Can You Hear Me? Devotions from the Psalms (27:7-8)
"Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me." (Ps 27:7
NIV)
What do you do when you can't hear from God?
"My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, LORD , I will seek." (Ps 27:8
NIV)
It's simple. We continue searching for Him. Way too often we limit ourselves by
solely asking God for His help. Not that this isn't good to do. On the contrary,
it is very good to do so! However if we stop here, we fail to actually seek
God's face. We stop short of working towards a genuine relationship with Him. It
might be because we are too preoccupied or too busy, but no matter what the
reason, we don't tend to savor a real fellowship with our Heavenly Dad.
Just think how our spouses would welcome us if our sole conversation with them
would be limited to asking and demanding things. We would likely end up with a
rusted frying pan coming down on our foreheads!
God hungers to be with us. He hungers for intimacy, an intimacy we hardly seem
to have time for. But those who put their priorities in getting to know God more
intimately are never left wanting. God's promise still holds true: "If my
people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my
face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron 7:14-15 NIV)
Remember, the "knock knock" principle is more alive than ever! "Ask and it will
be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to
you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8 NIV) But do we take the time to hungrily
look for God within our circumstances? Is this possibly why we can't seem to
hear His voice?
What could be worse than being homeless? Wouldn't we feel that God had abandoned
us, that He wasn't listening to us? Still, even the homeless experience God in
mighty ways, as grace and hope are their constant companions.
In the middle of the city park in Salt Lake City, Nevada, a homeless man was
pushing his prized possessions around in a shopping cart. I am certain he had
lifted his voice up to our Daddy in Heaven many times, but the sky felt like
lead to him. But he didn't give up, for his hope was in Him!
He wasn't aware that God was already on the move on his behalf. His brother had
passed way a year ago and had left all of his fortune to this poor homeless man. The
problem had come in locating this poor guy. But in the end, they did locate him.
And when he received the news that the rest of his days on planet Earth would be
well taken care of, the man was in shock.
Aren't we also shocked when we realize how much God cares for us? Enough to have
sent His own Son to die on a cross so that we could spend eternity with Him!
Enough to share His Son's resurrection life with anyone who wants to getting to
know Him! Enough to take care of us for eternity!
Even when we are desperate, there is always hope. Doubt is our worst enemy. Let
us always remember: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 15:57 NIV)
Is anyone looking for a free shopping cart? It seems there is one available in
the city park in Salt Lake City, Utah!
Rob Chaffart
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