PRAYER THOUGHT: "The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him." A. W. Tozer
Psalm 63:8 KJV - "My soul followeth hard after thee; thy right hand upholdeth me."
Commentary:
I chose the KJV today because of the word "hard." The psalmist was not giving the idea of a simple following after God as if it was a nice thing to do. He expressed the desire in a believer's heart, that has been impacted by the Spirit of God, to pursue God with all the energy that soul can put forth. It is like reaching the goal line in a race and the competition is getting awfully close. You put forth all the effort you can and the last ounce of your strength you can muster to reach the goal.
Now, this is talking about a Christian realizing that salvation is more than just getting a place in heaven. Far more than that, as great heaven is, salvation means you come to know God, the Wonderful, Majestic, Awesome Creator of this universe! You are brought into vital union with Him and your heart hungers and aches to know Him better every day. And unlike a race where you reach the finish line, there is no "finish line" in knowing God. Eternity is eternal because it will take forever to get to know and enjoy your Eternal and Infinite Lord!
We've been talking about prayer most of this month. And I'm afraid to most Christians that means asking and receiving good things from God. But prayer, as we have sought to get across, is the pleasurable encounter with God and the very personal experience of being in His Presence. A growing believer thinks more of the One they are speaking to than the request they are bringing. Do you "follow hard after" God? Do you hunger and thirst to know Him better? Could part of your praying be a request that God would increase your hunger and your thirst for Him? The blessings are beyond me to describe when a child of God comes to pray, not to ask for a thing, but just to spend time with Jesus.
Psalm 63:8 KJV - "My soul followeth hard after thee; thy right hand upholdeth me."
Commentary:
I chose the KJV today because of the word "hard." The psalmist was not giving the idea of a simple following after God as if it was a nice thing to do. He expressed the desire in a believer's heart, that has been impacted by the Spirit of God, to pursue God with all the energy that soul can put forth. It is like reaching the goal line in a race and the competition is getting awfully close. You put forth all the effort you can and the last ounce of your strength you can muster to reach the goal.
Now, this is talking about a Christian realizing that salvation is more than just getting a place in heaven. Far more than that, as great heaven is, salvation means you come to know God, the Wonderful, Majestic, Awesome Creator of this universe! You are brought into vital union with Him and your heart hungers and aches to know Him better every day. And unlike a race where you reach the finish line, there is no "finish line" in knowing God. Eternity is eternal because it will take forever to get to know and enjoy your Eternal and Infinite Lord!
We've been talking about prayer most of this month. And I'm afraid to most Christians that means asking and receiving good things from God. But prayer, as we have sought to get across, is the pleasurable encounter with God and the very personal experience of being in His Presence. A growing believer thinks more of the One they are speaking to than the request they are bringing. Do you "follow hard after" God? Do you hunger and thirst to know Him better? Could part of your praying be a request that God would increase your hunger and your thirst for Him? The blessings are beyond me to describe when a child of God comes to pray, not to ask for a thing, but just to spend time with Jesus.
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