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Monday, April 19, 2010

no room in the 'inn'

"And he did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:14)


Are we preparing our hearts? Do we truly have a desire to seek the Lord? Are we hungering after the deeper things of Christ in a way that compels us to make our hearts ready? Do we know how to make our hearts ready?

In today's busy whirlwind of life, we find ourselves seeking many things. Things that occupy our time and our money. Things that occupy our thoughts. Things of the world that keep us focused in the wrong direction. There is too much other stuff vying for our attention.

We have too many toys. Too many gadgets. Too many activities. Too many choices. Too many. Too much.

Therefore our minds are flooded with earthly pleasures and worldly thoughts and we haven't left any room for Jesus. We've left NO space in our minds or lives for our Lord to be able to reside.

We've made no preparation in our hearts to truly and enthusiastically seek after Him. Just as there was no room in the inn for our precious Lord, there is no room in our busy lives.

We have left out the most important person. The One who should be first and foremost in our thoughts and actions. So, how do we rectify this? How do we prepare our hearts to be able to seek after Him?

1. Fall out of bed and fall on our faces. Begin each day at the feet of Jesus. Cry out, pour out and receive a blessing and a Word! Prayer is the key to communication with God.

2. Get in His Word first thing each morning. Even if it is just for a short period of time. Begin the day with His Word and inhale the amazing fragrance of the scriptures! You can always spend more time with Him later, but always start your day with a devotion.

3. Memorize His Word. Even if you only memorize one verse per month, it will be one of the greatest blessings to you. Hiding His Word in our hearts is precious to us and to Him.

4. Commune with Him all through the day. Small prayers of praise. Little talks with God. Keep your eyes and ears tuned to Him and you will be surprised what He will reveal to you.

Oh, friends, if we are to keep ourselves from doing evil, we have to make preparation ahead of time. We have to be fully determined and purposed in our walk. We have to keep ourselves armed with the truth of the Word.

We must be actively seeking the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life that Christ desires for us.

Prepare our hearts!
Seek after Him!
Make room for Him in the 'inns' of our lives.
++++++++++

Father, help us to make full preparation in our lives to be able to seek after You. Help us to have the desire to always put you first. Enable us to make good choices from the overload of "too much and too many" things that can preoccupy our minds. Fill our minds with You, Lord. Fill our hearts with longing for the abundant life of purpose and passion for our almighty Savior. Thank you for giving us your Word, that we might fill our hearts and thoughts with GOOD things. With HOLY things. With You, Lord. I pray all this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus. Amen.

Beth

15 comments:

Loren said...

Oh Beth! This is the cry of my heart! As we sat in our family meeting yesterday I said these very words...too much trying for our attention yet all we need is to be with our Lord, invite HIM into everything and then we will know what to give our time and attention to! To know WHO WE ARE IN HIM and HOW HE LOVE US! This comes from being with HIM....we couldn't say this enough my friend....

I love you and thank you for sharing this.....We love you LORD ~ it is YOU we Desire!!

Andrea said...

Trying desperately to keep my eyes focused on my Heavenly Father and not on earthly things.
Blessings, andrea

Dawning Inspiration said...

Thanks Beth for this encouragement. Just realized I didn't spend my time with God before getting on the computer! I will go rectify that!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

The last few days, I've been neglectful of a "first things first" kind of approach with Jesus. I've paid for it as well. Thankfully, his grace covereth and I'm back on track.

Great post, Beth. So glad to know I have many sisters out there on their faces before God. What a view it must be his vantage point!

peace~elaine

Angel said...

What a wonderful schedule to live by. On paper it seems so easy yet we tend to get busy with life and forget. It is definitely the cry of my heart to always be in fellowship with Him. Being all He wants me to be, doing all He wants me to do, loving like Him!! Thanks for the reminder. Love you!! Angel

Tammy@Fear Not said...

Oh Beth, I think this one is my favorite so far. My favorite parts:
"We've made no preparation in our hearts to truly and enthusiastically seek after Him. Just as there was no room in the inn for our precious Lord, there is no room in our busy lives....
Prepare our hearts!
Seek after Him!
Make room for Him in the 'inns' of our lives."

Love, love this!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I would pray that I I would be on my face before the One and Only God Majestic. Thank you, Beth, for this timely reminder. I need this today.
loving you, ~ linda

Beth E. said...

You are so right, Beth! This speaks to my heart, friend. Thank you!

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

Your post is full if wisdom and advice that isn't complicated or hard to do. Quick prayers, first-thing-in-the-morning time spent with God, memorizing His Word.

We don't need to be monks or nuns to commune with the Lord like this. We just need to set aside time and it can happen for each of us. Thank you, dear one, for sharing these great ideas!

Greg C said...

For about two years I did that. I started each day with a devotion to God and I loved it. After reading your post, I will start doing that again. I really enjoyed it. Like you said I usually have more time to talk with God during the day but sometimes I don't so it is a good way to make sure.

Ella said...

Beautiful, practical , Godly cousel sister. What a blessing you are Beth!
Hugs, ELla

Yolanda said...

For me, I do believe, this is the writing from your heart that has THEE most spoken to my heart and what I desire, but at times, do not act upon. Oh how my heart yearns to be just that....room in the inn, seeking, lavishly walking with my Lord.

Lovingly,
Yolanda

petrii said...

Beth,
What a beautiful post!! I have been seeking the LORD more lately in my daily walk. Just in my everyday, very busy life. I've been trying to take mini-retreats in Him. Even if it's just 5 minutes to meditate and reflect on Abba. It is a wonderful thing and something I'm trying to implement more of.

Have a Blessed day friend,
Dawn

Karen Hossink said...

Beth, I am doing a Bible study by Jan Johnson right now - the first topic is silence and solitude - and I can so resonnate with what you're saying here.
I want to be filled with Him, so there is no room for my cirucmstances to bring me down.

prashant said...

This comes from being with HIM....we couldn't say this enough my friend....
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