Yearn...

Friday, April 19, 2024

  Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:  Hebrews 4:12-“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

Memory verse: Romans 8:32 ►He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  

Today's reading: 2 SAMUEL 9-11 LUKE 15:11-32

Yearn

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want; He maketh me to lie down in green pastures and leadeth me beside the still waters; He restoreth my soul...(From Psalm 23)

Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:16 about how his friend Onesiphorus often refreshed him.

The Lord restores or refreshes our souls. Paul's friend refreshed him with support.

The Lord refreshes each of us in different ways--through the word or the Holy Spirit or green pastures and still waters--whatever blessings  these things may mean in your life. But God also uses our friends to refresh us. He will use us to refresh each other if we get our eyes off ourselves and onto Him and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

It is such a blessing-being in the company of solid friends who encourage and love us. Jesus traveled with a group that loved Him and that He loved. But remember that Jesus often went off to lonely places to pray. This means that Jesus looked for opportunities to be alone with His Heavenly Father.

People always wanted a 'piece of His time' and Jesus loved them for it-but-He Jesus was conscious of His need to be in the presence of His Almighty God and Father.

How many people do you know who look for the next time they will be alone with God? How often do You look for that time? When was the last time you actually couldn't wait to pray alone?

If this is missing, it is time to tell God and ask for a yearning in your heart to sit and reason with Him.

God loves you and is patient...

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I confess that I don't yearn to pray often. Have mercy on me and fill me with a the great reality of my need to reason with You,

Patient and merciful Lord,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen