Seek His Face Continually

Good Morning Everyone,

We would appreciate some prayers for our little Lizzie this morning as we’re being responsible parents keeping her home today as she continues to deal with allergies/cold symptoms. We’re hoping it’s just allergies as the pollen levels are pretty high right now, but we don’t want to take the chance at getting someone else’s kids sick. So, we’ll be live streaming church this morning. This also gives me an opportunity to write a message of my own this morning, and the verse I have to share with y’all this morning is always a good one to think about, meditate upon…and ultimately PUT INTO PRACTICE.

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” – 1 Chronicles 16:11 (KJV)

“Seek His face continually”…

As many of you know since last Thanksgiving I’ve had it on my heart that we need to be more intentional and purposeful about taking time to sit at Jesus’ feet. Remember we talked in my message One Needful Thing about the parable of Martha and Mary. Jesus told Martha that Mary had found that “one needful thing”, and that if Jesus makes a point at talking about something in the Christian walk that is “needful” then it’s something that we ought to work to incorporate in our walk with Him today.

You see. A lot of things can happen in the Lord’s presence when we’re sitting at His feet. Here’s just a few of them.

Intimacy: My theme for this year is Intimacy With The Father, and the fact is you can’t have intimacy with Him if you don’t spend more than an hour a week with Him on Sundays. How many of you know that if you were to spend only an hour a week with your significant other that y’all wouldn’t have a very intimate relationship…would you!?! So, why would you think it would be any different with God? If you want a deeper, more passionate and intimate relationship with God the way to get it isn’t by spending less time at His feet…but more, Amen!?!
Change: Pastor Cass Hill of Equip The Nations Ministries often says that in the presence of God is where we are changed from glory to glory, from grace to grace, and again if we’re really desiring for God to change our lives, our hearts, our habits…then spending an hour or less in His presence isn’t going to be sufficient. Yes, we are all His workmanship, and He’s always working in us, on us, and through us…but real change comes by spending time at His feet…and in His presence.
Direction: I am convinced that had both Mary and Martha sat at the Lord’s feet before they went about the tasks that Martha was so concerned about that they both would’ve been serving Him out of a right heart and attitude. I have found the Lord’s feet to be a starting point for everything I do with the ministry, and it’s also a starting point for writing these messages. But let’s be practical, shall we, it’s hard to have the Lord point us in the right direction if we’re not seeking Him for it…Amen!?!
Jesus: Listen. Whether we’re sitting at His feet in private or in a corporate setting the whole goal of sitting at His feet ought to be the desire to have an intimate encounter with Him, and I can assure you that if you actually will take time to do that one needful thing…you will encounter Jesus. That’s not a promise from me it’s a promise from God, Himself. Remember: IF we will seek Him with our WHOLE heart we WILL find Him!?! I don’t know about you, but encountering Jesus is reason enough for me to sit at His feet, Amen!?!

There are countless reasons that sitting at the Lord’s feet is needful and necessary for our walk with Him. That’s where we find that mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. That’s where we find that when we need comfort we can feel His arms surround us. Most of all, that’s where we find HIM. We can find Him at church, we can find Him in the car, we can find Him on a nature walk, we can find Him anywhere that we desire to take a moment to sit at His feet and really seek His heart.

I’m reminded of a moment I had with Him right after my wife’s grandmother passed away. It was a gorgeous day as I stepped out on the porch at my in-law’s house, and as we were watching the birds and enjoying the warm breeze and the sunshine…I sensed the Lord’s desire to pull me into a moment with Him. I just simply began to praise and speak to Him, and before I knew it I was totally wrapped in His presence. I didn’t start praying some big, long religious sounding prayer…I just began to say thank You Jesus for Your presence and desire to be near us. I don’t remember everything I said, but I just began to love on Him and He began to love on me back as I was there with Lizzie in my arms in a private, intimate moment with God.

I am convinced that Lizzie felt His presence too. That’s the power of sitting at the Lord’s feet. There are times like that where He draws me in by nudging me by His Spirit that He wants to commune with me, and of course, there are times I go seeking His presence on my own. The point is…it’s in His presences where we encounter Him, and the more we do it the more we’re able to sense those moments. There are times I’ll realize it’s been a while since I’ve been at His feet, and there are times when God will let me know that it’s been a while since I sat at His feet.

Do you know where that intimacy with Him comes from? Doing just like Samuel writes here in 1 Chronicles 16:11…seeking His face continually. It doesn’t matter where you seek His face or how you seek His face…what does matter is that we are seeking His face.

Let me ask you. How long has it been since you sat at His feet? Now when I say sitting at His feet I mean when is the last time you sat at His feet not wanting anything from Him. When is the last time you sat at His feet to do nothing more than love on Him and allow Him to love on you? If it’s been a while…why not take a moment to do that today.

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Blessings & Grace ~ Pastor B