Apr 9 - Psalm 27:8

When you said, "Seek My face,"

my heart said to you,

"Your face, O Lord, I shall seek."

Psalm 27:8

God commands us to do some things.

It’s not because he’s legalistic. It’s not because we’re saved by doing what’s right and avoiding what’s wrong. It’s not because his love is tied to our performance.

It’s because God knows that there is life and hope and joy and peace in 1) obeying his commands, 2) following his paths, and 3) submitting to his wisdom.

If we follow, obey, and submit, we usually wind up in green pastures and beside still waters – as Psalm 23 suggests. Whereas if we go our own way, we’re likely to fall in a crevice, be surrounded by evil doers, and/or find ourselves on rocky soil with only brambles to eat.

God said, “Seek my face.” It wasn’t a legalistic command. It was an invitation to relationship. It was opportunity for life and light.

David said, “Yes!” The lowly shepherd (turned king) said, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” This hunger, willingness, and submission earned David perhaps the holiest nickname in history, “a man after God’s own heart” (see Acts 13:22).

Do you want a similar nickname too?

It’s simple … and very hard. The simple part is that God passionately desires to give it to you! The hard part is that it takes discipline.

•      It requires daily, daily, daily time in a very busy world.
•      It requires silence, in a world of noise.
•      It requires seeking to understand his word, in a world that likes easy answers and doesn’t like depth.
•      It requires submission in a prideful world that teaches us to bow for no one.
•      It requires following, even when the road is hard.
•      And it requires repentance, which requires another swallowing of pride.

David modeled all of this, including the repentance. You probably remember his notorious fall from grace. Read the beginning of 2 Samuel 11. Why did it happen? In spite of a lifetime of seeking God, the king now had it too easy. He’d become lazy and undisciplined. Instead being where he was supposed to be – out leading the people – he was home satisfying his physical desires.

I don’t know about you, but my discipline rises and falls.

•      If you’re up, right now, thank God!!! But then immediately and also start praying for armor and protection – that God may deliver you from pride and temptation.
•      If you’re down, repent like David did. Psalm 51 is his “create in me a clean heart, O Lord” prayer. He prayed, “restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Your “up,” light, hope, and joy can be renewed.
•      If you’ve never fully been up, this is your moment!!! Just start somewhere – a little quietness … a little scripture reading. Start small and manageable – don’t expect to immediately pray for hours. Make sure you add a good dose of discipline – and add that discipline daily, daily, daily. It also helps find someone who will keep you accountable.

Remember, you’re goal is not to accomplish something for yourself. All you’re doing is seeking his face. And once you begin to see it, you’ll understand his reward.

In Christ’s Love,

a tired guy, who wants

to renew his discipline