The Live LIGHT LOOP for Friday, June 7, 2024 celebrates all things Live LIGHT - including the books, and courses, and resources, and community and coaching that can be found on https://livelight.ca/ and https://revtrev.com
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.
Live LIGHT Academy has books and courses and resources and community and coaching to help you not conform but be transformed so you can have peace and hope and joy at all times and in every situation. What I create always needs to HELP - Honour, Empower, be Life-giving and Pleasing to God Learn more at https://www.livelight.ca/about
How do I self-identify?
I am a wisdom loving, knowledge sharing, God marvelling, life celebrating, kingdom living, soul healing, Lord seeking, gift imparting, Spirit flowing, grace knowing, irenic follower of the Way. I hold you capable and Holy Spirit trustable to finish the good work He's started in you.
What Am I working on?
Working on connecting topic I’ve focussed on over time on RevTrev.com Check out
Move from being easily regularly frustrated, usually feeling busy, often afraid or easily angered TO having peace at all times and in every situation. https://revtrev.link/bless
Live LIGHT Above the Negativity Reflections and Devotional
Get the Live LIGHT Negativity Fast in Book form today. 47 days of reflections and devotionals to help you take thoughts captive and align with God's will for your life. https://revtrev.link/books
Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart Presale
Move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. This teaching is a game-changer if you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour. Learn why and how you can live with your whole heart today! Sign up for this pre-launch while it's available. https://revtrev.link/heart
Knowing God as Father can be simple, or very complicated. It often depends on how we knew our own fathers. Learn to have well-healed wounds and respond to the revelation we have with Father God.
I was asked if I had further study on god as Father. The good news I do-just look below. The problem that many have is that we’ve all had imperfect fathers, so to understand God as Father, we can have difficulties. When we come from homes with silent or absent or abusive fathers, we may not naturally be able to relate to God as Father. But that’s a profound way He has revealed himself to us, and how Jesus taught us to address Him.
Here’s some of the ways I’ve cover emphasized God as Father.
Do you ever take time to think about the possibilities outside space and time? You know, get the bigger picture that our physical world is unable to fill with any satisfaction? I like to let my brain hurt at times.
God made Adam from dirt…and breathed into him the breath of life…and walked with him in the garden in the cool of the day. What if that ticked off Lucifer enough to rebel? The Divine chose to live in dirt and move in dirt and walk with dirt and show favour to dirt. I could see how that could be offensive to Morning Star.
So the rebellious led a rebellion and got the dirt to sin by simply asking “Did God really say…”
And the rest of our history is God showing his grace and love to make it all right again. He showed His grace and love again and again and again. He told prophets what He was going to do to make it right again. Even angels longed to look to it all (1 Peter 1:12). Then the Divine took it a monumentous - apparently never done before - step further. He took on flesh and camped out for a while.
This was all part of God’s greater plan. He lived. He died sacrificially. He rose again.
Why he needed to show host of heaven His amazing grace, we won’t know this side of heaven. It’s those thoughts that make my brain hurt. But I’m so glad there is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:7).
And we all have a dance with the Divine. Pause on this negativity fast reflection - I am part of God’s masterpiece.
Listen to Negativity Fast Reflection - I Am Part Of God’s Masterpiece
Read the Negativity Fast Reflection - I Am Part Of God’s Masterpiece
I am part of God’s masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I can do the good things he planned for me long ago. Even before he made the world, God loved me and chose me in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt me into his own family by bringing me to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. I belong to Christ and have become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! The Lord will work out his plans for my life.
Have I been acknowledging his favour on me lately?
Next Steps
Live LIGHT Above the Negativity Course - Move from being easily regularly frustrated, usually feeling busy, often afraid or easily angered to having peace at all times and in every situation. https://revtrev.link/bless
Live LIGHT Tips and Tools to fast from Negativity - Are you looking to make a difference in the attitudes and actions in your everyday world? Get these Tips and Tools to help you Fast from Negativity https://revtrev.link/tips
Live LIGHT Negativity Fast - Move from toxic negativity to life-giving positivity with 47 days of reflections and Devotional and Community. https://revtrev.link/fast
Trust in the Lord - Discover 16 reasons you can trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now https://revtrev.link/heart
We can trust in the Trustable One. The Bible confirms it, and in time our testimony will confirm it as well. Here are 16 reasons you can trust God with all your heart. May these verses remind you that your testimony has already proven God as the Trustable One.
16 Reasons to trust in the Lord with all your heart
1. God is good.
Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
2. God is great.
Psalm 96:4 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.
3. God tells me I can trust him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
4. God is always with me.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
5. God helps me.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
6. He won’t let anything separate me from his love.
Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
7. He strengthens me.
Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.
8. He is for me.
Psalm 118:6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?
9. He rescues me.
Psalm 18:16-19 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.
10. He saves me.
2 Timothy 1:9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
11. He gives me everything I need.
2 Peter 1:3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
12. He listens and responds to my prayers.
1 John 5:14-15 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
13. I am valuable to him.
Matthew 10:31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
14. I belong to him.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
15. He disciplines me as his child.
Hebrews 12:7-11 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
16. He has blessed me with every spiritual blessing.
Ephesians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Next Steps to trust in the Lord with your whole heart
Seek the Lord - Find out what the Bible says about seeking the Lord
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now https://revtrev.link/heart
39 Amazing Bible verses on seeking the Lord
Matthew 6:33 NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Hebrews 11:6 NLT 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.
1 Chronicles 16:11 NLT Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
Proverbs 8:17 NLT “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me."
Jeremiah 29:13 NLT If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Psalm 63:1 NLT O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Deuteronomy 4:29 NLT But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
Psalm 9:10 NLT Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
Matthew 7:7-8 NLT "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Psalm 34:10 NLT Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Psalm 14:2 NLT The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
Psalm 119:2 NLT Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Psalm 119:10 NLT I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands.
Lamentations 3:25 NLT The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 NLT In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land."
Matthew 7:7 NLT "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."
Psalm 105:4 NLT Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
James 4:8 NLT Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT "And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Isaiah 55:6 NLT Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
Amos 5:4 NLT This is what the Lord says to Israel: "Seek me and live!"
Psalm 40:16 NLT But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
Acts 17:27 NLT His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.
Job 5:8-9 NLT "If it were me, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles."
Zephaniah 2:3 NLT Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps even yet you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
Psalm 10:4 NLT The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
Psalm 27:8 NLT My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming."
Psalm 27:4 NLT The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
Luke 11:9-10 NLT "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
1 Chronicles 22:19 NLT "Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the sacred articles belonging to God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name."
2 Chronicles 15:2 NLT He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you."
Psalm 34:4 NLT I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Luke 12:31 NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
Hosea 10:12 NLT I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
Next Steps in seeking the Lord
7 Things the Bible Says we can Seek God For (coming soon)
What’s to BLAME when You Don’t Seek the Lord (coming soon)
Seek the Lord - What does the Bible say about seeking the Lord when your facing an impossibility?
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now https://revtrev.link/heart
42 Bible verses on seeking the Lord when you don’t know what to do
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."
Psalm 9:10 (NLT) "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you."
Psalm 34:10 (NLT) "Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing."
Psalm 105:4 (NLT) "Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
James 1:5 (NLT) "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT) "But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him."
1 Chronicles 22:19 (NLT) "Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the LORD God so that you can bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the LORD’s name."
2 Chronicles 14:4 (NLT) "He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands."
2 Chronicles 15:2 (NLT) "He went out to meet Asa as he was returning from battle. 'Listen to me, Asa!' he shouted. 'Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.'"
2 Chronicles 15:12-13 (NLT) "Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman."
2 Chronicles 15:15 (NLT) "All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the LORD gave them rest from their enemies on every side."
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (NLT) "Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help."
2 Chronicles 26:5 (NLT) "Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success."
2 Chronicles 30:19 (NLT) "May the LORD, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony."
2 Chronicles 31:21 (NLT) "In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful."
Psalm 14:2 (NLT) "The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God."
Psalm 22:26 (NLT) "The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy."
Psalm 27:4 (NLT) "The one thing I ask of the LORD—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple."
Psalm 27:8 (NLT) "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'LORD, I am coming.'"
Psalm 40:16 (NLT) "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'The LORD is great!'"
Psalm 63:1 (NLT) "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."
Psalm 69:32 (NLT)
"The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged."
Psalm 70:4 (NLT) "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!'"
Psalm 105:3 (NLT) "Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD."
Psalm 119:2 (NLT) "Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts."
Psalm 119:10 (NLT) "I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands."
Psalm 119:45 (NLT) "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments."
Isaiah 8:19 (NLT) "Someone may say to you, 'Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.' But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?"
Isaiah 45:19 (NLT) "I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."
Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT) "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously."
Hosea 10:12 (NLT) "I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'"
Amos 5:4 (NLT) "This is what the LORD says to the family of Israel: 'Come back to me and live!'"
Amos 5:6 (NLT) "Come back to the LORD and live! Otherwise, he will roar through Israel like a fire, devouring you completely. Your gods in Bethel won’t be able to quench the flames."
Zephaniah 2:3 (NLT) "Seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you—protect you from his anger on that day of destruction."
Matthew 7:7 (NLT) "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."
Luke 12:31 (NLT) "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need."
Acts 17:27 (NLT) "His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us."
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) "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."
James 4:8 (NLT) "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."
Next Steps
7 Things the Bible Says we can Seek God For (coming soon)
What’s to BLAME when You Don’t Seek the Lord (coming soon)
Seek the Lord - what does the Bible say about seeking the Lord with your whole heart? Find out.
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now https://revtrev.link/heart
40 essential Bible Verses on seeking the Lord with your whole heart
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT) "But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him."
1 Chronicles 16:10-11 (NLT) "Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him."
1 Chronicles 22:19 (NLT) "Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build this sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy articles of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name."
2 Chronicles 15:2 (NLT) "He went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. 'Listen to me, Asa!' he shouted. 'Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.'"
2 Chronicles 15:12-13 (NLT) "Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman."
Psalm 9:10 (NLT) "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you."
Psalm 14:2 (NLT) "The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God."
Psalm 27:4 (NLT) "The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple."
Psalm 27:8 (NLT) "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'"
Psalm 34:10 (NLT) "Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing."
Psalm 40:16 (NLT) "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'The Lord is great!'"
Psalm 69:32 (NLT) "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged."
Psalm 105:3-4 (NLT) "Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him."
Psalm 119:2 (NLT) "Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts."
Psalm 119:10 (NLT) "I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands."
Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT) "Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously."
Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
Lamentations 3:25 (NLT) "The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him."
Hosea 10:12 (NLT) "I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'"
Amos 5:4 (NLT) "This is what the Lord says to Israel: 'Seek me and live!'"
Zephaniah 2:3 (NLT) "Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you—protect you from his anger on that day of destruction."
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Acts 17:27 (NLT) "His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us."
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) "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."
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT) "And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."
2 Chronicles 19:3 (NLT) "But even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land, and you have committed yourself to seek God."
Psalm 10:4 (NLT) "The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead."
Psalm 22:26 (NLT) "The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy."
Psalm 24:6 (NLT) "Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Interlude"
Psalm 34:4 (NLT) "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears."
Psalm 53:2 (NLT) "God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God."
Psalm 63:1 (NLT) "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."
Psalm 69:6 (NLT) "Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel."
Psalm 70:4 (NLT) "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!'"
Psalm 105:4 (NLT) "Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him."
Psalm 119:155 (NLT) "Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your decrees."
Proverbs 8:17 (NLT) "I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me."
Isaiah 8:19 (NLT) "Someone may say to you, 'Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.' But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?"
Isaiah 26:9 (NLT) "In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right."
Isaiah 51:1 (NLT) "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined."
Daniel 9:3 (NLT) "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes."
Hosea 5:15 (NLT) "Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for me.”
Zephaniah 1:6 (NLT) "And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) "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."
Next Steps
7 Things the Bible Says we can Seek God For (coming soon)
What’s to BLAME when You Don’t Seek the Lord (coming soon)
Seek the Lord - Do you know the ways the Bible tells us we can seek the Lord? Here are 14.
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now https://revtrev.link/heart
I grew up knowing I need to seek the Lord, but if you would have asked me I would have said, “Praying longer, praying louder and maybe fasting if you were serious”. The Bible has so much more to say about how we can seek the Lord. Here’s 14 ways I’ve found so far…
14 ways to seek the Lord
By praying to Him. Jeremiah 29:12-14a
By praising and worshipping Him. Psalm 22:22
By serving Him. 1 Chronicles 28:9
By doing good. Psalm 34:12-16 ,Psalm 24:4-6
By not doing bad. Isaiah 55:6-7
By confessing and repenting when you don’t do good or if you do do bad. Isaiah 55:6-7
By living humbly. Zephaniah 2:3
By expecting you’ll find Him and He’ll reward you. Hebrews 11:6 Psalm 9:10 Lamentations 3:25
By fasting. Daniel 9:3
By obeying His Word. Psalm 119:10-11
By obeying His voice. Isaiah 45:19
With an event. 2 Chronicles 7:14
With your whole heart. Jeremiah 29:13
With your whole life. Psalm 37:3-5 Psalm 105:4
So how do you seek the Lord?
Next Steps
7 Things the Bible Says we can Seek God For (coming soon)
What’s to BLAME when You Don’t Seek the Lord (coming soon)
Seek the Lord - What are the reasons the Bible gives us to always be seeking the Lord? Find out 17.
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now https://revtrev.link/heart
We get benefits when we seek the Lord. When we come to God we must believe He exists and that He rewards all those who seek Him. What are the rewards for seeking the Lord?
I’ve found 17.
17 Reasons to Seek The Lord
1. You will more fully understand justice. Proverbs 28:5
2. You will find wisdom and discernment. Proverbs 2:3-6
3. You don’t need to worry about everything everyone worries about. Matthew 6:31-33
4. You will do what’s right. Zephaniah 2:3
5. You will repent of what you do wrong. Isaiah 55:6-7
6. You will be rewarded. Hebrews 11:6
7. You will be delivered from your fears. Psalm 34:4
8. You will be strengthened. 2 Chronicles 16:9
9. You will be provided. Matthew 7:7-11
10. You will be filled with joy. 1 Chronicles 16:10, Psalm 119:2
11. You will be filled with hope. Lamentation 3:21-25
12. You will live! Amos 5:4
13. You will never be alone. Psalm 9:10
14. You will lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
15. You will be satisfied. Psalm 63:1-5
16. You will be led to righteousness. Hosea 10:12
17. You will find God. 1 Chronicles 28; Deuteronomy 4:29; Acts 17:27
These are great reasons to seek the Lord but while we get rewards for seeking Him—and we should expect the rewards—we don’t seek Him because of the rewards. We don’t seek the blessing, we do seek the One who blesses.
Next Steps
7 Things the Bible Says we can Seek God For (coming soon)
What’s to BLAME when You Don’t Seek the Lord (coming soon)
Seek the Lord - Learn the 7 things the Bible says we can seek the Lord for.
Trevor Lund is the Content Creator for RevTrev.com and the Founder of the Live LIGHT Academy on LiveLIGHT.ca He created the Live LIGHT with Your Whole Heart Course that helps you move from giving your problems a place of too much influence to having no fear of bad news, even when it comes. If you want to avoid cognitive avoidance, cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviour learn more and sign up for the course at the best price now: https://revtrev.link/heart
What are we to seek the Lord for?
That’s a great question. I’ve found
7 things in scripture that we are to seek the Lord for
1. His Kingdom and His Righteousness
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 13:44-46 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
2. His Salvation and Eternal Life
Acts 17:27 His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.
3. His will to be done
Daniel 9:2-3 During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
4. His Wisdom and understanding
Proverbs 2:3-5 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.
5. His Guidance and Direction
Proverbs 3:6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
6. His Strength and His Presence
Psalm 105:4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
7. His Peace (Deliverance from Fears)
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
But ultimately, what are we seeking when we seek the Lord?
This answer might surprise you, that is until you experience it for yourself.
When we seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness, His salvation and and Eternal life, His will to be done, His wisdom and understanding, His guidance and direction His strength, and His peace - what are we seeking?
It’s a metaphor that’s common in scripture:
We are seeking His face.
His face is understood to represent His intimate presence.
Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always
Psalm 27:8 My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek
Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. One day you’ll be with him in paradise. Today you are meant to seek His face always, you’re meant to seek him and find him when you seek him with all of your heart, and you’re meant to seek him and live!
Next Steps
What’s to BLAME when You Don’t Seek the Lord (coming soon)
In a world filled with constant noise, chaos, and negativity, it's easy to lose sight of the beauty and wonder that surrounds us. But what if we took a moment to be still, to pause in awe of our Creator and the magnificent universe He has crafted? What if we intentionally embarked on a journey to let go of negativity and embrace the transformative power of a negativity fast?
Imagine for a moment setting aside all the worries, doubts, and toxic thoughts that weigh you down. Picture yourself immersing in moments of stillness, allowing yourself to be fully present in the here and now.
This is not just about positive thinking or wishful optimism; it's about reorienting your perspective by being intentional about what you allow into your mind and heart. Come along as we discover how taking time to be in awe of our Creator can lead us towards a life-changing journey of renewal.
Listen to Negativity Fast Reflection - I Take Time To Be In Awe Of My Creator
Read the Negativity Fast Reflection - I Take Time To Be In Awe Of My Creator
I take time to be in awe of my Creator. Whether it’s listening to worship music that reminds me of his presence in the here and now, or it’s enjoying nature or mathematics or history or anything else that he’s created for his glory. I will be still and know that HE is God.
Have I taken time to be in awe of God lately?
Next Steps
Live LIGHT Above the Negativity Course - Move from being easily regularly frustrated, usually feeling busy, often afraid or easily angered to having peace at all times and in every situation. https://revtrev.link/bless
Live LIGHT Tips and Tools to fast from Negativity - Are you looking to make a difference in the attitudes and actions in your everyday world? Get these Tips and Tools to help you Fast from Negativity https://revtrev.link/tips
Live LIGHT Negativity Fast - Move from toxic negativity to life-giving positivity with 47 days of reflections and Devotional and Community. https://revtrev.link/fast
In times of uncertainty and confusion, the story of King Jehoshaphat in the Bible offers a compelling narrative of seeking divine guidance when faced with overwhelming challenges. His story teaches us that when we don't know what to do, turning our hearts towards seeking the Lord can lead us towards clarity and purpose amidst life's toughest decisions. Learn more in Seek the Lord when you don’t know what to do
Read the notes of Seek the Lord when you don’t know what to do
When you don’t know what to do, trust God enough to seek Him.
Have you ever had a time or a season in your life when you found it was easier to blame God for the problems you face than it was to trust Him for His answers?
Our first father did that when he used the excuse “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
So you might say, we come by it naturally.
We might think we’re too spiritual to blame God for our problems. After all, “He’s the potter, I’m the clay. I can’t tell the potter how he can form me.”
BUT
Do you seek Him always or do you withdraw from his presence?
Do you have that sweet time of prayer, or do you leave with less peace than you came with?
Do you have a vibrant relationship with the maker of the universe, or do you go through the motions and hope nobody notices?
I’ve found 5 main reasons why we may not seek the Lord or always seek the Lord.
I’ve
I asked ChatGPT “As a gifted wordsmith to come up with a 5 letter word to describe why we don’t seek the Lord always using the 5 words I’ve come up with, with permission to change the words so they work in an acrostic.” The word it came up with is BLAME.
And thus was born - in minutes not months - the tool:
What’s to BLAME when I don’t seek the Lord tool
B - Blindness - Ignorance
L - Loftiness - Arrogance
A - Assumption - Misplaced Trust
M - Mateyness - Familiarity
E - Error - Offence
B - Blindness - Ignorance
Psalm 53:2-3 God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!
What is seeking? How do I do it with my whole heart?
We talked about this last week. To seek God with all of your heart it involves your decision, with your emotion and with your actions. If you were here or you watched it later online, you are no longer ignorant of what it means to seek the Lord with your whole heart.
I quickly mentioned the 12 benefits of seeking the Lord and the 14 ways I see in scripture to seek the Lord (I didn’t have these in the notes)
14 ways to seek the Lord
By praying to Him. Jeremiah 29:12-14a
By praising and worshipping Him. Psalm 22:22
By serving Him. 1 Chronicles 28:9
By doing good. Psalm 34:12-16 ,Psalm 24:4-6
By not doing bad. Isaiah 55:6-7
By confessing and repenting when you don’t do good or if you do do bad. Isaiah 55:6-7
Information is only as good as the transformation it helps facilitate.
It’s what you do with the information that will lead to knowledge and wisdom. It’s up to you to act on the information you have and seek Him and live.
1 Timothy 2:4 NIV …wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Do I know how and why to seek the Lord?
If you do, great. But if you know how and why but you’re honestly not… and it’s not because Blindness - Ignorance, it might be because of Loftiness or Arrogance.
L - Loftiness - Arrogance
Psalm 10:4 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
Isaiah 65:1-2 NLT “The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name. All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.”
What’s the antidote to arrogance?
Humility.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.
Humility comes through confession and repentance. It starts with agreeing with God that not seeking Him is sin, then choosing to seek with all of your heart continually.
Am I too proud to seek the Lord?
If you are, confess and repent. But maybe it’s not Blindness - Ignorance or Loftiness - Arrogance. It could be Assumption or misplaced trust that keeps you from seeking God always.
A - Assumption - Misplaced Trust
Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!
What’s the antidote to Assumption - Misplaced trust?
Testimony.
Testimony that reminds yourself that God is the trustable one.
Psalm 9:10 (NIV) Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
If you feel you’d rather trust what God has entrusted to you than God Himself. Then the tools of Confession and repentance will help you. He is a jealous God and will have no other God before Him. It doesn’t make sense to trust in the creation and not really trust in the Creator.
Am I trusting in anything or anyone more than I am trusting in God?
The good news is when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If Blindness, Loftiness, or Assumption aren’t the reason your not seeking the Lord, it could be Mateyness or familiarity.
M - Mateyness - Familiarity
Mark 6:1-6 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Familiarity can lead to contempt will lead to unbelief and that will stop the miraculous.
What is the antidote to familiarity?
Curiosity.
Proverbs 25:2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
How do you stay curious?
Remember the
4 L’s of curiosity
Let go of your need to be right.
Learn to be present in the moment.
Listen to understand not to respond.
Leverage questions to understand better.
Use the 4 L’s of Curiosity to deepen your awe of God. Find some of the answers for your questions in the Bible, but learn to trust Him when questions have no answers.
Trusting Him when questions have no answers is faith.
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.
Am I too satisfied with my knowledge of God?
Don’t lose your awe of God. If you have, the tools we have are confession and repentance. Confess to God that you that you’ve become too familiar and maybe that’s why you haven’t seen too many miracles lately. Then get curious about Him again.
E - Error - Offence
Matthew 11:2-6 HCSB When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”
John was Jesus’ cousin. He had declared Jesus the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But he was in prison and the Messiah was supposed to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. So he asked his cousin if He was the one of if they should wait for another.
It’s an honest question. One that shows his doubt.
Hosea 5:15 I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
The antidote to offence at God is confession and repentance.
You will never confess and never repent if you’re too spiritual to think that you can ever be offended at God.
Your emotions show you what you really believe. If you know you’re not always seeking God with your whole heart - and none of what I’ve said makes any sense in your situation - offence is the place to go.
Zephaniah 1:6 And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”
Am I living offended at God?
Don’t let offence lead to unbelief.
Does this really matter?
Yes.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
Because most of us don’t always seek the Lord always. And when you realize you aren’t you should know what to do. Because if there’s a time where we naturally seek the Lord it’s when we don’t know what to do.
However, when we don’t know what to do can also be a time we blame God for our trouble and we let our ignorance, arrogance, assumptions, familiarity or offence get in the way get in the way of seeking Him.
Today I want you to know:
When you don’t know what to do, trust God enough to seek Him.
Can I pray?
That was the pre-message, not the message. If you’re timing the message you can reset the timer to now.
Jehoshaphat
Today we’re moving on to the story of Asa son, Jehoshaphat. We’re going to be covering 2 Chronicles 17, 18, 19 and 20. I won’t be reading all of it, but I want you to see what seeking the Lord meant for Jehoshaphat.
I want to preface this story by saying in contemporary antiquity this story has very unique elements. What I am saying is “People are people.” Not how they’d like to be portrayed, but how they actually are. This is unique.
You don’t get this insight from almost contemporary Assyrian texts or later Babylonian and certainty earlier Babylonian or Egyptian. Hittite - I haven’t studied. It’s only been translatable since 2009. What I’ve read in translations, these stories are unique. What I’m saying is when you see the personalities in this story, you only get that in this book. It’s ancient and it is amazing.
2 Chronicles 17:3-6 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.
Tell - Ahab alliance, Baal prophets; Jehoshaphat was a bit like his father Asa - he didn’t seek the Lord to have the alliance with Ahab, but he’s not like his father in that he wanted to seek the Lord once he was in the alliance with Ahab. In case you’re wondering. Ahab is the king of Israel married to Jezebel, who had all those encounters with Elijah .
2 Chronicles 18:6-7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.” The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
Tell - Set up for Miciah
2 Chronicles 18:14-17 When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!” But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?” Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’” “Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
Tell - What Miciah saw in heaven, slapping face, promise, Ahab ruse - fate When Jehoshaphat returned…
2 Chronicles 19:2-3 Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you. Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”
Tell Jehoshaphat appointing Judges
Then he faced a situation that he didn’t know what to do. Jehoshaphat was consistent. Remember his father, Asa - later in his life, decided to use his own wisdom and political clout and he ended up not even seeking the Lord when he had a foot disease, but only the physicians.
I don’t know why Jehoshaphat didn’t seek God about making an alliance with Ahab, but he sought God during it. And in the middle of the battle that killed Ahab, he called out to God and He delivered him.
Then he got word that three armies were on their way to attack him. Because he had been seeking the Lord, he knew he had to seek the Lord.
You and I might have taken offence. We might have tried to explain to God that we had appointed good and godly judges, that we had encouraged the people to return to God, that we had removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles. We might have had to pity party. We might have had a good lament.
But he had been seeking the Lord, so he knew he had to seek the Lord.
He called a fast and he called an assembly. And in that assembly he led a prayer that you and I may need to pray at times.
It talks about the greatness of God. It talks about the promise of God. It doesn’t real problem they are facing.
Read
2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV) Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
What if?
What if you and I knew how to seek the Lord when we don’t know what to do? What if our default was to not blame God for our circumstance but to draw near to him so he could draw near to us?
Jesus did say to “Seek first Kingdom and his righteousness.”
We are going to have bad news. In this world we will have trouble.
What if you wouldn’t fear bad news, even when it comes?
That’s what happens when we seek Him.
Jehoshaphat’s response to this impossible situation gives us a tool we can use when we don’t know what to do.
2 Chronicles 20:13-26 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.
Big assembly. Wonderful prayer prayed. Everyone is standing there waiting with anticipation. What would be God’s response?
He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
How many agree that’s a good word? We used to wait to hear someone prophesy a lot more than we have done more recently. There’s a pregnant pause that can be so terrifying because if the one who God has given a word doesn’t speak, there are others who cannot stand the silence and will blurt out whatever’s on there heart. What if Jehaziel waited with his word and someone spoke out their own saying “run away!” Most people don’t think about those things, but I do. We know the word was from God because look at the response.
Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout. Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”
Except maybe at Jericho, this is the first time the praises went before the army. Think a drummer standing in the line during the US civil war. Now have everyone except the drummer take a few steps back. Enemy at the front. Person making the most noise in between. This is what’s happening real time.
Yet what happened in the natural is so crucial for us in the spiritual. We’ll get to that in a bit.
At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.
They did their part. God did his part. That’s the dance we’re all in. Well that, and he empowers us to accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.
When you don’t know what to do, trust God enough to seek Him.
How to TRUST God to seek the Lord when you don’t know what to do tool
T - Take time to wait for the Lord 2 Chronicles 20:13
Have I taken the time to wait for the Lord?
R - Remember to listen for your encouragement 2 Chronicles 20:15
Have I waited long enough to get encouragement from Him?
U - Understand you need to obey 2 Chronicles 20:16-17
Will I obey what He tells me to do?
S - Surrender fear - Praise before the victory and show gratitude before the blessing
2 Chronicles 20:18-21
Do I praise Him before the answer?
T - Thank God for what He does! 2 Chronicles 20:25-26
Do I rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances?
If Yes to all, then you TRUST Him.
Challenge
Jehoshaphat’s Epitaph…
2 Chronicles 20:32-33 Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.
When the leader seeks the Lord there is some blessing for all of us. But you can’t outsource seeking the Lord, it’s for each of us to do.
When you don’t know what to do, will you trust God enough to seek Him?
Seek his face always 1 Chronicles 6:11
You can’t remain offended at Him. Confess and repent and ask him for help so you’re not offended again.
