Devote Your Heart to God!

Devote Your Heart to God!

What is God whispering to you this new year? Has he given you a word, a phrase, a verse? Would you, please, share with us what God is doing in your life?

The word God has given me is DEVOTION. I feel called to devote my heart and mind to God. Not just theoretically but enthusiastically.

We have an awesome God but too often we don’t really spend time in his presence.
We have an almighty God but too often we monopolize the time we spend with him.
We have an amazing God who wants to meet us personally. But too often we keep God at arms length.

So now, in the presence of all the LORD’s assembly and with God as our witness, carefully observe all the commands of the LORD your God, so that you may hold on to this good land and pass it on to your children forever. As for you, Solomon, my son, acknowledge your father’s God and serve him with enthusiastic devotion, because the LORD searches every mind and understands the motive behind every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever. Now then, since the LORD has chosen you to build a temple for him as the sanctuary, work hard. (1 Chronicles 28: 8-10, CEB, emphasis added)

El Roi was Hagar’s name to God after she had encountered God who saw his affliction (Genesis 16). El Roi can be translated “God who sees” or “God whom I’ve seen”.This year I want to embrace El Roi.

I want to be seen by God and I want to see God.
I want to meet God in his terms.
I want to spend time in quiet adoration.
I want to devote my heart and mind to God.
I want to sit in his presence in reverent awe.
I want to meet God as he is, not as I imagine him.

I invite you to join me on my journey. I also urge you to ask God for your own word, phrase or a verse for 2012. Let us all devote our hearts to God. He is awesome, almighty, and amazing!

 

Gracious God,
Forgive us for not taking you seriously,
for not devoting our hearts and minds to you
and not to ourselves, to our families or our work.
We want to see you and be seen my you.
Change our hearts. Draw us to you.
Enable us to devote our hearts and minds to you.
We want to personally meet you.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Make us holy like you!
Be praised forever and ever!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Has God given you a word, a phrase, a verse for 2012? Would you, please, share with us what God is doing in your life?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you seek God and devote yourself to him!

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Do you want to win a copy of the Common English Bible softcover edition? Just leave a comment on any blog post this week (or any week during the blog tour). The winner will be announced again on Monday!

All these CEB give aways are possible because I am participating in the Common English Bible Blog tour. Until the end of January I will mostly be using the Common English Bible (CEB) on my blog posts. Let’s check out this fresh new Bible translation!

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Image courtesy of Jessica Echezabal. Linking up today with Thought-Provoking Thursdays &

18 thoughts on “Devote Your Heart to God!

  1. Thanks so much for your inspiring words.  My word for 2012 is worship.  It seems to me that true worship is not possible without devotion.  Blessings to you!

  2. I think “devotion” fits you well, Mari-Anna. I see you as a very devoted person already, so I look forward to what God will do with your theme this year. It will be exciting. Blessings to you.

  3. I think my word is ABIDE. I need to rest and worship and be devoted too (they’re all interconnected), but I can’t do any of those things without abiding. It’s not about what I can do; it’s about what God can do through me (if only I let Him!).

    Thanks for sharing your word and your thoughts with us, Mari-Anna! May God continue to draw you closer to Himself and to kindle the fire of devotion deep within you! *hugs*

  4. The scripture about God being a “God who sees me” is one I cling to often, when I feel hurt or alone.  My word for 2012 is “pursue”.  I want to pursue Him wholeheartedly, pursue others intentionally and pursue health purposefully.  Blessings!

  5. “I want to meet God as he is, not as I imagine him.”  Oh that we would all see Him – really see Who He is – that He is good, that He is righteous, that He is judge, that He is counselor, that He is slow to anger, that He is abounding in steadfast love, that He is Almighty…that He is more than our human minds can even comprehend.  Bless you on your journey to seeing Him for who He really is!

  6. I’m a little late to the party . . . I love the way you unpack devotion in some practical ways.  God hasn’t given me a newword for this year, so until he does, I continue with 2011’s word: persevere.

  7. I really think that devotion is a great word.  I particularly liked where you said, ” I want to meet God as He is, not as I imagine Him.”  This is so meaningful.  So often we, or I should say, I, think of Him from my narrow little point of view.  He is the God who spoke the universe into existence.  How awesome.
    My word is Dwell.

  8. “Devotion” is a beautiful word… make some think of affection and like you said, spending time in that affection. May God bless your One Word and may you know we all support you! Thnx for sharing it in the jam!

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