August 25

Encouragement for Today

 

“Hide and Seek”

Micca Campbell, Director of Outreach, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

 

Key Verse:

 

Deuteronomy 4:29, "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find {Him} if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (NAS)

 

Devotion:

 

When I look back on my childhood, one of my most memorable times was during the long, hot days of summer. Each evening, right after supper, the neighborhood kids and I returned to the outdoors for one last game. At dusk, we would meet at the dead-end street to play “hide and seek.”

 

This was a very serious game! The goal was to hide from your seeker until it was safe to run for home base without being seen and tagged out. That is why we played under the cover of twilight. The darkness of night kept you concealed as you dashed from object to object, until finally you made it to home base unseen.

 

Sometimes, I would trick the seeker by throwing a rock across the yard. Once they were distracted by the noise, I made my get away for base.

 

Those were the good ole days, when I was young enough to still enjoy the game, but old enough to play with the cleverness that it took to keep from being found.

 

As I recall, it was my dad who first introduced me to the game of “hide and seek.” I was much younger then, and hadn’t developed the strategy it took to seek out another. I guess that is why dad played the game differently than the neighborhood kids did.

 

When Dad would hide, he would often leave clues on purpose so I could find him. Sometimes, I would spy his wiggling toes sticking out from under the living room curtains. Others times, I would notice a lampshade sitting atop a very large stand, or I would hear noises coming from behind the couch. For Dad and me, the game was not about staying hid. It was about developing a relationship.

 

Our reunion brought joy, laughter, and sometimes tickling. Mostly, it taught me that whenever I needed my Dad, he could always be found.

 

I think the same is true with our heavenly Father. He is not playing a game with us that, by chance, we may find Him. No! God wants to be found, and He is leaving clues about His presence everywhere. God has promised us if we will seek Him, we shall find Him.

What will we find when we seek God? We will find life, power, strength, and guidance. We will discover His face, His will, His favor, His righteousness and understanding of all things.

 

How do we seek Him? His Word tells us to seek God while He can be found. We should seek Him immediately, with diligence, through prayer, in His Word, and with our whole hearts.

 

As we do, God will be found between the pages of His Word, in new-found strength, as we face adversity, and in the comfort of His presence as we communicate with Him in prayer.

 

Oh, friend, God doesn’t play hide and seek with us. He longs to be found by those who earnestly want to know Him. The Lord is ready and waiting to reveal Himself to you in such wonderful ways that it will leave you longing for more. It’s an adventure you don’t want to miss. Ready … set … seek!

 

My Prayer for Today:

 

Dear Lord, I long to know You and Your ways. Open my eyes so that I may see You. Let everything I think about You that is false fall away so that I can see Your power, purpose and plan for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Application Steps:

 

Choose one way, from today’s devotion, and begin using it to discover God and His ways.

 

Reflection Points:

 

Have you sought God in His Word and prayer today?

 

How has He revealed Himself to you through His Word?

 

How is He asking you to respond to His character?

 

What is something new you have learned about God today?

 

Power Verses:

 

Hebrews 11:6, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” (NKJ)

 

Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.”  (NKJ)

 

Proverbs 8:17, “I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.” (NKJ)

 

Proverbs 28:5, “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand everything.” (NKJ)

 

1 Chronicles 16:11, “Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.” (NKJ)

 

Additional Resources:

 

Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed (3-tape conference set), by Lysa TerKeurst

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_radicallyObedientTape.htm

 

The Ultimate Makeover, by Sharon Jaynes

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_ultimateMakeover.htm

 

Message of the Month Club

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/resourceMessage.htm