01/04/2025 - Seeking Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Victory: Our New Story

The good news of Jesus' resurrection is the foundation for every new beginning. Over two thousand years ago, God put on flesh, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and then conquered death itself. When women came to anoint Him for burial, they found an empty tomb, declaring a victory that changes everything. This triumph over sin, death, and the devil means that our past may have sent Him to the grave, but it could not keep Him there, offering us a new story. [02:09]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Reflection: How has the truth of Jesus' victory over sin and death personally reshaped your understanding of your own past struggles or failures?

Day 2: Seeking the Lord: A Relational Pursuit

As we look to write a different story in the coming season, our first step is to seek the Lord. This isn't about striving in our own strength, but about pursuing Yahweh, the personal, intimate, and relational God who is approachable and findable. Discernment, in this context, is simply discovering where Jesus is already at work in your life and how you can join Him there. It invites us to open our Bibles and journals, asking Him to reveal His activity rather than just listing our own desires for change. [12:54]

Psalm 105:4 (ESV)
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Reflection: As you consider the upcoming season, where do you sense God might be at work in your life, and what might it look like to intentionally join Him there?

Day 3: Unleashing God's Strength Within

Many times, we approach desired changes in our lives by relying on our own effort, much like fighting with one hand tied behind our back. Yet, the invitation is to seek God's strength, recognizing that the same power that raised Jesus from the tomb is available to us. This isn't about trying harder, but about being strengthened with power through God's Spirit in our inner being. When we step into this truth, we are set free to pursue outcomes with His divine power, not our limited human ability. [19:23]

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV)
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been trying to achieve change or overcome a struggle primarily through your own effort, and what would it mean to invite God's strength into that space this week?

Day 4: Truth Over Lies: Renewing Our Identity

A significant part of experiencing God's transformative power involves identifying and replacing the lies we have believed with His truth. This process, often called replacement theory, requires sitting in silence with God's Word, asking Him to expose what is untrue about who He is, who we are, or who we are called to be. Embracing vulnerability and acknowledging that we are "in process" allows God to renew us in knowledge after the image of our Creator. This journey of truth-telling is not a weakness, but a vital part of God's work in us. [26:13]

Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV)
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Reflection: What is one subtle lie you might be believing about yourself or God that, if exposed to His truth, could bring a new sense of freedom or identity?

Day 5: Cultivating God's Presence, Together

The invitation to seek God's presence continually is not meant to be a solitary journey. We are called to be present with the Lord, contemplating who He is and remembering the wondrous works He has done in His Word and in our own stories. This deep connection with Christ, where He dwells in our hearts and fills us with His fullness, is also meant to be experienced in community. Seeking His presence together strengthens us, reminds us of His ongoing work, and allows us to participate in His redemptive story. [30:19]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Reflection: Beyond personal quiet time, how might you intentionally create space this week to experience God's presence alongside other believers, perhaps by sharing a past testimony or a current struggle?

Sermon Summary

Over two thousand years after the incarnation and the empty tomb, Jesus remains the decisive answer to human longing for a changed life. The living God who put on flesh, lived perfectly, died for sin, and rose again now invites people to seek him — not as a distant deity but as Yahweh, a personal, approachable Lord. True change begins when people stop depending on willpower and resolutions and instead look outward for divine help: seeking the Lord, his strength, and his presence. Discernment becomes the practical skill of asking, Where is Jesus already at work, and how can one join him there? That reorients priorities, exposing where good intentions actually distract from God’s specific work in family, neighborhood, or suffering.

Change also requires a posture of dependency. The resurrection makes available a power greater than self-effort; pursuing that power is not indulgence but repentance from the habit of fighting with one arm tied behind the back. Spiritual progress often comes through naming lies that shape identity, bringing them into the light of Scripture, and allowing God’s truth to reshape desires and behavior. Vulnerability is not failure but an instrument of renewal: confessing weakness, presenting oneself to God, and embracing being “in process” are marks of growing maturity rather than shame.

Finally, presence matters. God invites seekers into face-to-face communion — contemplative attention to his wondrous works and mutual pursuit of his presence within the gathered community. Corporate practices of confession, baptism, and belonging are not merely programs but contexts where the Spirit strengthens and sustains transformation. The risen Christ does not call people to solo striving but to a life of discernment, dependence, truth-telling, and communal presence, trusting the power that raised him from the grave to write new chapters in individual and communal stories.

Key Takeaways

1. Seek the Lord and strength Seeking God is an active, oriented pursuit of Yahweh’s character and power, not a checklist of moral fixes. When life-change begins by asking for God’s direction and strength, desires are re-ordered and resources beyond willpower become available. This pursuit reframes goals as participation in God’s redemptive work rather than self-improvement projects. [07:00]
2. Discern where God is at work Discernment is the practical spiritual habit of discovering where Jesus is already moving and aligning one’s effort to join him. This prevents scattered busyness and helps prioritize costly yeses and strategic no’s in family, work, and community. Discernment is learned by praying, watching, and testing impulses against Scripture and neighborly fruit. [12:54]
3. Trade self-effort for Christ’s power The resurrection makes God’s power available to believers; relying on that power undoes the fatigue of constant self-reliance. Fighting sin in one’s own strength is like competing with one arm bound; seeking Christ’s strength removes that handicap and ushers in actual spiritual progress. This is an invitation to pray for inner strengthening, not merely to redouble effort. [16:53]
4. Expose personal lies with Scripture Spiritual growth often requires identifying persistent inner falsehoods and replacing them with biblical truth. Bringing those lies into dialogue with Scripture and honest confession allows God to reshape identity and motive, turning vulnerability into a pathway of renewal. This work is slow, requires journaling and prayer, and depends on God’s strength to sustain it. [22:20]
5. Seek God’s presence with others God’s presence is best sought both contemplatively and corporately: quiet reflection on his works and active participation in community. The church provides the discipline, witness, and belonging necessary for long-term change, preventing isolation that breeds shame and stagnation. Transformation happens as people remember God’s past faithfulness together and practice sacramental confession and baptism. [30:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[01:09] - Remembering the Incarnation and Resurrection
[02:44] - Celebrating the Empty Tomb
[03:09] - How Has Jesus Changed Your Story?
[05:38] - New Year Resolutions and Their Limits
[07:00] - Psalm 105:4: Seek the Lord
[11:24] - Discernment: Finding Where God Is Working
[16:53] - Seeking God’s Strength, Not Self
[21:12] - Exposing Lies; Replacement Theory
[27:06] - Seeking God’s Presence Together
[33:44] - Prayer of Confession and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

Psalm 105:4
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Colossians 3:9–10
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Observation questions

According to Psalm 105:4, what are the three specific things we are commanded to seek, and how often are we to seek them?
In Colossians 3:9–10, what must be "put off" before the "new self" can be put on, and what is the role of "knowledge" in this transformation?
According to 2 Timothy 2:15, what is the result of "rightly handling the word of truth" when presenting oneself to God?
The story of Jesus—his life, death, and resurrection—has been changing lives for over two thousand years [02:44]. What specific event in that story is described as the moment victory was declared over sin and death? [02:09]

Interpretation questions

Discernment is often misunderstood as a mystical gift, but it can be defined as simply discovering where Jesus is at work and joining him there [12:54]. How does this practical definition change the way a person looks at their daily schedule, their family, or their neighborhood?
Fighting sin or pursuing change through personal willpower is compared to fighting with one arm tied behind the back [18:28]. Why is self-reliance such a significant "handicap" in spiritual growth compared to seeking God's strength?
Colossians 3:10 mentions being "renewed in knowledge." How does the practice of identifying personal lies and replacing them with biblical truth facilitate this ongoing process of renewal? [21:12]
Presenting oneself to God as a worker with "no need to be ashamed" is an invitation back to the type of presence experienced in the Garden of Eden [25:33]. How does the resurrection of Jesus make this kind of "unashamed" relationship possible for someone who feels like a "hot mess"? [24:33]

Application questions

Many of us set goals or resolutions that fail by February because we rely on internal willpower rather than external help [06:17]. Looking at your current goals for this year, are they "self-improvement projects" or are they ways you are actively seeking to participate in God’s work?
Seeking the Lord involves asking where He is already moving in your life [12:54]. Is there a "costly yes" or a "strategic no" you need to give regarding your family, work, or neighborhood to align with where He is working? [13:33]
Vulnerability is an instrument of renewal rather than a mark of failure [26:13]. Is there a lie you’ve been embracing as part of your identity—such as the belief that "it's not okay for me to not be okay"—that you need to bring into the light of Scripture? [22:41]
Spiritual progress often requires naming specific falsehoods we believe about ourselves or God [22:20]. What is one specific "truth" from God's Word that you can use this week to wage war against a persistent lie in your life?
God’s presence is sought both in quiet contemplation and within the gathered community [30:19]. How can you move from "solo striving" to seeking God's presence alongside others in this group or the wider church?
Remembering God's "wondrous works" in your past helps you trust Him with your future [29:03]. Can you share a story of a time when God was working in a hard situation, but you didn't realize it until you reached the other side? [29:40]

Sermon Clips

Why is it so hard to change our stories? Why is it so hard to make decisions that alter our actions and the outcomes that we long for? Well, in a lot of ways, think it's because we seek after the wrong things, and we go about making changes in the wrong ways. And what we need is Jesus to change our story. We don't need to do better. We need to seek something different. [00:06:29] (32 seconds) #JesusChangesStories

``The psalm here, the psalmist tells us, no, don't just seek the Lord, but also seek His strength. I wonder whose strength as you hope for things in this new year, as you anticipate new habits and behaviors in the new year, are there things you can control that you feel confident in that's about you doing what you can do to achieve a different outcome? Are you placing your faith and trust in the one who walked out of the tomb? The one who conquered sin and death, the one who has made his power available, that that same power that let Jesus walk out of the tomb is available for you and me. Are you stepping into this next season and hoping God's going to write a new story with his power and his strength? [00:16:53] (63 seconds) #SeekHisStrength

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01/04/2025 - Seeking Jesus - Psalm 105:4