Today’s Bible Verse
But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.
2 Chronicles 26:16 (NLT)
Don’t Stop Seeking Him
The key to living out the uncommon life God has for us is always seeking Him in prayer. He can lead us and guide us to His perfect plan. He can also give us strength to conquer the temptations of this world and live out the promises of God. The Apostle Paul penned these words: “I am self-sufficient, in Christ’s sufficiency” (Philippians 4:13 AMPC). So seeking Christ is enough for living the uncommon life!
2 Chronicles 26:5 talks about a King named Uzziah: “He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.” So, as long as King Uzziah sought God in prayer, God prospered his life. God helped Uzziah win battles against the Philistine Army. Uzziah was also able to build towers and raise a mighty army.
Now in verse 16, we see that Uzziah became powerful and proud, and it led to his downfall. He fell into sin which caused leprosy to break out in his body. The success Uzziah gained from God caused him to be proud and also caused him to stop seeking God. Simply put, Uzziah’s heart was filled with pride. When he sought God, he prospered, but when he stopped seeking God because he was proud in his heart, he fell into sin.
Sometimes we can take on the attitude of King Uzziah where we have gained so much success and blessing from God, that we have lost our willingness and press to seek Him. Have we given the blessings of God (the material things) more interest and love than God himself (the one who gives the blessing)? Have we allowed the cares and the demands of life to stop us from seeking God? Do we say, “I don’t have time to seek God and pray because of work, family, children, etc.”? Has the platform and responsibilities of ministry (that God has blessed us with) caused us to lose a passion to seek Him?
The breakthroughs and the miracles that make our lives uncommon shouldn’t be the reason we STOP seeking God; it should give us a greater reason why we should seek Him more! In 2022, let’s seek God in prayer in a greater way, so we can live out the uncommon life God has for us! (Walter Arguelles)
An Uncommon Life
I want you to examine your hearts and be honest with yourself by asking these questions: Have I allowed the cares of this world and the material things that I’ve gained to stop me from seeking God wholeheartedly? Have I gotten so busy with life that I stop seeking Him in prayer? Are there any seeds of pride, laziness, apathy, or indifference in my life that cause me not to seek God in prayer?
The heart regulates the hands. We all know it’s important to always seek God in prayer, but for whatever reason, we don’t; it’s because it’s an issue of the heart. Allow God to change the condition of our hearts to always seek Him first in prayer.
Matthew 6:33 AMPC encourages us to seek first, Him and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and everything else will be added to us. When we seek God at His Word and seek Godly counsel from Godly leadership, that will cause us to continually live the uncommon life God has for us.
Today’s Declaration
Lord, I thank You for Your grace and mercy. Lord, I repent if I haven’t sought You wholeheartedly! In Jesus’ Name, whatever is stopping me from seeking You, I root it out of my life now in Jesus’ Name! Lord, change my heart now in Jesus’ Name! Today, I renew my commitment to seek You wholeheartedly in Jesus’ Name! AMEN!
Today’s Bible Reading
- Old Testament: Exodus 1-3; Psalms 24
- New Testament: Matthew 10:21-42; Acts 15:22-41
