God’s Heart to Meet with David..Craig Denison Ministries

 God’s Heart to Meet with David

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Throughout Scripture we see countless examples of God meeting with man and countless lives being transformed as the result. These examples are in Scripture to stir our faith and fill us with a desire to meet with our Creator. When we read about the life of David, we should be filled with a longing to live as he did, centered around meeting with our heavenly Father. When we read about Gideon or Moses, we should long to know our God as they did. When we read about Jesus coming down to us or his heart for the woman caught in adultery, we should respond by pursuing encounters with our Savior. And when we read of Pentecost and Jesus’ second coming, we should seek out the fullness of God’s presence available to us on this earth in preparation for the age that is to come. May your heart be filled with a wholehearted desire to pursue meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2

Devotional:

The meetings between God and David shaped human history forever. David knew what it was to be in the presence of God. In fact, being in God’s presence was his fuel, greatest joy, and source of courage. In Psalm 16:11 David writes, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” And in verse 5 he writes, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” David was a man who consistently chose to meet with God over filling his days with the fleeting and unsatisfying things of the world. He centered his life around meeting with God, and it changed the history of not only his nation, but nations to come.

In 1 Samuel 17:34-37, we see a glimpse into the impact of David meeting with God early in his life. Scripture says,

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

Out on the fields, David learned of God’s power and desire for deliverance. He learned what it was to meet with God in the daily work of life. And he carried that knowledge with him into every battle, trial, and failure. We see it in Psalm 16:1-2 where David prays, “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’” King David, the greatest king that ever sat on the throne of Israel, claimed, “I have no good apart from you.” David, about whom 1 Chronicles 29:28 says, “Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor,” claimed he had no good apart from the Lord. David knew that God’s presence was the best part of life. He knew that meeting with his heavenly Father was far greater than any victory, possession, status, or honor. And it was for that reason that he lived a life full of the very thing he sought: the presence of the living God.

Your heavenly Father longs to meet with you as he did David. He loves you the same as he loved David. And through the powerful sacrifice of Jesus, you have even greater access to the heart of God. You have God, the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. Choose today to seek meeting with God above all else. Center your life around the presence of your heavenly Father the way David did. Live for transformational encounters with God and watch as the things of this world fall into proper place,  providing you with transcendent peace, joy, and purpose in the midst of any circumstance.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on David’s longing for the presence of God. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to meet with your heavenly Father as David did.

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” Psalm 16:5

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’” Psalm 16:1-2

2. Allow these other Scriptures to fill you with faith to encounter the presence of God. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within you, ready to lead you into a transformational encounter with your heavenly Father.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

3. Take time to meet with God. Ask him to reveal his nearness to you. Ask him to give you a passion for his presence like David had. Choose to center your life around the goodness of his nearness today.

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10

How much better would our lives be if we simply chose to center them around meeting with the eternal, living, and active God of love? What would it be like to seek his counsel throughout our days? What would it be like to live wholly loved, liked, set free, and filled with his presence? Through Jesus, more has been made available to us than we know. We’ve been granted access to the fullness of life, love, and freedom. All that is required of us is to make space in our days and seek meeting with God above all else. May we as the bride of Christ choose to love our bridegroom above all else.

Extended Reading: Psalm 16

Accidental Shopping Trip..Lynette Kittle

 Accidental Shopping Trip 

by Lynette Kittle

“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” - Psalm 91:4

Have you ever felt when something unexpected happens like a natural disaster, car accident, or violent act that God let you down? During these events, have you ever felt like maybe He didn’t care what happened to you, or somehow you were being punished for something you had done?

Just Another Lovely Day
It was a beautiful sunny, bright Saturday Spring afternoon when three of my four daughters and I were returning from a fun-filled shopping outing at the local mall. Just minutes from home, we had spent the day finding bargains, eating lunch, and being together. Driving back the fun continued in the car as we discussed sales we found and sang along to our favorite songs on the radio.

Then suddenly our leisurely trip home changed as we spotted cars stopped in multiple lanes and debris strewn across the roadway. Slowing down to miss hitting the vehicles and debris, before we knew what was happening, a truck made a u-turn crossing the median and headed straight towards us with no intentions of stopping. Coming windshield-to-windshield, we could see the frantic look on the driver’s face

Although hitting our bumper head-on, he continued to step on the gas, smashing and ramming into the front of our car, making no effort to stop or swerve away from us, seeming like he was going to keep pushing our car down the street. For us, it seemed to be happening in slow motion like a movie, as we watched in disbelief. Although a frightening situation, none of us screamed or panicked during the accident. Rather there was a calmness and peace surrounding us, tucking us in around the edges and buffering us from the impacts.

Instead of fear and panic, we experienced what John 14:27 describes. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Help from Strangers
Soon nearby witnesses in other cars ran to the truck, opening the driver’s door, turning it off, and pulling out the keys. With this action, the driver jumped out of the truck and took off running down the street. As the driver ran, strangers came over from their cars and off the street to see if we were okay or needed help. Soon the police showed up to assist us.

“We’re okay,” we answered and none of us were injured. Before leaving the scene, we learned we had been hit head-on by a drunk driver, one who had hit several cars in front of us before making a U-turn and hitting us.

God Had Us Covered
Later I discovered how just minutes before the accident, one of my daughters sitting in the back seat had an unusual experience concerning our safety in the car. “All of a sudden, a fear and panic tried to come over me,” she recalled, “but I thought, ‘no,’ I don’t need to be afraid. We prayed for God’s protection before leaving today and everything is okay. We’re safe.”

Gratefully, I believe my daughter’s strong resistance to panic’s call to be afraid, along with her confidence in God’s divine protection over us, helped us to experience and rest in His peace during the accident. Just like Philippians 4:7 explains, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Consider times when the unexpected has happened in your life. Although you may have been surprised and caught off guard, are you able to look back and see how God prepared you ahead of time to go through the experience? Like our family’s prayer before going shopping, what are ways you can prepare you and your family to be ready for the unexpected? Like Philippians 4:9 suggests, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Further Reading:
Isaiah 26:3
Romans 15:33
Isaiah 41:10

When You Feel Completely Empty..Anne Peterson

 When You Feel Completely Empty (2 Kings 4:7)

By: Anne Peterson

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.” – 2 Kings 4:7 

I’ll always remember the story of the widow who cried out to Elisha for help. Her husband who had loved the Lord was gone and creditors were coming to take what she had left, her two sons. When Elisha said to her, “How can I help you? His next words to her where important.

 He asked her, “What do you have in the house?”

The widow could have responded, I have nothing left. I’m sure she felt like it. Totally empty. But she remembered she had a small pot of oil. Elisha told her to go to all her neighbors and ask them for empty jars. As many as they had, not just a few. And he told her to pour oil into all the jars from the pot, and as each jar was filled, to put it aside.

The woman did as Elisha instructed. And one by one she filled each jar. She asked for another jar and her son told her it was the last one and at that moment the oil stopped flowing.

Elisha told her to sell the oil to pay her debts and live off of what remained ( 2 Kings 4:1-7). I’ve always wondered about what would have happened if she brought less jars?

We have a God who has promised He would provide for our needs. One of God’s names is Jehovah Jireh which means the Lord will provide, not the Lord might provide.

The widow did exactly the right thing. She was in need and she called on the Lord. Had she kept this need to herself, she would have missed out on one of the miracles God had in store for her. And it was a miracle that was for us as well.

We are finite beings. We hurt and suffer because we live in this fallen world. As this widow obeyed the Elisha, she saw God’s hand. And as the jars were filled, she witnessed that Gods ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

When we feel empty, we need to remember God can fill us up. And God never does things halfway. He fills us completely. What are your needs today? Have the circumstances of your life left you feeling spent, and empty? Then call out to God. The one who never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28).

A Prayer to Change the Way You Think..Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Change the Way You Think

By Meg Bucher

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV

Our thoughts can and will go rogue if we allow them to. One of my daughters shared with me how sometimes, when she sits at her desk at school, she zones out. We can all relate and high-five a “Hallelujah.” But she went on to say the longer she allowed herself to zone out, the more negative her thoughts got. It made her feel anxious, and tears would start to fill her eyes! Our thoughts, themselves, are just thoughts. But the attention we give to them is powerful. 

Paul wrote to the Romans to tell them to change the way they were thinking. The patterns of this world are negative, if not in obvious ways …in ways which have negative effects on our hearts and minds. “We are to consider every part of our existence as an opportunity to serve God,” Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament explains, “True worship of God must always flow from minds that have grasped and been impressed by the truth of God.”  The world is bent to “self,” but we are called to be selfless. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in every single one of us who believes in Christ Jesus as our Savior, we have infinite power to transform and renew our minds. God wouldn’t have put in Scripture for us to digest if it was impossible. And look at the reward for our discipline and obedience to transform and renew our minds …because it takes work!

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

Let us pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to reign over our minds in a fresh way today! 

Father,
Praise You for the power of Your Word! The Truth You provide us to live by is life to our bones and refreshment to our souls daily. How faithful You are to us, Father, encouraging us around every corner. Let us rejoice and be glad in the day You have made today! 

God, we want Your good and perfect and pleasing will to come true in our daily lives! Help us to take our thoughts captive and hold them accountable to Your truth. When we are dazing out, Father, provide the power we need to refocus. Help us to sift through our daily thoughts and kick out anything negative which threatens to steal our joy. 

We confess our selfishness, Father. We know there are times when our natural bent to self takes over, and we confess and ask You to search our hearts! Renew a right spirit in us, God, and cleanse us from our hidden sin. Bring any destructive thought patterns and habits into the light, God! Let the love and light of our Lord Jesus Christ shine through our minds and hearts, motivating the way we navigate our daily lives. 

Thank You for this day. Thank You for Your knowledge and wisdom. Your faithfulness is unmatched, God, and Your love is unending.  Let us persevere and endure the work it takes to transform and renew our minds. Lord, we pray for those who are far from You and who do not know You. Let Your Word reach into the far corners of the world, God, and into every doorway of our neighborhoods. Let us be people who don’t remain in our thought lives but are empowered by the wisdom and love of the One True God, going out into our daily lives to bring glory and honor to You.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.