March 9, 2016 – I Chronicles 16:11

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! I Chronicles 16:11Do you remember the tingle down your back you felt when you played ‘hide and go seek’ as a child?  I was never sure I had found the right place to hide.  I tried not to breathe when someone came close.I could never really hide well enough.  No matter how well I hid, I was always found.  That is the way it was for Jonah when he tried to hide from God.  Then found a hiding place where only God knew where he was.  That is the way it is for all of us when we try to hide from God — for God pursues us.We think we are so independent and self made men and women, but the truth is that only when we seek for His strength and His Presence always, we will have Him by our side to deal with the many things, we cannot.Have you noticed the enticing phrases on Facebook and news enticing us away from God and his righteousness. The words  and phrases that catch our eyes are shocking, daring, you will never guess, they never expected this… When we understand the verse in Romans, it make sense.  There is a battle for our minds. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12:2What do we mean by righteousness?  We find many places that direct us to righteousness in our thinking – Philippians 4:8-9 is one place: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.What things will be added to you?  Treasures in Heaven and in our hearts — the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33