I have been asked, “How did you find God?” To that I simply reply, “You have to seek Him like your life depends on it, because it does!”

People often say, “Why can’t I find Him like you?” And “I wish my faith was stronger.” They say these things like they have no choice in the matter.

We choose every day what to seek after and where to place our faith. The problem isn’t our lot in life or our circumstances. It’s our willingness to give up control of our lives and seek after God with our WHOLE heart.

When we trust in Him, God takes us on a journey of building our faith and it only deepens the more we seek to know Him.

The problem isn’t external, you simply need to surrender and seek Him more to experience real relationship and faith.

What does that look like in ‘real life?’

1.) Get a good Study Bible that helps you unpack and understand God’s Word.

2.) Carve time out every day to feast in His word. Dig deep. Look for answers.

3.) Take time with God in prayer throughout the day. Take a walk and talk to Him, talk to Him in a quiet place, or on the ride to work.

4.) Attend a Bible-teaching church. Bring a pen and notebook and take notes.

5.) Apply what you are learning daily and at church to your life.

6.) Spend time with your church family around God’s word.

7.) Keep a journal of How you’re seeing God work and what He is teaching you.

8.) Tell others about what you are learning

9.) Keep seeking until you find what you’re looking for. Don’t give up!

#MPWarrior

#RealFaith

#SeekHimWithYourWholeHeart

It can; however, lead to Spiritual blindness. We can get so wrapped up in our knowledge and self dependence that we deny the One who gave us the ability to learn.  We can pursue truth to the extreme and miss the ultimate truth altogether. 
I spent years being the straight A student, mastering every topic in my path. God is not a topic to be mastered, but instead, a relationship to be enjoyed.  Knowing God is not the same as knowledge of him 

Reflection

In what ways have you pursued knowledge of God instead of knowing Him. Reset you pursuit to knowing and enjoying Him starting today

Prayer

Father we confess that we have treated you like a topic to be mastered at times.  Help us not to exchange knowing You for the knowledge of You.  May Your love abound in us as we carry out the good works you You prepared for us to walk in. 

I have caught myself too many times over the years justifying sinful thoughts and actions because “I’m human” or because “God’s grace is sufficient”.  When we do that, our relationship is not being built on love but instead selfishness.  Salvation is less about what we get and more about what was given and why. 
The gospel by its very nature reveals to us the depravity and wickedness in our hearts, demonstrates how we have estranged ourselves from our Heavenly Father, and provides a means of making it right through surrendering all that we are. 

The core in all of it is love. God’s love for us and our response of love back.  This is not a “How do I get to heaven” thing.  It’s a “I have sinned against my holy and perfect creator; I surrender and want to be shaped by Him” kind of thing.  Do you get the subtle difference?   My salvation isn’t motivated by my desire to get to heaven, but instead it’s driven by my desire to love and obey God because o who He is and what He has done. 

Reflection

Are you still moved by the great gift of love that was given to you at the cross or have you forgotten your desperate need? Be honest and check your heart and mind.  Do you really want God in charge of every aspect of your life…total surrender?   Remember there is no fooling God.  Let this truth pierce your heart and bring you to a place of worship and surrender. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we confess that our flesh is weak and it seeks our own gain. Help us to let go of choosing strength in our flesh and depend completely on you. For You are our Rock and our Refuge. You are our Salvation. Apart from You there is no hope. Thank you for rescuing us from ourselves. You are all we need!  Let our hearts be pure and filled with love for You in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Let’s face it, there are days where you feel like life is about to swallow you up.  No matter how positive you try to make your attitude, every attempt seems to be met with failure.  You might even feel like things are better for a moment and then reality strikes. 

David was no stranger to this feeling.  He could have justified how he didn’t deserve the Saul’s unrelenting plots to kill him. Afterall, he was the rightful king chosen and anointed by God to rule over God’s people. Instead, he cried out to God. He placed his trust in His Father in heaven to come to his rescue. 

What are you facing today?  Chronic pain? Enemies that are giants? Emotional distress?  Cry out to God. Our Father in heaven will hear your cry and will answer you just as He answered David. He is faithful to walk with you in fire and in rain.  You will not be overtaken nor overcome!

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

@brianfriedlf

When we truly grasp the promises of God, we desire to be holy and He is holy. What are those promises mentioned here specifically? If you turn back a chapter we find these these:
1) We are the temple of the living God

2) He will dwell with us

3) He will be our God

4) We will be His people

5) He will be a Father to us

6) We will be sons and daughters to Him

If you are a believer, the one true living and sovereign God over all the universe has taken up residence in you. Furthermore He has chosen this place as His temple.  

Let that soak in for a minute. Much more, He has chosen us as His sons and daughters. 

This truth should, through His Spirit and grace, cause us to desire for that temple to be clean and undefiled. There should be no corner left unexamined. As I write this, I am convicted and encouraged by what the Lord is showing me. I am renewed even more that I must defend the testimony that He has given me and clean the Lord’s temple (my flesh and spirit)

May we meditate on these promises today and examine our lives honestly. May we also confess and turn from any sin that is defiling us, placing our complete trust in Christ and His finished work at the cross. 

@brianfriedl

#truthtalk4life

This is the same God who gives us strength and peace.  There is no need to fear or worry, God is for us.  He chose to use His power to satisfy the law and to bring an eternity of peace for us.  What a mighty God we serve!

Personal Reflection

Do we really believe that nothing is impossible for God?  If we are honest we have all prayed prayers that were not specific because we were fearful they wouldn’t be answered.  Or sometimes we just avoid praying all together. The LORD is mighty in power and can do all things.  We ought to pray, boldly trusting Him.  Whether He chooses to grant what we ask is obviously up to Him.  Sometimes we give up asking because He hasn’t answered according to our will, but His and we don’t see the answer as a result.  Don’t let any of this stop you from asking your Father in heaven. What bold prayers need to be prayed today? Let’s pray them!

Prayer Focus

Father, we confess that we don’t ask sometimes because we are afraid you won’t answer.  Help us in our unbelief.  Give us the courage to pray bold prayers. We pray for our nation, we see our wickedness and we cry out to you asking for revival.  May we see our need and come running.  Change our hearts to desire only you. Teach us to walk in your ways. We will praise you forever, in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

#prayboldly #powerfulprayers #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

This reminds me of the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18.  

“Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.”

1 Kings‬ ‭18:26 NASB

Baal did not answer because he is not God. Then it was Elijah’s turn:

Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:37-39‬ ‭NASB‬‬

I love that the sacrifice was surrounded by a trench of water.  Clearly shows that nothing is impossible with God and that He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine!

Personal Reflection

One of greatest dangers in this ala carte world is that we take a little tidbit from each religion and put it together to try to find happiness and not ruffle any feathers.  God is not a religion. He is God and rightly deserves to be acknowledged as such.  Anything taking His place becomes an idol that violates the “There is no other” statement above.  This can include other gods, work, self, sex, money…..and the list goes on. Meditate on what your life looks like when you fully place all your trust in The One True Living God. 

Prayer Focus

LORD God, you are the only true God. You have formed us from the dust of the ground with your own hands and breathed life from your very breath.  You are our God and we are your people. May we never let any other occupy your rightful place in our lives.  May we never look to another as lord.  Your mighty works have brought us to awe and wonder.  Our lips are filled with praise for you for all eternity.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

#thereisonlyoneGod #worshipGodalone #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl