The Earnest Seeker - Tuesday Praise & Prayer (for others) October 13, 2026

All across the Bible, we are told that those who earnestly seek the Lord will find Him. There's Proverbs 8:17 - I love those who love me. Those eagerly looking for me will find me (GWT). Then there's Jeremiah 29:13 - If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (NLT). And of course there is Hebrews 11:6 - And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him (NLT).

And the reason why those who search for God wholeheartedly find Him is very simple. He knows what it is like to seek out a person. He does it all the time. From the minute we were born, God began reaching out to us, seeking our attention. Some of us encountered Him when we were young, and others had experiences that could only be explained as God stepping in to help us. Or we saw His hand move in another person's life. He did all of these things to show us that He exists, loves us, and wants us to choose Him.

The Lord is the only God who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). He remains the same over generations because He wants every single human being to know who He is. It therefore is no surprise that God has promised to be accessible to those who seek Him with an eager heart. Anyone who does so is simply emulating Him, and He can't ignore this. He wants those made in His image to behave like Him. For this reason, He will answer all who cry out to Him.

Alas, many feel that God cannot be reached. They will say that they tried their hardest, but He was silent and didn't answer them. This is possible, and there could be all sorts of reasons. Some present prayers that God considers detestable, not realizing that He has said in His word that He will not answer such petitions. Some try to beat Him down with complaints, insults, or doubts. Then there are the wicked whom He promised not to help when they call out to Him. Thus, an unrepentant person who does not think they should humble themselves before the Lord may risk receiving no help.

Some neither present detestable prayers nor are among the wicked. Yet, they feel their petitions have fallen on deaf ears. It could be that He wants them to wait, or His silence may be an answer in itself. Another option could be that they may be missing a key element when they call on the Lord. Did they approach with praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4)? Or did they not come to Him wholeheartedly? In such a situation, they may be approaching God but not as the Lord. They may instead be approaching Him solely as the Giver of what they want rather than as the Giver of what He needs them to have.

This way of dealing with the Lord could work for some, but only for a while. At some point, He will allow for the circumstances that force a person to make a decision - the choice to seek Him earnestly or continue to think they can be transactional and solely use Him for what they desire. In those cases, the people who did not call on Him wholeheartedly tend to walk away from Him. Their inability to reject pride (by expecting the Almighty to yield to them), to wait on His timing, and/or settle into the new dynamic will make them bitter toward the Lord, believing that He let them down.

Sadly, they will forget all the times God showed up for them even though He knew they were using Him. They will ignore the many times He answered their prayers despite knowing that they would renege on all the promises they made when they were desperate. He knew they hadn't sought Him earnestly, and yet He came running because He wanted them to realize He loved them and could have His best. However, when He demands their best, they see Him as unfair and accuse Him of wickedness and more.

When King Solomon wanted God's attention, he did what those before him had done - he slaughtered cattle in offering. The Lord showed up (1 Kings 3). When King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judea faced a group of three armies, they eagerly sought God through prayer and fasting. He didn't waste any time and destroyed their enemies without them lifting a finger (2 Chronicles 20). When Daniel needed to know King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he called on the Lord, and the Revealer of Mysteries told him the unsearchable things (Daniel 2).

Jairus didn't care that he was a man of repute who could be kicked out of the synagogue for calling on Jesus. When his daughter was dying, he found the Savior, and his miracle didn't delay. Same for the woman with the issue of blood. She was out of options, and despite the Laws of Moses, she earnestly pushed through for her healing and received it in faith (Luke 8). Saddened by the death of God's disciple, Tabitha, the women of Joppa earnestly insisted that the Lord do something. And He did through His servant. Peter prayed, and Tabitha came back to life (Acts 9).

This is the God we are dealing with. He sees beyond appearances to the very heart of every person. With Him, there are no secrets, and He cannot be deceived. He knows who earnestly seeks Him and has committed, via His word, to bless them. It is indeed His delight to do so, and nothing will stand in the way of Him rewarding such people. So, will you be the person who earnestly seeks Him? Or will you choose to use Him for what you want, never yielding yourself fully to Him? The choice is yours, but I recommend you become the Earnest Seeker, just as He is.

What are your thoughts? Please share them. And as you wait for fellowship, watch the video in the Altar Call and read these old posts:

1. Seek & Find The Lord

2. Don't Slander or Blaspheme God

3. Did You Ask God First?

4. Why Don’t We Ask God First?

5. How To Approach God

6. God Wants You To Have The Best

7. Is God Getting Your Best?

8. Topic: Answered Prayers

9. Topic: God's Best

10. Topic: Humility

11. Topic: Jairus

12. Topic: Repent

A Patient & Confident Waiting - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) October 9, 2026

We live in an era where waiting and hoping don't often intertwine. We are used to our conveniences, and we don't have to hope for much because we are encouraged to be go-getters who take hold of what we desire. Yet, there is an aspect of the Christian life that requires waiting and patience for what one hopes for. And we cannot discard these traits of the faith just because the times have changed and everything is fast-paced.

We are told in Romans 8:24-25 - We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. / But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently) (NLT). Rome's Christians were told to hold on to the hope of reaching heaven. Paul also encouraged them to hold on to that hope with patience and confidence.

Yes, patience is a virtue, but how many of us would describe ourselves as patient? And when dealing with the Lord, are we hoping with patience and confidence that He will come through?

Think of it this way: when you pray for something, how much time is acceptable to wait for God's answer? Is it a day? How about a few weeks? Can you wait months? What about years? And can you do all that waiting with patience? Are you also able to maintain your confidence in the Lord as you wait? Or do you think He will fail you?

If most of us were to be truthful, we would admit we'd have trouble waiting for months and certainly for years. Honesty also requires us to confess that patience and confidence would not be the hallmarks of our waiting season. We'd be dialing the Lord's throne room with every passing moment, saying, "God, when?"

Sure, we can trust and believe God to get us to heaven, but many have trouble holding on to hope for the physical things they want or need. And that disbelief causes them to go get what they want, when they want it, never stopping to consider whether God wanted it for them or was already working on bringing something even better their way.

Nevertheless, the Christian faith requires patience and a confidence in the Lord. Patience for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, plus patience for the things we have prayed for. Yes, we are to be eager for the day of the Savior, but we must patiently wait to see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 1:7; Romans 8:25). And we must be confident that the day will come.

Therefore, we don't need to know the exact day of that meeting. We must instead understand that God, in His divine authority, will determine the when. All we need to do is live like the five virgins whose lamps were ready with oil (Matthew 25). They were confident the bridegroom would return and put everything in place. We too must be heaven-focused and do the same.

And as for the physical needs and desires we are seeking God for, we can't abandon patience as we hope in Him to deliver. This means that if we have asked Him for something, we don't need to figure out how to get it. Don't uproot the seed of faith you planted through your prayer. Abraham and Sarah did this when they birthed Ishmael. Hebrews 10:35 - So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

God is faithful, and He can be trusted. If we believe in Him, then our hope dictates that we apply patience and confidence as we wait on Him to bring forth His promises and answer our petitions. God bless you.

What are your thoughts? Please share them. And as you wait for fellowship, watch the video in the Altar Call and read these old posts:

1. Wait on God

2. But, can you wait?

3. For My Own Good?

4. The Preparation

5. Shift Your Perspective

6. Holding On To The Promise

7. Are You Bitter?

8. The devil's Underlying Scheme

9. Needs vs. Wants

10. Topic: Faith, Trust, Belief in God

11. Topic: Godfidence

12. Topic: Patience

13. Topic: The Wait

Be A Lion - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) October 6, 2026

Do you know that as a child of God, the very way you walk - with one step or the other - should follow a scriptural pattern? Proverbs 30:29-30 mentions the "stately stride" of a few animals, the first of which is the lion. In describing how lions walk, the scripture states that they retreat from nothing and no one. The lion has that level of confidence because it knows that ordinarily it has no prey.

We Christians are supposed to adopt a similar attitude. Like the lion, we are to step out into the world with our heads held high, knowing that we will never be prey to anyone or anything. This is not a call to pride, but a call to remember who we belong to. Proverbs 28:1 says, "the righteous are as bold as a lion." And in Revelation 5:5, Jesus is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

If Jesus is our Savior, and if, as Christians, we obey the call in Ephesians 5:1-2 to imitate our Savior, should we not adopt His stance and stately stride? And should that stride not impact our physical walk? Should we not strut as His children? And should our spiritual walk also not reflect the confidence that comes from knowing our God?

Alas, many Christians do not walk like lions for different reasons. For some, the harsh and unfair treatment they've experienced has caused grief and broken them down, and their view of themselves is skewed. In other cases, many have not yet invested in their relationship with the Lord, so they don't understand how He feels about them and the greatness He created them for.

Some have attempted to make that investment, but with ulterior motives, meaning they went to God wanting something, but not wanting Him. Since God knows the truth of every heart and no secrets can be kept from Him, such 'relationships' will not produce the results that come to those who submit to Him in humility, prioritizing His concerns while seeking first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

Also, some believers enter the faith unaware of the reality that suffering comes to those who believe in Jesus simply because they've chosen Him. This can create confusion, which robs them of Godfidence. God also uses struggles to prune and strengthen. When life's storms come, some may feel defeated, not realizing those storms are stepping stones to victory.

Regardless of how we have walked and why we have walked that way, God is calling all of us to move differently. He wants us to have a stately stride and is glorified when His people walk with braveness and courage. Now is the time to choose to walk like those who look like the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. It is time to move like the Son of God.

It is important to note that a young, sick, or isolated lion cub can become prey to a stronger predator. Thus, we must mature in the faith and in our relationship with the Lord so we won't be easy pickings. Bible study must be a constant part of our lifestyle. Same with praising the Lord, fellowshipping with believers, fasting, interceding for others, and being led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did these things, and we should follow His example.

When this becomes who we are, our gait changes and we grow in confidence because we know who we are in Christ. Then when the storms of life come, we are ready to run to our God for His shield of protection and strategies for success. That relationship, built through intentionality, is where our boldness will come from. And that is how we will walk like and be as bold as the lion.

What are your thoughts? Please share them. And as you wait for fellowship, watch the video in the Altar Call and read these old posts:

1. Requirements to Receive

2. On Grief & Freedom

3. Praise God That You Bear His Name

4. What Would God See When He Looks At Your Heart?

5. Do You Look Like Him?

6. Do You Belong To Christ?

7. What Is Your Citizenship?

8. We Are Like Jesus

9. Become Friends With Jesus

10. Topic: Dear Christians

11. Topic: God's Children

12. Topic: Godfidence

13. Topic: Please the Lord