Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend. The Vikings had a sad loss yesterday and Kurt and Grant were able to be at the game. Ann came on Saturday and we had a fun time shopping. Today I am going to bake Al’s cookies, go to Aldi’s and my exercise class.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
What is our greatest desire in life? Is it to seek after God? I think of the writer of Psalm 42 that says it so well, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” There should be no end of our desire for God, for we are always to be seeking Him without fear but with joy and love. The Lord wants to make His home in us, so we are to make room for Him in our hearts.

When we look within ourselves, we see our selfishness, ego and pride, and it may lead us to be discouraged. But He doesn’t give us what we deserve, for when we humble ourselves He gives us mercy, forgiveness and grace. David knew what that was like when he was in the wilderness and thirsty for God. He says in Psalm 63, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live.” The Bible is full of verses about longing, thirsting and desiring God.

We don’t always feel God’s presence with us, for sometimes the Holy Spirit withdraws from us to cause us to more eagerly search for Him. When we feel His absence, it should cause our soul to increase our desire for Him. We are to “Seek His face always.” (Psalm 105:4) When we find that we don’t have a desire for God, we can ask Him for it and He will draw us to Himself, maybe not all at once but gradually. I am reminded at times that I can’t come to the Lord unless the Father draws me. It causes me to think of the importance of responding right away, as later I may not feel that tug at my heart.

Only the Lord can give us grace to humble ourselves, to respond in love to Him with an open heart. Let us make room for more of the Lord in our life!

Challenge for today: Let go of those things that distract you from giving yourself fully to the Lord.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy