Category Archives: seeking understanding

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭86:15-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When you rise, and contemplate this Vista, how could you not give glory to he who created it?

How could you not contemplate his power, his Majesty?

When you consider the greatness, the vastness of the sea, and know that he created it, yet loves you, how can you turn not to him?

He is great. He is alive. He loves you. And he sent his son, the perfect Jesus, to die for you, to rise for you, to bring you to a place of acceptance, because of what he did.

Turn to him.

Worship him.

Packer on God knowing me:

There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me.

In the mountains of northern Hungary some pastors gather for January retreats. The house is in a village and is heated primarily by two wood stIves. (It is reserved for Jan. ‘23!) Each morning the ashes cleaned out and the fires lit. I was reminded of this morning discipline just now as I read this:

“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭6:12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As followers of Jesus, we are now the tent. As such, it follows that we need to light the fire of word and prayer each morning.

“It shall be kept burning…”