| Following Hard After Jesus |
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Psalm 42:1 (GNB), Psalm 63:1-2 (GNB) Philippians.3:10 (GNB)
As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God. *O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and aterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are. *All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death,
As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God. *O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and aterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are. *All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death,
How committed are your hunger, pursuit and desire for God? These serve as major foundations for us to conduct exploits for the kingdom of God. In Psalm 63:8, David said, “my soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” One of the devil's primary strategies is to dilute the love and passion for God in the hearts of men through the prevalence of evil and iniquity all around us, Matthew 24:12. Do not let your love for God wax cold for any reason. Let it grow hotter by the day. Follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace, 2 Tim. 2:22. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus instructed us to teach men of all nations to practice the things that He has taught us. You can only teach men what you know or are learning yourself. Also, note that 'teaching' here is not limited to a Bible study alone; it also implies reference to your character and lifestyle.Are you passionately practicing and living according to the ways of Jesus? When the Bible says in Hebrews 13:7 that we should follow after the faith of our leaders, it reveals that it is not only your words as a leader that influence people; your lifestyle of faith also influences them. Let your lifestyle and actions continually point people to a deeper relationship with God. The things you deeply follow are the things you do even when you do not feel like doing them. Prioritize following Jesus and doing His will; make them something that you pursue no matter the discouragement that comes your way. Let your love and desire for Jesus surpass any and everything else.
PRAYER FOCUS: Tell God that you desire a deeper walk with Him and that you want your life to influence others more for Christ.
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