Introduction

Welcome, beloved family of God! It is a joy to gather together once more, bound by our shared love for our Savior and our collective desire to grow closer to Him. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. We are here to learn, to grow, to be refreshed, and to be challenged.

Today, we find ourselves standing at the foot of a mountain, looking upward at the path that lies before us. It's a path that leads us to a deeper understanding of our faith, a stronger relationship with our God, and a more purposeful walk in our Christian journey. It's a path that beckons us with the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 3, verse 13: "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."

This verse, so rich in wisdom and instruction, serves as our roadmap today. It guides us through three main points of reflection: Stopping to Seek God, Stabilizing our Spiritual Position, and Strengthening through Recharging.

Stopping to Seek God

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of tasks, responsibilities, and distractions. We rush from one thing to the next, always on the go, always in motion. But in the midst of this constant activity, we often neglect the most important thing: our relationship with God. We forget to pause, to be still, to seek His presence. The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." This is not a suggestion, but a command. God is calling us to stop, to be still, to seek Him. But what does this look like in practice? How do we stop to seek God in the midst of our busy lives?

Firstly, stopping to seek God means making Him a priority. It means setting aside time each day to spend in His presence, to read His Word, to pray, to listen. It's about recognizing that our relationship with Him is the most important thing, and treating it as such.

Secondly, stopping to seek God means being intentional. This means coming to God with a heart that is open and ready to receive, with a mind that is focused and attentive, with a spirit that is eager and expectant.

Thirdly, stopping to seek God means being present. While it’s easy to go through the motions, the Lord calls us to be present in the world he’s placed us. We need to be silencing the noise and distractions of the world, and focusing solely on God. It's about being fully engaged in our time with Him, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

Lastly, stopping to seek God means being persistent. It's not about seeking Him once and then moving on, but about seeking Him continually, persistently. It's about seeking Him in the good times and the bad, in the highs and the lows, in the victories and the defeats. It's about seeking Him not just when we feel like it, but even when we don't.

Jeremiah 29:13. In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 13, God says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." This is the promise that we hold onto as we stop to seek God. It's not a promise of ease or convenience, but a promise of presence and relationship. It's a promise that when we seek God with all our heart, we will find Him.

Transition. So, let us stop. Let us seek. Let us find. Let us know God in a deeper, more intimate way. Let us be still, and know that He is God.

Stabilizing our Spiritual Position

As we find ourselves in the presence of God, having paused to seek Him, we naturally move into a place of spiritual stability ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO