“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6
Dear Ones:
There is a discipline in the Christian life that is essential if we would rise to be where we would aspire to be in our walk, and fellowship, with Christ. It has to do with “looking unto Jesus.” What does this mean? Is it a casual glance, or is it the deliberate looking away from all else, to fix our eyes on Him, in faith, in the expectation of His response? Solomon wrote in the proverbs that we are to “…acknowledge Him in all our ways.” This is the discipline of deliberately recognizing His sovereignty and power in any and every circumstance, and at the same time, giving Him access to the need. If Christ IS our life, and we live BY Him, is it not a practical application of living this life to “follow Him” in every circumstance and way? Is it not to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God? Is it not to trust God, proven by believing prayer, to reveal to us the way in which we should go, seeking Him for every resource for the accomplishment of His purposes and will?
In the epistle of James, we find a very simple, and yet powerfully declared reality: “You do not have because you have not asked.” (4:2) He goes on to speak of motives in asking. But what is essential to see here firstly is that we are called upon to pray, and this, “always” and specifically. This life of faith and communion with Christ is one where the “great salvation” given to us in Christ, is to be lived by the appropriation of His life, His Spirit, for every need. Though He is in our hearts, it as if He is ever standing at the door of the heart, always waiting for us to give Him access to the need at hand. He does not force the door, but knocks and waits. Are we those who truly believe God, who trust Him to make us men and women of prayer and faith, deliberately giving Him access to every need?
One of the primary things that made David great was NOT that he was “ruddy,” and of a good countenance, or even intelligent. It was that He, first of all was anointed by the Spirit, and secondly, that he lived a life of inquiring of the Lord. His great desire was to live a life, where he “…beheld the beauty of the Lord, and inquired in His temple.” (Ps. 27:4) Here is a man who is in pursuit of God, to know Him, who desires to behold Him, and give Him access to every need by prayer. This is the man who would write: “I have SET the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (Ps. 16:8) He is a man of deliberate, tangible obedience and faith, who lives in the perspective of the greatness and wonder of the Lord Jesus Christ, but who also, partakes of Him, abides or dwells in Him. David’s greatness lies in the truth of the greatness of God revealed in and through him.
Dear Father, quicken us all this day to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith. Give us to be those who run to the door to give Him access to every need, responding to every knock at the door of our hearts. Give us to be those whose great desire is to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire (pray) in Your temple. Then, we shall know Thee in an ever-increasing manner for Thy glory. We thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad