Is God Searching for You? (Part 2)

"The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9a NIV

GOD SEARCHES THE WHOLE EARTH
God actively looks at what is happening on earth, in each and every life, at each and every person, at each and every nation.  Searching.  Looking.  Seeking.  What does he see when he looks at me, and you?  What does he see when he looks at our hearts?

GOD SEARCHES FOR COMMITMENT TO HIM.
When God looks at everyone, he's looking for those who are completely committed to him.  He looks for men and women who live only to honor and obey him, no matter the consequences.  Complete dedication.  We know what this means and what it looks like.  Imagine your best friend.  Or your husband. Or your wife.  Or your parents.  Or your children.  Imagine complete dedication.  You know what they would say and do if they were completely committed to you.  So does God.  Are you completely committed to him?  If you are, be very encouraged; he's looking for you.

GOD WANTS TO STRENGTHEN THOSE COMMITTED TO HIM.
If you sincerely want to find God's will for your life, and the power to carry it out, and that is all you want, the most important thing to you, then God sees you.  He's been looking for you and has found you.  And he has been looking for you for a purpose, a deliberate focus:  to strengthen you.  Right now. 

But some of you may be asking, "What if I'm not completely committed to him like you've said?"

You can completely commit to him now, with me.  Let's do it together:

"God, creator of everything and everyone, my creator, I haven't completely been committed to you.  Please forgive me. I completely give myself to you, my heart and life.  From now on, I want only to honor and obey you.  Please see me, and strengthen me.  Amen."

If you prayed with me, tell me in the comment, and we can continue to connect.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Is God Searching for You? (Part 1)

"The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."  2 Chronicles 16:9a

In the history of Israel when their kings rose and fell, a prophet came to King Asa, one of Israel's many kings.  Asa began his rule completely devoted to God, and God protected him.  But Asa stopped being completely devoted to God and put his trust in other kings and their alliances.  A prophet named Hanani came to Asa with a message from the Lord, and one of the things God gave him to say is the quote above.  This quote applied not only to Asa and Israel, but to the whole earth, to every one on earth, to you and me.  It began in the beginning.

• God looked for Adam and Eve when they hid from him after sinning against him.
• He looked for Cain who planned to kill Abel.
• He saw Enoch living faithfully for him, and kept Enoch from ever dying.
• He looked at everyone on earth with regret because every imagination of every heart was only evil all the time, except for the heart of Noah.  God saw him and his family and had mercy.
• God saw a nomad named Abram and his barren wife Sarai.  He blessed them so they'd be a blessing.
• He saw a slave woman named Hagar and her son.
• He saw Abraham's sons, the people of Israel, and later the nation of Egypt oppressing them. 

And the scriptures continue to show God's eyes searching the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 

Is God searching for you?

Obey and Ask: How to Be filled with the Spirit

If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead, you are a child of God.  And as a child of God, only two things are necessary for you to be permeated by God's Spirit and power.

OBEY GOD.
According to the Apostle Peter, "God gives the Spirit to those who obey Him."  And according to the Apostle Paul, we are actually commanded to "be filled with the Spirit" instead of "being drunk with wine."  So the first thing to do is simply, completely, and unconditionally yield to the Spirit, giving Him complete and absolute control over you.  That's what it means to "be filled with the Spirit."  That is the command to obey.  Once you've obeyed, you only need to do one more thing.

ASK GOD.
The Lord Jesus said, "If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."  So, if you are a child of God, and you've yielded to the Spirit, all you have to do is ask God to fill you with the Spirit, and He will do it.  Right now.

Obey God. (Yield to the Spirit.)
Ask God. (To fill you with the Spirit.)

That's all that's required to be filled with God's Spirit, if you are a child of God through faith in Jesus.