The Seek God Challenge Day 31

January 31, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

HOLD ON TO GOD

READ

“22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."27 And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."28 Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."29 Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him.30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.”

– Genesis 32:22-32

THINK

While there is lots to be learned through this passage the concept we want to look at is in verse 26. Jacob despite being in pain and clearly going from a position of strength to brokenness refuses to let go. What is Jacob’s reason for refusing to let go? Why do you think the blessing was so important to Jacob?

Look again at verses 25-28. In what ways was Jacob changed in these verses? Which one made the greatest impact on his future? Why?

What are you holding onto God for? Who are you holding onto God for?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Cry out to God for the things/people that you are refusing to give up on.

Thank the Lord that He changes you from death to life and from darkness into light. Ask Him to help you be a light in the darkness to your generation

DO

We are seeking the Lord through prayer and fasting starting tonight at dinner (skip dinner), and finishing tomorrow at dinner (skip breakfast & lunch, then eat dinner).

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: Book of Genesis, God, Israel, Israelites, Jacob, matt rothacher, Old Testament, Penuel, Seek God Challenge, Zarqa River

The Seek God Challenge Day 17

January 17, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

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THE WORD LEADS TO DEEP CONVICTION

READ

“29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.30 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.” – 2 Chronicles 34:29-31

“1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.” – Nehemiah 9:1-3

THINK

At this point Josiah had already purified the land of idols, and had begun work on the temple, but the hearts of the people have no reason to change apart from a King’s order, what reason do they have now? What’s the difference in motivation of obeying God, and obeying man?

We see both personal confession (by ourselves), and corporate confession (with other believers) in this passage. How difficult would it be to participate in public confession among your Christian friends at church? Why do you think that’s the case?

The word brings conviction because it is the standard which we are called to live by, do you read the Bible this way?

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Pray that the word of God will bring conviction to your life, and that the places that are not in line with God’s scripture will be clearly revealed so that we can correct them

Pray that we will welcome the discipline of God and not flee his word for fear of feeling ashamed of our sin

DO

Stop now and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the things you need to confess to the Lord today, as soon as they pop into your mind, confess them to God out loud.

Download the guide here

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge Tagged With: bible, Books of Chronicles, Challenge, God, Holy, Israelites, Jerusalem, Jesus, Josiah, Judah, Levite, Lord, matt rothacher, OT, Seek God Challenge

The Seek God Challenge Day 3

January 3, 2012 by Jules 1 Comment

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READ

12 Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

14 The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

17 And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

-Exodus 33:12-18

THINK

We see a picture here of this guy Moses who is not content with the amount of God he has experienced, if we didn’t know the point in the story we might think that God had been distant from him, but in fact he’s already met with him through a burning bush, showed His power and concern for His people through the plagues in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, and been alone with Him on the mountain giving Moses the first set of the law. Yet, Moses appears to be begging God to be with him, to “teach me your ways so I may know you…” Why do you think that is? Have you ever hungered for more of God like this?

Do you see the progression of Moses’s requests? What are they?

We see he’s moving deeper “who are you sending with me?”, “Don’t send us without you”, “show me your glory.” Moses is pursuing God deeper and deeper. He is so consumed by his God that all he can dwell on is going deeper with Him, knowing Him better, learning more from Him. It’s a passionate pursuit of God that is fueled by an unquenchable hunger and thirst for God.

PRAY

These thoughts and prayers are just a guide to get you started in your conversation with God. Think of them as conversation starters rather than a check list to quickly pray.

Are you content with your current level of relationship with God? Do you desire to have the kind of relationship where you can ask God to “show me your glory”?

Pray that your life will be hungry for knowing God, that a little of Him here and there will not do!

Do you really want to know God’s ways? Are you ready to live out what His word says?

Pray that your faith will be strengthened and your knowledge of God’s desires will lead your life.

DO

Take the list you made yesterday of where your spending your time and decide on something that you can cut out or reduce the amount of time to have time to seek God deeply.

Download the guide here