Tag: Seek Him

Resolutions?

Claire's Prayer

January 2022!  When I say that out loud it doesn’t seem possible that we could be in 2022 already. Along with a new year comes new visions, resolutions, a brand-new page to be written upon.  It’s a time to sit and ponder about what 2022 will bring, a time of hope for the future.  We want to do better, be thinner, get fitter, save more, love more.  A desire for change is birthed every New Year’s morning.

As I sat and considered my own life a study came across my desk, it is called The Power of 4 Effect.  The Center for Bible Engagement surveyed over 400,000 people around their world and their findings were astounding.  If you are not reading your Bible four times a week, then your life is statistically the same as that of a non-believer!  Your life will not change in any significant way than that of one who never reads His Word.  This survey also discovered if you are in God’s Word four times a week, you are 30% less likely to be lonely, 59% less likely to view pornography, 228% more likely to share your faith, and 407% more likely to memorize Scripture.  These are some mind-blowing stats!

John 8:31-32 says this; “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  If you tarry and remain in the Word of God, then you will know the truth.  Not only that, His Word will set you free and deliver you from bondage.  What a beautiful promise, a promise of change and freedom.

As the sun rises over 2022 may I encourage you that if you make any resolution, make it one of being in the Word of God.  He will change you, remold you, and set you free.  You will be a radically different person by the end of this year.  Not only that but when those hard times come you will have something to stand on, God’s Word hidden in your heart!

The Christmas Star

Claire's Prayer

Last night we climbed up a small hill near our home and waited with great anticipation as the sun set in glorious golden colours.  I held my breath as the sky became deep blue, would we see the Christmas Star?  We missed it on the 21st as it had been cloudy but tonight was a crisp, clear, night and stars were beginning to twinkle. 

Suddenly, there above the horizon, the Christmas Star appeared, bright, beautiful, glorious!  “There it is!” I shouted in excitement. A magnificent gift from above!  As I stood and took in its sparkling edges, I thought to myself, am I gazing at the very same star that the Wise Men followed so many years ago, and I smiled to myself, wrapped up in the warm glow of His love.  In a year filled with so many difficulties the God who spoke the planets into existence, the God who sprinkled the heavens with a trillion sparkling lights, gave us this miraculous gift of the Christmas Star.  A reminder that He. Is. Coming.  An invitation to seek out the newborn King!

It all reminded me of a sticker I had once seen on a car – ‘Wise men still seek Him!’  So many of us know and love the story of the wise men and have watched many a Christmas nativity play and perhaps have even acted in one!  This may be our frame of reference but something wonderful jumped out at me when studying those Wise Men.

Matthew 2 tells us that the Magi, who saw the star, travelled a considerable distance to Jerusalem to seek out the King of the Jews.  Once in Jerusalem, they enquired of King Herod, the chief priests and scribes, all who knew and studied the scriptures, where the Christ was to be born.  These incredible scholars of the Word of God immediately quoted Micah 5:2; “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”   The Christ will be born in Bethlehem of Judea.  Interestingly these learned men, scholars of the scriptures, chose not to seek out the Messiah, the Saviour, even though he was born only 5 miles away! They knew the scriptures well, but were not changed by them.

In contrast the wise men headed off to Bethlehem and Matthew 2:10 tells us; “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”  From this we can deduce that the star had not been visible during the whole of their travels.  The star had appeared many months before guiding the Magi to the general area, it then appeared again in Jerusalem leading them to the King.  These Wise Men heard the Word of God and they acted upon it.  In faith they travelled on to Bethlehem and were overjoyed when they saw the star again.  The wise men stood on the scriptures, sought the Christ, and found Him!

So, this Christmas, the question that remains is – will you seek Him?  Will you take the time to stand on faith, believe that God’s Word is true and seek the Newborn King?  Knowing that this King will not forever be newborn, but is in fact your Saviour, your Redeemer, the one who came to draw you to Himself because He cares for you!  Knowing that this tiny baby came to earth to go to the cross, taking on your sin and mine, because He loves you!  Wise Men still Seek Him!

Tonight, another clear night, I am going to climb my hill again and watch the sun set in all its splendour and marvel at this year’s gift of the Christmas Star, perhaps I’ll imagine I’m a wise man and in faith I will set off into the unknown, knowing that if I seek Him – I will find Him!

Rewrite Your Script

Claire's Prayer

2020 has been a year that has come with many challenges for so many people, certainly a very hard year.  If you listen you will hear the dialogue, “2020 is the worst year we’ve ever had, what an awful world we live in.”  Negativity certainly swirls all around us.  But is 2020 the worst year we’ve ever had, is the world we live in as bad as we think it is?  

You see, I believe God chose every single one of us to be here, right now, on this earth.  The earth our beautiful Creator created especially for us!  Did He make a mistake?  Acts 17:26-27a tells us this; “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord.”  You were indeed placed here, by God, during this season, in 2020, as quoted in Esther, “for such a time as this!”

I decided to take stock of my own journey in 2020.  Six months ago, I began a prayer meeting on a Friday morning with a beautiful group of women.  What glorious times we have had with the LORD, worshipping, listening and waiting on Him.  Have I missed being with my children this year?  So, so much!  Have I missed the social side of life?  Sure.  Harder to watch has been seeing so many sick and literally starving.  But, have I drawn closer to my Abba Father?  Oh my, yes I have! 

So here in begs the question, can we rewrite the script of 2020?  Can we pivot and see things from another perspective?  Absolutely we can!  With under two months left in 2020 can we change the outcome?  I believe that if we are intentional, we can!  Why did God set you where you are and at this time?  Our scripture tells us; “so that they should seek the Lord!”  Every day is a day when God extends new mercies to us, every day our Abba Father beckons and encourages us to draw near to Him and He will draw near to you!  Seek the Lord out, rewrite your script, making 2020 a year your relationship with the Father changed, a year when you drew closer to your Savior.  That will be worth savoring and remembering!