Encountering God through Scripture - First15 - September 20

Weekly Overview:

Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.

Scripture:“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

Devotional:

In Scripture, we have a perfect and direct avenue to powerful and transformational encounters with God. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” In Scripture we find both our weakness and God’s unfailing love portrayed through countless stories. God has spoken to us all we need in Scripture to both understand and pursue wholehearted, unveiled relationship with him.

The very Spirit who authored the words of Scripture longs to use it to guide you and me into powerful encounters with our heavenly Father. I fear that many believers today are missing the intended meaning behind Scripture. The Bible is not God. It is designed to act as a guide to knowing its Author. It is designed to give us a desire and understanding about this God who is living, active, and near to us.

Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God’s purpose has always been restored relationship with his people. His goal is our hearts. And his word is powerful in accomplishing his purpose. Psalm 1:1-3 says,

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

The Lord longs to plant us by the streams of his presence. He longs for us to be a people that consistently and purposefully encounter his unending love. He longs for us to meditate on his laws that we might live according to his will and be blessed in all that we do. His heart is for us to know his love through his Spirit and word that we might live a truly abundant life marked by his unceasing faithfulness.

May we as fully loved children of the Most High God seek all that is available to us in Scripture. May we gain heart-knowledge about our Father as his word guides us into more consistent, true, and impactful encounters with him. May we be a people filled with the stories of God’s redeeming love that we might live in response to the unchanging, active nature of our heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of being a person who lives by the word of the Lord.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth you need to know through his word today. Ask him to guide you into a direct encounter with your heavenly Father as you open his word and read.

3. Take time to do the extended reading today. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart what you need to hear through the powerful words of Jesus.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13

Pray this prayer with me today: Lord, make us a people who are endlessly hungry for your words of life. Make us a people who have so tasted and seen your goodness poured out in the pages of Scripture that we make time to feast on the bread of your word. Fill us with a longing for deeper, more consistent encounters with you that we would search the pages of Scripture for truths that will open our hearts to you more fully. May our lives be marked today by the fruit grown from the seed of your word.

Extended Reading: John 17

For more information on today's devotional click here!

For more information on today's devotional click here!