WEBVTT 00:04.330 --> 00:13.258 [SPEAKER_00]: In our second day of exploring what it means to seek God, we're going to focus in on the act of seeking God through the Scriptures. 00:14.313 --> 00:20.219 [SPEAKER_00]: We have been given an endless well of life-giving truth through the gift of God's Word. 00:21.200 --> 00:30.149 [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever needs you have, God wants to use His words to bring peace, life, strength, guidance, and hope to you today. 00:31.070 --> 00:34.894 [SPEAKER_00]: He promises you will find him when you seek him with your whole heart. 00:35.935 --> 00:45.300 [SPEAKER_00]: and God is ready and waiting to meet with you today, eager to meet all your needs, and exceed all your expectations. 00:46.401 --> 00:51.503 [SPEAKER_00]: May your heart be open to God's truth today as you experience this presence. 00:52.384 --> 00:54.585 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:21.293 --> 01:34.925 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 4, verse 4, Scripture says, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 01:38.408 --> 01:48.936 [SPEAKER_00]: The pages of Scripture are filled with declarations of the wonderful, mysterious, powerful and loving nature of our heavenly Father. 01:50.425 --> 02:02.247 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is one of God's greatest gifts to His people, who so easily forget the labor of love He has undergone to gain restored relationship with us. 02:03.798 --> 02:13.723 [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible is a companion to those who long to seek and find the invisible God who so greatly desires to be discovered. 02:14.844 --> 02:27.670 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's open our hearts today to Scripture and the Holy Spirit and receive fresh revelation on how God longs to use His Word to guide us as we seek His face. 02:30.237 --> 02:40.785 [SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 4 verse 4, Jesus says, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 02:43.066 --> 02:49.111 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is meant to fill us with life, by leading us directly to our Heavenly Father. 02:50.691 --> 03:00.670 [SPEAKER_00]: the power of Scripture lies in the fact that its pages are filled with the words of a God who is still active, powerful and loving. 03:02.330 --> 03:05.051 [SPEAKER_00]: I went years using Scripture incorrectly. 03:06.112 --> 03:16.616 [SPEAKER_00]: I viewed it as a set of rules I needed to read and try to keep, rather than as a guide to experiencing the adventure of communion with my Heavenly Father. 03:17.496 --> 03:23.798 [SPEAKER_00]: I viewed Scripture as a chore, rather than the words of God meant specifically for me. 03:24.999 --> 03:30.061 [SPEAKER_00]: I finally came to the realization that if I wanted to read the Bible, I would. 03:31.413 --> 03:39.705 [SPEAKER_00]: My problem wasn't a lack of will, but rather a lack of revelation on God's intention behind authoring the Bible. 03:40.927 --> 03:47.516 [SPEAKER_00]: My problem was that I hadn't experienced a life-lived by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 03:48.798 --> 03:56.922 [SPEAKER_00]: Wherever you are in your understanding of Scripture, know that God has fresh desire for His word in the store for you today. 03:58.263 --> 04:04.026 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to fill you with the desire to read the words that will guide you to abundant life. 04:05.426 --> 04:12.090 [SPEAKER_00]: The Holy Spirit longs to speak directly to you through words written thousands of years ago. 04:13.708 --> 04:16.009 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Bible is a powerful miracle. 04:16.609 --> 04:21.890 [SPEAKER_00]: Safe guarded for the benefit of all who had used it to seek the face of its creator. 04:23.210 --> 04:30.212 [SPEAKER_00]: May we all have the heart of the Psalmist and grow in our love of Scripture in the God who inspired it. 04:31.232 --> 04:34.053 [SPEAKER_00]: He said in Psalm 119 starting in verse 97, 04:36.016 --> 04:37.858 [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, how I love your law. 04:38.839 --> 04:41.121 [SPEAKER_00]: It is my meditation all the day. 04:42.342 --> 04:47.586 [SPEAKER_00]: Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies for it is ever with me. 04:48.907 --> 04:55.113 [SPEAKER_00]: I have more understanding than all my teachers for your testimonies are my meditation. 04:56.334 --> 05:00.517 [SPEAKER_00]: I understand more than the age for I keep your precepts. 05:01.808 --> 05:06.971 [SPEAKER_00]: I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep your word. 05:08.172 --> 05:11.713 [SPEAKER_00]: I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. 05:12.934 --> 05:18.857 [SPEAKER_00]: How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth? 05:20.098 --> 05:23.320 [SPEAKER_00]: Through your precepts, I get understanding. 05:24.180 --> 05:27.102 [SPEAKER_00]: Therefore I hate every false way. 05:30.611 --> 05:44.951 [SPEAKER_00]: As you head into guided prayer, open your heart and settle your mind and come before God with expectation that he'll speak a fresh word to you today from this book, Isn't Spired. 06:16.753 --> 06:17.433 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin. 06:18.594 --> 06:23.317 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's start by meditating on the power of Scripture in seeking God. 06:24.858 --> 06:33.623 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus says in John 15 verses 10 through 11, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. 06:34.604 --> 06:38.986 [SPEAKER_00]: Just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. 06:40.287 --> 06:47.972 [SPEAKER_00]: These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 07:31.134 --> 07:31.494 [SPEAKER_00]: next. 07:32.695 --> 07:36.055 [SPEAKER_00]: Where do you need the help of Scripture in seeking God? 07:37.596 --> 07:40.597 [SPEAKER_00]: What lie do you believe about the character of God? 07:41.997 --> 07:47.759 [SPEAKER_00]: What thought or perspective is keeping you from pursuing God with all your heart? 07:49.099 --> 07:54.801 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is a powerful tool to combat incorrect thinking with God's truth. 08:10.102 --> 08:10.203 [UNKNOWN]: You 08:37.149 --> 08:37.529 [SPEAKER_00]: last. 08:38.629 --> 08:44.611 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Spirit to guide you to a passage of Scripture that will speak directly to your situation. 08:45.991 --> 08:53.594 [SPEAKER_00]: Pay attention for a passage or book that comes to mind and take a few moments to allow God to speak to you through it. 09:34.770 --> 09:42.153 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day, may you have ears to hear the voice of God speaking to you through the pages of Scripture. 09:43.254 --> 09:48.477 [SPEAKER_00]: May your heart become soft and open to God's presence as you open as word. 09:49.617 --> 09:56.981 [SPEAKER_00]: And may you experience the delight that comes from the knowledge of God's will for you as found in the pages of the Bible. 10:15.103 --> 10:16.945 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with first 15. 10:17.385 --> 10:20.047 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:20.848 --> 10:25.512 [SPEAKER_00]: There are so many incredible resources for studying the Bible in deeper ways. 10:26.273 --> 10:32.078 [SPEAKER_00]: The U-version Bible app has lots of great reading plans to help you dive deeper into God's Word. 10:32.759 --> 10:36.021 [SPEAKER_00]: You can just search for the Bible in your app store and find their app. 10:36.902 --> 10:40.966 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.