Jesus Christ

STEP 5: Seek

/ Gail Johnson / 7 Comments

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.

  1. Sing
  2. Track
  3. Encourage
  4. Persevere
  5. 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…

Step 3: Encourage

/ Gail Johnson / 10 Comments

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

Good afternoon! The third step in 5 STEPS to Success in 2025 is Encourage.

Encourage means to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope – Merriam Webster Dictionary

Everyone likes a little encouragement now and then, right?

In fact, we need encouragement because we live in a world of comparisons. We compare food, books, movies, clothes, and achievements. This competitive society often leaves us feeling less than. How can we not think life isn’t fair?

That is not an encouraging opening. But as I researched how encouraging others affects us, my mind kept circling back to why we withhold our encouragement. So this post isn’t like the first two, but a needful reminder to be on our guard when we can’t offer congratulations for a job well done or encourage another on their journey.

Let’s look at why we may feel unable to offer encouragement.

Reasons We May Withhold Encouragement

The first two reasons that leap to mind are jealousy and covetousness

Jealousy – envious of someone’s accomplishments or possessions

Covetous – not only jealous but also a resentful longing for what they have

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Other reasons for withholding encouragement may include an injustice or what we perceive as an injustice. Author Sandra Byrd shares a perfect example of this in her one-year devotional.

“The runners did not start at the same place—some were farther ahead than others, and the final racer seemed to be starting way behind. Their starting spots were staggered.
It seemed unfair.
I looked it up, and the staggering was actually a means to make the race fair. Each runner’s race was marked out, and by staggering the lanes, it ensured that the runners on the outside did not have to run farther than those on the inside.”  Experiencing God’s Love, A Year of Abundance | Sandra Byrd | Used by permission

Think about that for a moment. When I read the devotion, I questioned my judgment. How many times have I misjudged a situation because I perceived an injustice?

If we believe we are created by God and our purpose is found in God, then we should also trust His ways are just.

My journey is not your journey. We all have our roads to travel. Mine may be more circuitous than yours. You may reach the end before I do. That is definitely true when it comes to writing. 😊But the Lord is Faithful and True. He is a just God, and He is on this journey with us.

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

Something to Ponder

What if Moses was jealous of Joshua? What if Peter had been envious of Paul? Now, think about what these four men accomplished by running their own race. Moses helped Joshua. Peter spoke of Paul in his letters. All four finished their race!

Truth

Yes, things do seem a little distorted at times. Just as we cannot trust our emotions, the same goes for our sight. We are not God. We do not see the same picture. Let’s trust the Lord, obey His commandments, and encourage one another! Even when that encouragement seems to stick in our throats, do it! I promise you’ll feel better. 😉

Giveaway

I’m offering an ebook copy of Sandra’s devotion. Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. U. S. entries only.

STEP 2: Track

/ Gail Johnson / 4 Comments

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19 (KJV)

The Israelites were to teach their children about the ways of the Lord and what He had done for them. As a child of God, the life we live is our story. We should share our journey with others as a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Track

The second step in our 5 STEPS for Success in 2025 is Track.

Webster defines Track as an awareness of a fact, progression, or condition. It also lists to keep track of something. Merriam-Webster

Tracking our blessings can be beneficial to our health. Recalling God’s past provisions will lift our spirits, give us hope, and grow our patience. Try it and see if you don’t feel better. Our testimonies of His goodness also benefit our families and churches.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 (KJV)

On the other hand, forgetting God’s blessings robs us of joy, hope, and peace as we fret over our problems. It also robs others of hearing the truth about God’s love.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (KJV)

Think about the last time a song ministered to you. More than likely, that song was a story of someone’s loss, heartache, or victory. The lyrics blessed you because the writer took the time to write and share their story. An untracked story is a lost story.

I am ashamed to say I have not written down every blessing. I often wonder about those I have forgotten. Could they have helped someone in their time of need? More importantly, have I treated the miracles of God as ordinary things?

What to Track

Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites were called to remember the promises of God. Question: If the Creator of the Universe gives us an answer to prayer, a dream, or a lesson from our daily activity, why would we not want to write it down so we can remember and share it with others?

Here are a few suggestions we can track this year. You can add more if you like.

Family History
God’s promises to you and your family
Blessings received
Prayers answered

Ways to Track

Keep a journal
Notate a Bible to give to your children or grandchildren
Take study notes to pass down to someone
If you paint, draw, or write songs or poetry, tell the story behind it

Why Track

As a witness to the goodness of God
As a reminder of God’s faithfulness in times of hardship

But I’m not a writer, you may say. That’s fine. You don’t have to be a writer or understand all grammar rules. Keep a record for yourself and your family, or tell the storyteller in your family so they can write it in the genealogy records.

Okay, now that we’ve discussed the spiritual side of tracking, let’s talk about the physical side.

Something Happens When We Write.

Researchers suggest handwriting improves brain connectivity. Dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, is also released. If that’s true, why wouldn’t we want to spend several minutes a day with pen and paper? Especially when we tend to forget things as we age.

Our brains need the exercise.

Remember multiplications and musical scales? We practiced until it felt like our heads would explode. The truth is repetition builds bridges between synapses. Once that bridge is built, it’s hard to forget. Memories are what we have learned. They are also the way we retrieve that knowledge.

As we age, we lose memory if we don’t care for ourselves. We are often encouraged to learn a new language, play word games, or learn a new instrument. Why not add handwriting scripture and tracking blessings to that list?

With all that learning and exercise, researchers recommend we spend less time in front of our screens and limit our sugar intake. All are great ideas to increase knowledge and care for our brains.

Finally, going back to our main scripture. When the Israelites failed to recall God’s law and blessings, they became independent of Him and fell into idolatry. Today, we may not have golden idols in groves, but when we fail to acknowledge God, we look to ourselves for provision. And I daresay there are quite a few idols we can entertain in our hearts. Tracking our blessings, especially during a blessed season, keeps our hearts humble and our focus upward. Let’s track those blessings!

Happy tracking, beloved!

Your Turn

Do you track your blessings? Write scriptures? What would you add to the list to help recall the blessings of God and exercise your brain?

Articles to Read

What Excessive Screen Time Does to the Adult Brain – Stanford Center on Longevity

The Simple Act of Daily Writing Can Dramatically Improve Your Mental Health – Allison Fallon

The Power of the Pen: How Handwriting Enhances Brain Connectivity – Neurosceincenews.com

Why Writing by Hand is Better for Your Brain – Pamela B. Rutledge Ph.D., M.B.A. Psychology Today