Maneuvers - No. 80
I Search
for You
Faithful one, have you ever felt helpless and out of control?
We’ve all had times when we don’t see a way out, when help just feels so far away. (Maybe you’re facing one of those times right now.)
Could that be how David felt as King Saul chased him in the desert, trying to kill him?
Or how Paul felt when he faced constant threats and opposition to his ministry in the province of Asia?
Or how Hagar felt when she and her son, Ishmael, were forced to leave Abraham’s clan and couldn’t find water in the hot desert?
And yet… in each of those dire situations, God sought his children out and rescued them:
• He saved David’s life every time Saul pursued—and eventually fulfilled his promise to make him king over all Israel.
• He comforted Paul and gave him strength to keep sharing the gospel, saving his life from numerous dangers.
• He appeared to Hagar personally and promised her that Ishmael would become a great nation. Then he provided water to satisfy their thirst.
Where do you need rescue right now, friend?
As we read Holy Spirit’s words today, let’s allow him to open our eyes to see him better, to see how he searches for us—and rescues us.
Come, let’s listen…
01.
The Message
“Steady now. You are okay. I call out to you. If you are thirsty, come and drink. I have what you need. I call out. Do you hear me? Does my voice reach you? Do you feel my words in your heart?
“I am passionate about reaching you. The desperate and hurting. The jaded and tired. The overwhelmed and frustrated. The wounded and helpless. I am the shepherd that searches. I am the seeker of all who want saving. I am tender and gentle, strong and in control. Let yourself yield to my pace, my wisdom. It is my love, though, more than anything else, that fuels hope. Let my love fill you now.
“Let your mind be filled with beautiful things—my promises, my stories, my whispers. Open the eyes of your heart. Let your imagination lead you to see me more deeply, more clearly. I am here, in the physical world. All around you. And I am in the spiritual one too. I am in all things. In all created things you see and in all things you can’t. You are able to experience me in ways that you can’t fully understand with your intellect. And isn’t that fine? Do you need to fully understand me to know me? Do you need to fully understand me to experience my love?
“Let my love penetrate you fully—for it is high and wide and deep and long. You can’t run from it. You can’t escape it. You cannot deplete it. You cannot scare it away by your behavior—even your doubts, your questions that you have about me. My love for you is everything you need. It sustains you and equips you and brings you peace.
“Let me show you how I love you, more and more.”
02.
Listen
What’s your response to what we just read? How is God challenging or expanding your view of his love? Let’s take a moment to respond to him in a written prayer.
03.
Think
“[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” (Psalm 147:3-4, NIV).
1. Where do you feel thirsty for more of God? Where do you want to experience more of his love and peace?
2. How have you ever felt jaded or helpless? Looking back, how did God carry you through that experience like a tender shepherd?
3. What promises and whispers does Holy Spirit put in your heart throughout the day? Write down some examples.
04.
Trust
Have you ever felt unloved or unheard by someone you cared about? Moments like that—especially when they happen to us as children—can scar our hearts. We may feel as though we can’t rely on others to see us or take care of us.
We’re on our own. (Or so we think.)
But what does Jesus tell us? Let’s return to this week’s message:
“I am passionate about reaching you. The desperate and hurting. The jaded and tired. The overwhelmed and frustrated. The wounded and helpless. I am the shepherd that searches. I am the seeker of all who want saving. I am tender and gentle, strong and in control. Let yourself yield to my pace, my wisdom. It is my love, though, more than anything else, that fuels hope. Let my love fill you now.”
Those words remind us of Luke 15. In that passage, Jesus tells the crowd three parables in a row to demonstrate how he pursues them: the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Let’s read the first one together:
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
“When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and turns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:4-7, NLT).
Let’s close our eyes and imagine the shepherd’s joy when he finds his lost sheep. Can you see the smile on his face and the gentle way he carries the bruised, helpless lamb on his shoulders? Can you hear the excitement in his voice as she shouts the good news to his friends?
Now, let’s think about the situations in our lives where we feel like that confused, battered sheep. How does Jesus want to be a loving shepherd to us in those situations? How does he search for us, carry us, and bring us home?
Did Holy Spirit bring anything to your mind during this meditation? A picture, a word, a song? If so, let’s write it down… and respond in prayer.
05.
Pray
Father, thank you for searching for me and rescuing me—even when I’ve been stubborn and pushed you away. You’ve always been so faithful to me.
Help me see how you seek me out, even in the areas of my life where I feel overwhelmed and defeated. Open my eyes to see your rescue.
And Lord, there are others who need your rescue, too. (Let’s list those people now.) Open their eyes, too, to see your love for them. Carry them, heal them, and bring them home to you.
I love you, Lord. I surrender all of me to your love.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
