Seek God First

by Marsha Mundy
(Bethel, Ohio)

Jesus cares for each one of us.

God gives specific directions in His Word

What is prompting you to seek God? What sort of trials and tribulations have brought you to your knees before the throne of God?

All through the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to place God first in their lives and He would take care of them.

Deuteronomy 5:7-10, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (NIV)

Time and time again, the Israelites tried to live under their own power. Each time that they turned to idols or sought to live as their pagan neighbors did, trials and tribulations would come upon them. They would cry out to God for help and He would raise up a judge, king or prophet. Those leaders who followed God's commands were given victory and the land would be peaceful while they ruled, but those who became prideful or who bowed down to other gods soon met with disaster and ruin. The cycle repeated itself numerous times. God was always faithful to his people and always answered their cries for help.

Judges 3:7 & 9, "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs."
"But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised for them a deliverer..." (NIV)

What should we do in the midst of trials?

I was a young mother with a two year old son, I was a long-time member of a church, teaching Sunday School to toddlers and happily married. At age 24 my life seemed to be right on track. We had just purchased our first home, my husband had a good job, we had one son and another baby on the way. I was happy, healthy and excited about our future.

When my labor pains started, I noticed that it felt different from my first pregnancy. Although I was having pains, they didn't seem to be getting stronger or lasting longer, like I thought they should. My husband took me to the hospital and when they checked me they said I wasn't ready to deliver yet. It was 1972 and the new technology wasn't available to find out what was happening with the baby, so I just had to wait it out.

A nurse kept trying to hear the baby's heartbeat and she seemed upset with me for not cooperating and then my water broke. When I saw the nurse's reaction to my water breaking, I knew something was wrong. At 2:30 a.m. I delivered my still-born daughter, Stephanie. The umbilical cord had wrapped itself around her neck twice as she was coming down the birth canal and choked her.

A couple days later I was sent home from the hospital with my arms aching for a baby I would never get to hold.

A time for serious seeking

That experience made me do some serious thinking about my faith.

Since my baby had never had a chance to live, there was no doubt in my mind, I knew that she was with Jesus in heaven. I didn't blame God for taking her life but I did question my own beliefs.

When the time came for me to die, was I sure that I was going to heaven? Would I really get to see my little girl? How could I be guaranteed that I would make it to heaven?

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6-7; Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)

What has brought you to the point of seriously seeking God? Some of the things that often bring us to this point include death, sickness, financial problems, divorce or separation from loved ones. It can be hard to see God's love for us in the midst of these trials, but as we seek him we discover that he is faithful, he never changes and he rewards those who earnestly seek him. God has given me the assurance that I will see my daughter in heaven when the time comes for me to die and I believe him.

When we cry out to God for help, he hears us and because he is a gracious, merciful God, he will respond. The first commandment that God gave to Moses was "You shall have no other god's before me." God wants to be number one in our hearts.

Jesus told his followers the greatest commandment, Mt. 22:37-38 (NIV) "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

Crying out to God for help

Regardless of our circumstances, God is still God and He deserves first place in our lives. God is patient with us and will wait for us to seek Him. Paul told the Christians living in Rome that God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

That is a promise we can claim for ourselves today.

Is it difficult for you to seek God when you are in the midst of trying times? How have you experienced God working for your good in those difficult circumstances of your life? Share a time when you have felt his love for you in an amazing way.

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Seek God First

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In reply to "feeling in christian limbo"
by: Anonymous

God loves you so much:) Even though you may FEEL you are in Christian limbo, the truth is He is so very close to you right now!He promises to never leave us or forsake us...Hebrews 13:5, and that goes for all His kids that have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.It seems as though when I am going through those "desert times" myself, He always supplies the Living Water I need, not as I think He should do it, but by how He chooses to to supply, and apply, His healing. You already have His grace and His mercy, that will never ever go away:) He knows your heart, and He hears every prayer you lift up as you talk with Him throughout your day. When He showed me the truth, that feelings and truth are two different things with two different meanings, it was easier for me to take the next step and see if what I was "feeling" was lining up with the "truth" in His word. The challenges of this life can be so overwhelming at times but He has given us a whole big family of brothers and sisters to help remind us of His deep love for us, and that His truths will not change. So, when you are feeling you are in that place of "Christian Limbo," which by the way, I think we all experience that sometimes:), remember your identity as a child of the Living God! That's who you are! He is loving on you right now,whether you can "feel" it or not, it's true:) Blessings to you! YOU ARE LOVED:)

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Sunset
by: AnonymousPattricia

At 62, sitting on a balcony in Manly, I realse that God has been so very kind to me while I have been unkind to Him. Although my life has not been a bed of roses, it has been and continues to be good. There is a missing piece of the puzzle that is me. And that piece is a close, mature relationship with God.
I have always believed in God, for as long as I remember. When I was little my parents didn't take me to Sunday School. I went of my own accord. I taught Sunday School for a while, as well.
But in all this time, three children and a divorce later, I still don't feel right with God.
Admittedly I don't go to church. I do pray, morning and evening and chat with Him as I go about my daily life. It seems I am a Christian in limbo.

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God's Word is powerful!
by: Anonymous

Thanks for sharing your encouraging story! We all need to hear that God is still working in the world today - He hasn't changed! And hearing that His Word continues to be used to bring healing is even more encouraging.
He just keeps telling me to stay in His Word and even though I don't read it as much as I should, there are passages that come to my mind throughout the day. I guess you could say that I have hidden His Word in my heart.
God bless you for sharing!
Marsha

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Seeking God in Times of Struggle
by: Anonymous

I accepted Christ as my savior when I was 12 years old, but like you didn't realize the power of that salvation until later in my life. I have lived through so many challenging experiences in my life but one that stand out to me was when my very troubled step-daughter tried to commit suicide for the second time in her life. She was in intensive care on life support, it was 2 a.m. and the Dr. called me and told me he didn't think she would make it through the night. I grabbed my Bible as I went out the door and didn't know what else I could do for her so I just opened the pages and started reading scripture. I can't even tell you what passage I was reading, but I felt God speaking words of comfort to me. He knew what I needed. She survived the night so I asked the nursed if she would turn the radio to a christain station. After being in a coma for several weeks, my daughter regained consciousness that day. Praise God for knowing what we need before we do.

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Seeking to know my Maker...God!
by: kristina

I didn't know where else to post this...How do I truly know if I am a child of God? I struggle daily to follow and abide in Him...I have returned back to my church..and began my bible study also..But How do I truly know if I am abiding the way He talks to me Through His Word?

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To search for him is to know he is always there
by: Gale

On November 16th 1993 I gave birth to a daughter Talitha who took one breath before going on to be with the Lord. I am writing to you on November 14th 2011 and I can still see Talitha in my mind.

A message of hope was given to me during that awful time of grief.." There is no pain bigger than God's love for me! " That message was the wave that took me over oceans of pain onto sandy beaches of hope.

Like you I know that one day I'll see Talitha and I also know that God is with me in the darkest days and celebrating with me in the brightest moments.
I read this study to remind myself to seek first the kingdom of heaven and have the faith that everything else I'm believing would eventually come to past.

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Resting in God's finished work
by: Eddie Kigozi

I am from Uganda. I have seen God do amazing things for me during a difficult time. I was supposed to take a team of 5 young skaters and 3 officials to India for a skating championship and we got our visas late so we reached the airport when the check in counter was just closing. The attendant refused to check us in and the flight practically left us. In that moment I stopped struggling to make the trip happen and i relaxed. 2 hours later $50 had been paid for each of us and were were booked on the next flights out to Mumbai the next day. I didn't contribute to the 'no show' fees coz i didn't have enough money on me but I knew then that it could have only been God that we were able to go for that championship.

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reply
by: Marsha

My heart is aching for you right now. The Bible says that when part of the body is hurting, it affects the entire body and your pain does affect me.
I know that God is faithful - sometimes I have to remind myself of the times that God brought me through deep valleys. Jesus told his followers that they would be persecuted for their belief in him, but he also said he would never leave us or forsake us and we have to hang onto that promise.
I'm so glad that you have a loving spouse now and I am praying that in time your children and grandchildren will seek a relationship with you again. All you can do is continue to let your light shine in their lives whenever you get an opportunity. (Birthday cards, thinking of you notes and plenty of prayer.) People are attracted to the light and love of Jesus, but they often resist it - for a time.
My prayer for you is that God will place a godly woman in your pathway who can encourage you in your faith. We all need other women who we can share our hearts with.
In the meantime, share your heart with me through this study.
Don't give up on God, because he's not giving up on you! He loves you and knows all that you have endured. I often think of Job and all the heartache and physical pain that he suffered. But he was faithful and God blessed him more at the end of his life than at the beginning. God does reward our faithfulness and he understands our pain.
Blessings to you today! This is the day the Lord has made - we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Love
Marsha

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Seeking God First, again
by: Anonymous

I believed I had been seeking the Lord daily with a quick,what I would describe as,a "formatted prayer." I know the Lord is with me continuously, and I do sometimes talk with Him throughout the day, but if I had to honestly say I "feel" like He cares about my pain, sometimes, no, alot of times, I doubt, I confess. I know I am saved, that happened over 30 years ago, but life has dropped some curve balls that have smacked me a bit harder than I ever expected.Four years ago I experienced alot of loss and have been grieving those losses for a very long time now.I have dealt with alot of the pain and abandonment,but there is so much residual that runs deeper than I can comprehend.I have been used by the Lord in my life to help other women overcome devastating pain they too have experienced,in fact,I was in women's ministry in a mega church for a while.I was in an abusive marriage for 33 years,and within the last three years of the torment from my now ex-husband,my sister died,my brother inlaw died,a second brother inlaw died,in fact he passed 24 hours before my sister passed,and then my mom died.Then,the divorce happened and my children sided with my ex-husband,and I have been told by a therapist friend of mine,and also a pastor here where I live,that they are seeking the approval from my ex-husband that they never got growing up,even though he would physically,emotionally and mentally abuse them as well.So now to my list of losses I add my children not to mention the five grandchildren I have as well.Sometimes the grief is overwhelming,although I must say the Lord and living one day at a time, does push along the healing process.I am remarried to a wonderful loving caring man who holds me when the deep wounds come out in crying so intense that I feel like I will never stop,but then tomorrow comes and I lived through it all,once again.I find no comfort from so called Christian women in the town I live in now,I feel more abused by the time I leave church alot times than when I walked in the door.I seek comfort and growth because ultimately I want to look back on all of this and be able to share how I gained strength.So,because of all the loss,the abandonment,the grief and just plain feeling like,at times,that I have been filletd with a boning knife,I am seeking the Lord by trying yet again another Bible study,only this time I am choosing to not sit in a group with a bunch of women who don't know how to show compassion if their life depended on it,I am hoping the Lord will give me some water as I seek and learn more.It's been many years since I have thought a "victim" was all I ever would be,there is more to life,but I do believe we all have the right to be treated as God's creation and we all have needs that we long to have met.For now, I choose to stay anoynomous,thanks.

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Wonderful.Amazing.
by: Whitney

Thanks so much for your post! I am currently in the process of reshaping my life and becoming closer with God. I was baptized at age 9, but now at age 24, I fully understand this true meaning..of being the way Christ wants me to be. I have been in very tough times in my life and everytime..I call out or pray about it, God is always there and makes things turn around for me. He has blessed me countless times. I must continue to serve him everyday and not just when times get rough. He may not comes when we want him to but he's ALWAYS on time. God has never put more on me than I could ever bear. I am thankful for going through those things I have went through because they have made me become who I am today. THANKFUL & BLESSED. Wonderful Article. Kudos.

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Selfishness
by: karabo

God took me out of a lot of mess and still does. I am trying hard to seek Him first, but sometimes I feel guilty., like I am seeking Him just for my selfish purposes to just keep getting me out of mess.

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encouragement
by: Diana

Marsha, I to am just finding time to read your bible study.Very good and much needed at this time. Feeling over my head at times with personal family illinesses and ect. Trying to follow the lord in all things, it seems there are so many decisions to make.Is it the right one? The answer i know is put God first and it will work out.

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Sharing God's love
by: SisAnonymous

Marsha: I just found time to read this and want you to know how much you are touching people and helping share God's love. That is what we all need to do, let them know He is there always in good times and bad to reach out and give us strengh, courage, hope and love. Whatever is needed He will give. I know your writting will bring you great joy because it comes from the heart. God's blessing. Sis

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Thanks for sharing the testimony and God's Word
by: Denise Cook

Thanks so much for allowing the Holy Spirit to inspire you to write out that testimony and also to share a Word of great comfort, exhortation, and edification. May God bless you and continue to use you.

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Thank you
by: Kelli rutherford

Thank you Marsh for your post today. I really needed to read that. I have for sure been having my own struggles the last few years. So many things have happened and sometimes I feel so lost. Almost like God has left me to figure it all out for myself. I am trying so hard right now to have faith in all areas of my life. Some days are better then others. Right now I need so many things in my life to happen and I am really trying to be still and wait on God. I know it will all get better when God wants it too. I just know I feel ready for better things to come now. Even if its just a little bit at a time. Would you pray for me and my family. we can sure use the prayers right now.
Thanks again. Keep writing. Hope to see you all again soon.
Love to you and the family <3

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A time for serious seeking

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