DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD WANTS TO SHOW YOU MORE OF HIMSELF EVERYDAY? "FOR I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT A SACRIFICE, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD MORE THAN BURNT OFFERINGS" (HOS. 6:6).
ARE YOU SEEKING AFTER GOD WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH? DOES YOUR TIME WITH THE LORD REVITALIZE YOU, OR DOES IT FEEL MORE LIKE A RITUALISTIC EXPERIENCE?
CONTRAST THE EXPERIENCE OF GOMER WITH THAT OF AN EARLIER ISRAELITE, HANNAH (SEE 1 SAM. 1-2). GOMER DID NOT CARE TO KNOW GOD WITH ALL HER HEART. WHAT MADE A DIFFERENCE? TO BETTER KNOW GOD . . .
- YOU MUST COME TO HIM HONESTLY. CONFESSING YOUR SINS AND INVITING JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART REQUIRES YOU TO BE VULNERABLE- YET IT IS THE BEST DECISION ANYONE CAN EVER MAKE.
- YOU MUST UNDERSTAND YOUR RELIANCE UPON HIM. HANNAH SAW GOD HAS HER ONLY SOURCE OF COMFORT AND POWER: ''AND SHE WAS IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL, AND PRAYED TO THE LORD AND WEPT IN ANGUISH'' (I SAM. 1:10).
- YOU MUST BECOME INTERESTED IN WHAT INTERESTS HIM. HAS YOUR DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND GODLY WISDOM DECLINED? IF SO, ASK THE LORD TO RESTORE YOUR LONGING FOR HIM AND FOR THE THINGS THAT MOST CONCERN HIM.
- YOU MUST OBSERVE HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND WAYS. READ THE PROMISES THAT GOD MAKES IN HIS WORD. ASK HIM TO REMIND YOU OF HOW HE HAS ALREADY WORKED I YOUR LIFE.
- YOU MUST ACCEPT HIS INVITATIONS AND FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS. GOD IS CONSTANTLY INVITING YOU TO WALK WITH HIM. GIVE THE LORD TOTAL CONTROL OF YOUR DECISIONS, YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENTS, AND YOUR POSSESSIONS.
AS YOU GET TO KNOW GOD ON DEEPER LEVELS, YOUR ABILITY TO TRUST AND OBEY HIM WILL INCREASE. YOU WILL FIND YOUR LIFE'S FULFILLMENT WHEN YOU COME TO KNOW AND EXALT THE LORD OF AL CREATION.