shortcomings
were a long list.
Anne and I began to talk as her toddlers
napped and her babe-in-bassinet slept near a
crackling fire. Conversation was polite and easy - the
gentle flow of hopeful friendship. But it didn't
take long for things to go deep as we shared
about our marriages. Our families. Our hearts and
our homes.
"I appreciate your transparency," Anne
said later as I rooted through my bag for keys.
"You're honest and real. You love the Lord, and you
lean into Him with your life."
Anne wasn't drawn to a story without
struggle. Or to flawless faith. She was drawn to His
perfection in my imperfection. To His might in my
mess.
"Thank you, Lord," I whispered. I smiled
all the way home.
Lord, when I am weak You are strong.
Amen. Shawnelle Eliasen [Walking in Grace 2021
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
Dennis McDonald was our church's hospital
chaplain for many years. On occasions I accompanied
him when he visited the sick I was always struck
by the transformation that came over him. We
might be walking down a hospital hallway, chatting
about the weather, but when we entered the room,
he went to work. He walked directly to the side
of the hospital bed and leaned over until he
was only inches from the face of the infirm. And
he would say something like "I am Dennis, and I
am here to pray for you and encourage you. God
is greater than your sickness. God can heal
your body. God will get you through this."
Dennis would then anoint the sick person
with oil and pray, "Lord, this is your servant,
whom you love and whom we love. Let your healing
happen in this room. Satan, you must leave. You're
a liar, and your words have no merit. This
child is bought by God. We pray in Jesus' name,
amen."
The prayer of faith invites God to be
God, to be sovereign over a tumultuous time. Be
bold in your prayers. [You Can Count On God by
Max Lucado]
CLOSING THOUGHT
As a people and as individuals our success
depends, not on numbers, on standing, nor on
intellectual attainments, but on walking and working with
Christ. {HP 328}
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
1 Chronicles 16:11 - Seek The Lord, His
Presence and Strength, Continually.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190403-1000.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180728-1452.html
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230929-0933.html
Romans 10:17 - Building Faith.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230614-0858.html
John 1:12 - The Born Again Experience!!!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210420-0902.html
Galatians 5:22, 23 - The Fruit of the Spirit.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240324-0816.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
