For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
A Son is Given
Almighty God
Let the People Praise Thee
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him (Psalm 67).
I came across this psalm last week during my morning studies. I thought it was a great scripture to open the month of November.
Do you have a favorite praise or thanksgiving scripture?
STEP 5: Seek
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (KJV)
Let’s review the 5 STEPS for Success in 2025 before looking at the fifth and final step.
- Sing
- Track
- Encourage
- Persevere
- Seek
Our last step, as you can see, is the word seek. Seek in Hebrew means “to inquire of,” “to ask,” or “to seek,” conveying the idea of “going to see,” personally verifying something said, or “searching for.” KJV Study Bible
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication to strive after: – ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for). Strong’s Concordance
Notice the “personally verifying something said.”
One who seeks is called a seeker. A seeker goes in search of something. I cannot seek for you no more than you can seek for me. We must seek for ourselves.
Seek what?
I chose the words Lord, wisdom, and truth for this post.
SEEK THE LORD
In today’s world, we can become overwhelmed by the news, family situations, and financial responsibilities. The good news is the Lord promises when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. He is the great I AM. And He will supply the need.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
With all your heart is important. A seeker’s heart is seeking something or someone. It is consumed with the subject. They will not quit until they find what they’re looking for.
Find is the result—reward.
The word when is not a time stamp. It describes the moment our hearts are prepared to find the answer. I’m sure you’ve had moments when your heart was no longer focused on things of the world or yourself.
If you don’t, hang on. They’re coming.
SEEK WISDOM
First Kings has one of my favorite verses about God’s care for His people. David is dead, and a young Solomon is appointed king. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.”
Imagine the Lord offering you the same gift. What would you say?
Even as a young boy, Solomon knew he needed help to govern the people.
“…I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. …Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
Read the whole conversation at 1 Kings 3:5-15.
We are wise when we understand we need the Lord’s help. Many situations can leave a person scratching their heads nowadays. But if we rely on the Lord, He will guide us to the perfect solution.
SEEK TRUTH
Social media has been filled with conflicting stories for the longest. Lately, I feel like a parent listening to several kids tell their side of the story while trying to figure out which one to believe. For instance . . .
Last week, people became upset over a video and began sharing it. And I mean sharing it! It was everywhere. The problem was the clip told half the story. People were in a panic.
No, I didn’t share. And no, it wasn’t a political post. It was about ebooks. My heart went out to everyone who didn’t understand what was happening. Curious, I searched for the truth and found articles explaining the entire matter. By then, several people were sharing articles. Whew!
That incident made my heart heavy. Ebooks may seem trivial to some, but ebooks are not the only reason people are upset. Fake news. Fake pictures. Fake people. These days, we cannot believe everything we see and hear. We must seek the truth! We should look out for each other.
I didn’t have anyone looking out for me when I entered the online world years ago. I shared what I thought to be a cry for help. Not true. Someone had taken an old photo of a war-torn district and misled the viewer about another situation. Boy, did I get lambasted for my ignorance! Now, I question everything.
The following scripture should guide us in what we say, think, and do.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
SEEKING IN 2025
There are more good things to seek in 2025. Things like peace, justice, reconciliation, the hurting, and the lost. What would you add to the list?
Let us seek the Lord and His will like never before in 2025.
Until next time…
Gail Johnson 