Seek Him Always

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. – (Psalm 105:4, NIV)

Depend on the Lord for strength. Always go to Him for help. – (Psalm 105:4, ERV)

Seek the Eternal and His power; look to His face constantly. – (Psalm 105:4, VOICE)

We all need strength to navigate each new day well, and God is the One to whom we look for strength. The thing is, we ought to seek Him to begin each day, and continue turning to Him as we go. God is faithful to supply the help and strength we need as we depend on Him, and He carries us through the places and spaces that we do not think we can continue moving forward. Most teachers are in a space of desperately needing God to provide the strength to finish the school year strong. Everyone is eager to be finished, state testing is complete, and kid energy is magnified when the sun starts to come out. There can be much joy as the year comes to a close, yet there are extra challenges as well. May we ever look to the Lord to be our strength, for He is faithful to supply what we need as we turn to Him.

God, You are so good,

and faithful always;

You hear our requests,

throughout all our days.

You’re our Source of strength,

when the days are long;

You fill us with love,

and make our hearts strong.

Your love lifts us up,

so we may press on;

Your grace gives us hope,

as You we call on.

Thank You, Lord Jesus,

that You’re always good;

and Your faithfulness,

how hope’s understood.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the One we can look to for strength, and that we can seek You ever and always. Thank You that as we do, You meet us and provide what we need to press on. Forgive us for the times that we have tried to navigate on our own or muscle our way through things without You. Teach us to ever trust in You and to seek You in all things. Lead us in Your everlasting love so that we may extend Your goodness to all those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You continually and trust You to lead and provide in all things. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. – 1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek in Trust

Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to You. – (Psalm 102:1, NIV)

Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help. – (Psalm 102:1, ERV)

Hear me, O Eternal One, hear my prayer! Hear my lonely desperate cry for help. – (Psalm 102:1, VOICE)

I appreciate how the Psalmists were so real with how they were feeling, yet continued to seek and praise God. The humanity is reassuring, and a reminder that no one has it all together all the time, yet always God is the one to seek for answers, help and hope. Their example demonstrates that no matter what comes, God is who we ought to seek. Yesterday evening, after spending the day at the high school where I coach gymnastics for their schedule pick-up, I opened my school email and my class lists. After seeing some of the names and faces that I taught last year, a bit of anxiousness crept in. It is a new year and a different building, and I have to trust that God has a plan. I am torn, as I was so hopeful for the new, yet there is comfort in the familiar. I will be teaching the same classes and follow the same schedule as last year. So far, class sizes seem reasonable, and I am praying that they stay that way. God is good, and He knows my heart and hears my prayers. He will equip and empower me for what lies ahead, and will strengthen me to take on that which is difficult. In all things I will give Him praise, for His goodness is not circumstantial, and His love knows no end.

You are faithful,

A glimpse of a classroom on our temporary campus…

to hear all I ask;

Your love, unending,

You lead through each task.

With kindness and grace,

You come alongside;

Your capable hands,

lead arms open wide.

Ready to catch me,

each time that I fall;

to show me Your way,

through the great and small.

Thank You, Lord Jesus,

that You know our heart;

each day is its own,

with a brand new start.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and loving and faithful. Thank You that we can call on You and trust You in all things. Thank You that You are for us. Forgive us for our fears and frustrations with how we think things appear. Teach us to trust that You see beyond what is before us, for You know the purpose and the outcome. Show us how to faithfully walk in Your love as we do all things. Lead us to love those around us in ways that make Your heart evident to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we place all things in Your hands and trust You with all that is and is yet to come. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

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. – Proverbs 3:5-6

All Hope, Joy, and Peace

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – (Romans 15:13, NIV)

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in Him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit. – (Romans 15:13, ERV)

I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit. – (Romans 15:13, VOICE)

God is the God of all hope, joy, and peace, as we choose to trust in Him. Incredibly, the more we trust, the more hope grows to overflowing, for His Spirit dwells within us and grants us these things in abundance. Hope, joy, and peace are not circumstantial, but rather are present in spite of our circumstances when we trust in the Lord. I cannot count how many times that I have been in the midst of difficult circumstances and have felt and known hope in Him, peace in His presence, and joy through knowing that He was holding me in the hollow of His hands. It is my prayer that all would come to know and understand who He is and how He loves, for in knowing Him, we discover hope, joy, and peace in abundance.

The Lord is our God,

PNW beauty… (Ruston Way, Tacoma)

King of hope and peace;

joy overwhelming,

by grace we know these.

For God is the One,

who comforts our soul;

the Lifter of heads,

as He makes us whole.

The more that we trust,

the more that we know;

the glory of God,

as our faith does grow.

So seek the Savior,

Who graciously gives;

His hope, joy, and peace,

each day that we live.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are so good, loving, and kind. Thank You that You grow in us, Your hope, joy, and peace, as we trust and seek You. Forgive us for allowing circumstances to distract us from who You are and how You love. Lead us to trust You more, so that we would be acutely aware of Your loving kindness and faithfulness that flood our hearts to overflowing with Your hope, joy, and peace. Show us how to love those around us from the overflow of all the good You give. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your presence that provides hope, joy, and peace in abundance. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13