Date: Monday, June 16, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 42-47
Message Title: Seeking God's Face

Did you ever notice the expressions on peoples faces? Sometimes they will say something, but their face says otherwise. The word countenance means, the whole form of the face, or system of features; in other words, our facial expressions. Now, we can say all we want, but our facial expressions usually tell what our heart is saying. Do you think that God does not know what we feel through our countenance? God knows exactly what we are feeling, and He warns about appearing to seek His face. “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” - Matthew 6:16-18.

Seeking God's face means to plead with Him so much that you can actually see Him doing the things you are asking, you literally feel His presence around you. There are times in our lives when we are pleading with God and there is no sight of Him anywhere, our countenance becomes quite sad. For about 10 years David constantly remained on the move from Saul who was trying to kill him. Perhaps the most important thing David learned while in was that he must continually praise and glorify God, even when he couldn't see His face. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” - Psalm 42:1-5.

Our soul is the center of everything we do, it feeds off our spirit, in other words what we are feeling. If our spirit is up we find hope, and our countenance shows, if our spirit is down our countenance is quite sad. I can recall many pictures taken of me that showed a sad countenance, even though I was putting on a smile. The devil is our biggest deterrent in making us doubt our faith in God, but God's Spirit is much stronger than the devil's, if we be still and listen to God's Spirit, which lives inside of us, we will wake up to see God's face. “For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” - Psalm 43:2,5.

Believe it or not, it is much easier to see God's face when we are in the midst of affliction. Why? When things are going well we can become confident that we can handle them on our own and do not need God. It often takes affliction for us to realize that we have forgotten God's hand in all that we do. We must join in with the Psalmist who reminds God that He knows our heart. “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves. Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.” - Psalm 44:1,9-11,17,20,21,27.

While we do not intend to forget that God is with us, even when things are going well, it happens more often that we realize. However, God does know our heart and if it takes affliction to get us seek His face, than that is what He will do. Who are those who have God's favor? It is those who have put their faith and trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ (His death, burial, and resurrection). We cannot get God's favor nor get to heaven by our own merit, without Jesus we cannot be saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8,9.

While David's spirit often became discouraged and depressed he always had some hope in God, we do not need to have giant faith, just enough to know that we can get through this with Him. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalm 46:1-3,10.

God truly is our refuge during our struggles, He can give us hope and encouragement even through the darkest times. I do not know how I made it through twenty-five years of my life without God's Word constantly in me. All I do know is that God was watching over me the entire time and patiently waiting for me to be still so I could hear beyond the devil's voice and hear His. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:15,27,28.

Today's Prayer: God, I admit that I do not always see You face, even when I know I should be, I try so hard, but cannot see You through all the darkness in my head telling me to give up. Lord, break through the darkness, and let me see You. Help me to be still so that I can see You among all the chaos, lead me and guide me in Your will, and help me to trust You through my struggles, anything is possible because I believe in You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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