Seeking Him Radio

Forgiveness

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Punch

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Live in Peace

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Lord, I'm Available

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"I don't think I can put up with my husband any more."
"I know my mom is sick, but there's so much going on right now. I just don't know how I can keep on taking care of her."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Do you feel like God's calling you to do something that seems impossible?

God chose Mary of Nazareth to do something truly amazing—to carry His Son into the world, even though she was still a virgin. I love Mary's response. She said, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

In other words she was saying, "Lord, my body is yours. My life is Yours. Lord, I'm available."

We're called to say the same thing, in all kinds of situations.

"Lord, my marriage is yours."
"My time is yours."

Nancy: Whatever tough thing you're facing, would you say, "Lord, I am Your servant. May it be to me as You have said."

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Broken Fellowship

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"I can always tell when my kids have done something wrong. They won't look at me. I hold their face and say, 'Look in Mommy's eyes!'"

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: When your child disobeys, he knows that the fellowship between you is broken. It's the same way for us when we're not right with God. One reason we need consistent time with Him in the Word and in prayer is to recognize when there's a breach in our relationship so we can repent and get back into His presence.

So we pray with David in Psalm 51, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions" (v. 1).

Can you look in your Father's eyes today? Or has something come between you and Him? Let me encourage you to spend time in His Word and in prayer today. Again, with the psalmist David say, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Devotions or Devotion?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"My mom always taught me to say my prayers, and it seems like a pretty good thing to do."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: There's a big difference between devotions and devotion.

"I love spending time with God. It's like He's a real friend."

Nancy: Lots of people have "devotions." They follow a routine of reading the Bible and saying their prayers.

But "devotion" goes much deeper. It's about cultivating a relationship with God. The kind of relationship we were created to have. The kind of relationship that Christ made possible on the cross. It's about the kind of intimacy the psalmist wanted when he said:

O God, you are my God,
Earnestly I seek you;
My soul thirsts for you,
My body longs for you,
In a dry and weary land
Where there is no water.
(Psalm 63:1)

Nothing's more important than earnestly pursuing a relationship with God. Are you just having devotions, or are you having devotion?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Lifeless Routine

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"Some people think you should read the Bible and pray every day. But that just sounds like a ritual to me. I get more out of time with God when it just hits me."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Sometimes our devotional life can become something of meaningless routine. In fact, that's what happened to the Old Testament Israelites. God had commanded the priests to burn incense and tend to the lamps and offer sacrifices every morning. And they did, morning after morning after morning, until they forgot why they were doing it all. But those routines were still important.

I've discovered that it's much easier to breathe life back into a lifeless routine than to get life where there's no routine established at all.

If you find that you're just going through the motions in your devotional life, don't give up. Ask God to meet with you as you're in prayer and in His Word. He can make it a time of true worship and fellowship.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Handling Pressure

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"Boy, I really yelled at my husband today!"

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: How do you handle pressure?

"Sometimes when I have so many things coming at me at once, I just get frustrated and let it loose without thinking!"

Nancy: When I don't spend time alone with God in the Word and in prayer, it definitely affects how I handle pressure.

For example, when I'm tired, I get demanding and impatient. But Psalm 19 says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul" (v. 7).

I can feel overwhelmed when I don't understand a situation, but "the statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple" (v, 7).

When pressure mounts, I can get angry and reactionary, but "the precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart" (v. 8).

Every day brings its own problems. That's why we need to get into God's presence. When we do, we find forgiveness, grace, and peace, and we find perspective for handling the pressures of life.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Little by Little

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Sexual sin is usually the tip of an iceberg.

"I didn't just wake up one morning and decide, I'm going to let my family down. It happened little by little."

Nancy: What seem like big, visible sins are usually formed by a lot of little compromises that develop in secret.

"It started with lust, and nobody knew. I was prideful and angry."

Nancy: Some of us are content to maintain a "certain level of sin," thinking we can manage it. But here's the problem: There is no such thing as a small sin. Every unconfessed sin is a seed that will produce a multiplied harvest.

If you have any area of unconfessed sin in your heart, would you pray these words from Psalm 19? "Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression."

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

It's All About You

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I remember receiving ads in the mail from two different companies. One was from a stationery supplier and the other from a chain of retail stores. The headline for each was, "It's all about you."

The philosophy behind those ad campaigns is almost as old as the human race. In effect, that's what the serpent said to Eve. "It's all about you." It's a campaign he's been running ever since.

Think about how often we're tempted to be self-centered:

How does this affect me?
Why did this happen to me?
It's my turn.
He hurt my feelings.
I need my space.
He's not sensitive to my needs.

We're all tempted to think that it's all about us. But Revelation 4 shows a different way of thinking: "You have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created."

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

How Do I Set Priorities?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Telephone answering machine: This is Seeking Him with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Please leave your question at the tone. (Beep)

"My husband and I are trying to think through our schedules, and we're trying to decide whether or not I should take a job. How do I make such a big decision?

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: As with all big decisions, the first place to turn is the Word of God. I'd look, for example, at Titus 2:4-5. It says women are to "love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be keepers [or workers] at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands."

As you make a decision, ask yourself some questions based on those verses. For example, will a job outside the home interfere with your ability to serve your husband and children? Will it keep you from fulfilling your responsibilities at home? Just be sure your decision is based on God's priorities for your life.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Do My Attitudes Build Up?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: The Book of Proverbs tells us that a wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman tears hers down. One way we can do that is in our attitudes. Listen to these Scriptures and think about whether your attitudes tend to build up or tear down.

"This is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands" (1 Pet. 3:5).

Nancy: We build our house by submitting to God-ordained authorities. We tear it down by resisting.

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Cor. 13:7).

Nancy: Do you build your house by loyally loving your husband? Or do you tear it down by being critical of him? Do you ever tear down your house by complaining about your possessions?

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have" (Heb. 13:5).

Nancy: Ask God to make you a wise woman who builds her house with godly attitudes.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Free from Problems

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: We spend a lot of time trying to do away with anything that's difficult or unpleasant.

"I might be getting a slight headache. I'd better go get some aspirin!"

Nancy: We try to avoid problems in small things and big things.

"This guy at work is so caring—unlike my husband . . . soon to be ex-husband!"

Nancy: If our goal in life is to avoid problems, it's going to affect our view of God—like He's a genie in a bottle ready to meet our every need. As if believing in Him guarantees we'll have money in the bank, we won't be lonely anymore, and we won't struggle with sin.

The truth is, life is hard. God doesn't wrap us up in some kind of cocoon to protect us from every problem.

But here's the good news. God uses problems and pressures to shape our lives and to make us like His Son, Jesus. Instead of fixing all your problems, God may be wanting to use your problems to teach you to trust and obey.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Temptation and Praise

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"I feel like I've been in a wave of temptation. These crazy ideas come to my mind. I'm tired of it."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: In Matthew 4, Jesus models a powerful way to respond to temptation. Satan tempted Jesus to fall down and worship him. Jesus responded, "You shall worship the Lord your God." The moment Jesus showed His commitment to worship, the Bible says, "the devil left him."

Praise defeats Satan. He hates God and anything that pleases God. One of his strategies is to get us to focus on ourselves—our needs, problems, circumstances, and feelings. But when we lift our eyes and choose to praise the Lord, Satan's plan is defeated and God is victorious in our lives.

Have you been tormented with fears and doubts? Bombarded with temptation to sin? Try praising the Lord, and watch Satan flee.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Picking Dandelions

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: If you're fighting dandelions in your lawn, pulling up the dandelion flowers might give you a yellow bouquet, but it won't solve your problem. You've got to get at the roots, or the weeds will grow right back up. Our approach to sin needs to be the same way.

Jonathan Edwards wrote, "Resolved, whenever I do any sinful action, to trace it back, until I come to the original cause"—the root.

He didn't want to be chopping off dandelion heads of wrong behavior while the sinful root attitude remained in his heart. He wrote, "I will carefully endeavor to [sin] no more and fight and pray with all my might against the root."

When you sin, instead of just addressing the surface behavior, ask God to search your heart. Ask Him if there is some underlying sin pattern that needs to be rooted out.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Who Shall Ascend?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: In the 1950s a band of church leaders were praying for revival on the Island of Lewis, just off Scotland. For a year and a half they didn't see any change.

One night a young man read from Psalm 24. "Who may ascend onto the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart."

This young man pointed out that it was no good for these leaders to pray for revival if they weren't right with God themselves.

Those leaders knelt and confessed their sin to God. Within a short time, God began to pour out His Spirit in an extraordinary awakening that shook the entire island.

Do you want to see God pour out His Spirit in our day? Don't wait for others to get right with God. Admit your own sin. God may be waiting for just a handful of His people to repent before He sends the next great awakening.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Life Among the Grizzlies

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Timothy Treadwell loved grizzly bears. He spent more than a dozen summers among bears in Alaska, naming them and getting close enough to touch them.

But then in 2003, his life among the bears ended when one fatally mauled him on the Alaskan Peninsula. Wild animals can't be reformed. Even if you're comfortable around them, eventually they'll act according to their nature.

There's a beast that's far more dangerous than any bear. It's called sin. Most of us would never get cozy with a wild animal, but we're not always so careful when it comes to sin. If we play with sin, it will eventually dominate and destroy us.

Proverbs 5:22 says, "The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin."

If there's a sin you've been playing with, would you ask God to help you stop? Don't wait for the beast to reveal its true nature.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

After Victory, the Desert

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Imagine that you're driving down a beautiful lane. The sun is shining and birds are singing. Then all of a sudden you realize that you've driven into a desert! You know, a lot of times our spiritual lives are that way. The dry, lonely times come when we least expect them.

Some of my lowest moments have come right after seasons of great fruitfulness in ministry. I've come to realize that the next stop after blessing and victory is often the desert.

The Children of Israel experienced this. Exodus 16 tells us about a great victory against the Amalekites. Then they came to the desert of Sinai.

But God was with His people in the desert, revealing things about Himself they never would have understood otherwise. He does the same for us. God is with us in times of blessing, but He's also with us in a special way when we go through difficult, desert experiences.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Carried Home

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I once led a day camp for children. One of our counselors went hiking in the mountains and slipped on her path. She fell instantly to her death. The next day I had to tell those children what had happened to their counselor. I thought about the biblical story of Lazarus, the beggar, who was escorted to heaven by the angels when he died.

I told those children that we couldn't see what had happened on that path but that God had said to one of His angels, "I want you to go, and I want you to get Miss Vicki, and I want you to bring her to Me today." So when it looked to us like she slipped on that path, what really happened is that the angels picked her up and carried her to heaven.

If you've put your faith in Christ, death is not something to be feared. At the right time, God will send His angels to carry you home.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Excuses

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: We all have a choice today: We can take responsibility for our actions, or we can make excuses.

"I really yelled at my kids, but it's because our house is so tiny!"

Nancy: God doesn't call us to make excuses. Here's what He does call us to, according to Romans 12: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love."

"Well, it's just that time of the month."

Nancy: "Honor one another above yourselves."

"My job is so stressful!"

Nancy: "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

"I'm so exhausted. I can't even function."

Nancy: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

"It just runs in the family."

Nancy: "Do not repay evil for evil."

"My ex constantly puts me down!"

Nancy: "Be careful to do what is right."

"My parents never encouraged me."

Nancy: You can make excuses for your actions, or you can rely on God's power and obey Him. Which one will you choose today?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Escorted into God's Presence

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Do you remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus? Jesus said that when this beggar died, he was "carried [or escorted] by the angels" into the presence of God. I think that this gives us a glimpse into what happens at the moment of our death. God sends His angels to escort His children from this life into the next.

Billy Graham wrote this about the death of his grandmother. "When she died, the room seemed to fill with a heavenly light. She sat up in bed and almost laughingly said, 'I see Jesus. He has His arms outstretched toward me, and I see the angels.'" Then Dr. Graham said, "She slumped over—absent from the body, present with the Lord."

As believers in Christ, we don't have to be afraid. We know that when the moment comes for us to pass into the next life, He'll send His angels to escort us right into His presence.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Trust or Tyranny

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: We all have a choice between trust and tyranny. We either trust God for everything we need or we become trapped by the things we want.

For example, we can trust God to provide financially for us. But if we don't trust God, we could become trapped by greed, stealing, cheating, or worry.

We can also trust God to protect us, or we can be overwhelmed by fear, worry, or obsession with weapons or safety.

Here's another example. We can trust God to be our friend and companion, entrusting all of our relationships to Him, or we can be trapped by possessiveness, lust, and manipulation.

Trusting God protects us from being slaves to our own desires. It also prepares us to receive everything we need from God. As it says in Philippians 4: "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

The Nature of Sin

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: When the Romeros got Sally as a family pet, she was one foot long. Eight years later, Sally had grown to eleven and a half feet. She weighed eighty pounds. Sally, the family pet, was a Burmese python. On July 20, 1993, she attacked fifteen-year-old Derek, strangling the teenager until he suffocated to death. The creature that had seemed so harmless was exposed as a deadly beast.

It reminds me of sin. It seems so harmless at first. It may play with us, sleep with us, or amuse us. But its nature never changes. The book of James tells us that "sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Do you have some pet sin in your life? The best way to protect yourself is to confess it to God and turn from it. Remember: Sin will always rise up and devour those who befriend it.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Happy Beggars

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: What makes you truly happy?

" A month where we can pay all the bills."
"Chocolate!"
"All the bills!"
"Chocolate!"

Nancy: The first sermon that Jesus preached was on how to experience true joy. How to be happy, or blessed. This is how he began:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Nancy: Now we don't usually think of poverty as a blessing, but Jesus was introducing a radically different kind of thinking.

When you look at the Bible's original Greek language, you see that when Jesus said poor, He was talking about someone who was utterly destitute. Jesus was saying blessed are the beggars—people who know they're spiritually destitute and bankrupt.

Do you want to be blessed? Admit your desperate need to God. Come as a beggar, and He'll pour out the riches of His kingdom.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

False Advertising

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(TV advertisements)

"Melt 10 pounds in 10 minutes!"
"Instant health at the flip of a switch!"

Nancy: Sounds like some deceptive advertising to me.

"Become a world-class violinist instantaneously!"

Nancy: Most deception isn't quite so easy to detect.

"Did God really say that you must not eat of any tree in the garden?" (Satan)

Nancy: The devil was the first deceptive advertiser. He knew Eve would reject an all-out assault on God, but a combination of half-truths and falsehoods disguised as truth persuaded her to disobey. He uses the same technique on us today.

The apostle John describes the devil, saying: "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." As you listen to various messages today, would you ask yourself: What is the real message here? Is it true? Am I being deceived by a way of thinking that's contrary to the truth?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Enemies

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Imagine the President of the United States visiting an army prison during the Iraq War. Imagine that he opened up a cell, saw a young enemy soldier, and told him he had just been pardoned. Not only that, but imagine the President could bring that prisoner to live with him in the White House and could choose to adopt him as his own son.

That sounds impossible, but it's nothing compared to what God did for us. Romans 5 says that "while we were still enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son."

According to God's Word, I was His enemy. I was bent on rebellion against God—even as a little girl growing up in a Christian home. The Scripture says that when I was in that condition, God loved me. He loved you. He demonstrated that love in the supreme act of self-sacrifice. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."

That is the supreme measure and example of love.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Candid Talk

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: In the last few years, we've heard about a number of highly publicized scandals. One disturbing result is that talk of private matters has been splashed throughout the news media. Language once considered inappropriate outside the bedroom has now become part of everyday vocabulary.

In Proverbs 7 we read the story of a foolish woman who is trying to ensnare a young man. She begins talking about something that should be private—her bedroom.

"I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen."

Nancy: There are certain topics that should stay in the bedroom between a husband and wife.

"I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon."

Nancy: Do you ever find yourself talking with friends about things that should stay between you and your husband? Ask God to give you discretion as you talk with others.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Puzzle Pieces

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: When you first look at all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, it's hard to believe there's actually a picture in there.

But there's an important key to working a puzzle. You need to keep referring to the picture on the box. That's what helps you know what the finished product is supposed to look like.

Do you ever look at the jumbled pieces of your life, wondering how they could ever fit together? God has given us a picture of what we'll look like when He's finished with us.

The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is "the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature."

Jesus is our picture of holiness. As we give all the pieces of our lives to God, He'll help us grow into the image of His Son.

Are you growing in holiness? There's one way to know. Study what God's Word says about Jesus, and then ask whether you're becoming more like Him.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

After Victory, the Desert

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

"I had just had a breakthrough with my mom and we got closer than ever, and then she had a stroke three months later. The timing was really amazing!"

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: That's the kind of timing I see often repeated in the Scripture. After a great spiritual breakthrough, God's people often found themselves facing a new trial. The book of Exodus tells us about the children of Israel at a place called Rephidim. There God told Moses to strike a rock, and water came out. The people had witnessed a miracle! And then, almost the very next verse, they were off to the desert of Sinai.

God led them into the desert, and He was with them there. He's with us, too, when we face dry times spiritually. That's why your desert can actually become a place of blessing. There are aspects of God's character, His heart, and His ways that we can't see anywhere else but in the desert.

The next time you head into a prolonged, difficult situation, remember that God will never abandon you.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Do My Attitudes Build Up?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: The book of Proverbs tells us that a wise woman builds her house but a foolish woman tears hers down. One way we can do that is in our attitudes. Listen to these Scriptures and think about whether your attitudes tend to build up or tear down your home.

"Help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus . . . 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Nancy: We build others up when we meet their needs, not expecting anything in return. But we tear down by conditional giving.

"In everything give thanks."

Nancy: We build up by recognizing things to be thankful for. But when we complain about all the things that don't go our way, we tear our house down.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself."

Nancy: An attitude of humility will build up our house, but selfishness will tear it down.

Are you tearing down or building up your home?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Bitterness, Aches, and Pains

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I once spoke at a conference on the subject of forgiveness. Afterward, a woman wrote a note about the freedom she had found.

"Earlier in the conference, I'd requested prayer for a back problem. After I forgave my sister and mom, I noticed that the pain in my back was gone. I think that I've been healed in my heart and in my body by stepping out to forgive."

Nancy: I can't promise that if you forgive all your aches and pains will go away. But I do know that unforgiveness does lead to bitterness, and that bitterness often leads to physical stress and pain.

Does the thought of a certain person cause you to tense up? Is there a root of bitterness in your heart that shows itself through physical stress or pain? The first step toward healing is to forgive. Would you choose the path of emotional, and maybe physical, wellness today?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Confession

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: A lot of people are weighed down with a guilty conscience.

"I've been thinking about what I said to that person today. I can't even pray now; I can't even pray about it!

Nancy: Proverbs 28:13 says, "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Confession is an important part of living a holy life.

When we've sinned, first, of course, we need to confess to God. Every sin is ultimately an offense against His holiness.

Second, if we've wronged someone else, we need to confess it to them and seek their forgiveness.

And then third, it's helpful to confess our sin to other believers. I've seen how confession has helped to break sinful patterns in my own life. James tells us, "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

When's the last time you asked God if there's something you need to confess?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Giving Without Love

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: It's possible to give money without giving your love.

"Honey, do we really have to go to this fundraiser tonight? Can't we just send a check? Okay, all right, that's fine. But let's just make an appearance; let everybody know we're there and then leave."

Nancy: Why do you give? Is it to be seen by other people and earn their praise? Is it out of obligation or a sense of duty? These are some pretty sorry motivations compared to agape love—meeting the needs of someone else without expecting anything in return. Jesus had some strong words for people who give in order to be seen by others.

The apostle Paul said, "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor . . . but have not love, it profits me nothing."

Amy Carmichael said, "You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." Ask God to fill you with His love. The giving will naturally follow.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Where Do You Turn?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Where do you turn when life hurts?

"I'm going to drown my sorrow in ice cream."
"When I see all the crazy people on talk shows today, it really makes me feel like my problems aren't that bad."
"I'll be fine once I've had a drink."

Nancy: When we're hurting, we're quick to turn to other people or things to give us comfort, relief, or escape.

"I hit the bottom of the carton already?"

Nancy: James 5 tells us where to turn for true comfort. It says, "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray."

No matter what we're feeling or going through, our first response should be to turn to the Lord. Everything else will prove to be inadequate. Are you afflicted today? Instead of covering the pain with quick fixes, why not pray and take comfort in God's presence, His plan, and His faithfulness?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Beautiful Sound

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Have you ever heard an orchestra when it's tuning up before a concert?

(Orchestra tuning)

Nancy: What a noise! When the instruments play together, it's a beautiful sound. But when they're all playing their own thing, it's horrendous. That's a lot like church. When we all do our own thing out of selfish hearts, it's ugly. But if we all listen to one another and do what's good for the whole group, it can be beautiful.

The apostle Paul spends most of 1 Corinthians telling those believers how to get along with one another. Then he says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."

It doesn't matter how spiritual our words may sound. If we're not saying them with love, we're just adding to the noise and confusion of our culture.

What kind of music are you making?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Carrying Fire

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

"Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Those sobering words are from Proverbs 6. I had a chance to see the truth of those words not long ago when a group of friends and I met with a man who was trying to carry fire next to his chest. He was in the middle of an adulterous relationship.

When he first got involved with this other woman, he figured he could break it off at any time. Then he told us, "What I didn't count on was that I wouldn't be able to get out."

Sin had promised this man happiness, but instead, it made him miserable. His thinking was twisted, and he was losing his family and his job. But he was so attached to his sin that he was willing to live with its consequences.

Are you playing with fire in some relationship? I promise you, you will get burned. Let it go before it's too late.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

People Will Know

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

imag

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: What would get the world's attention? What would show them that the body of Christ is serious about their faith?

"First, we need to get Roe vs. Wade overturned."
"And another thing is, the church needs to do a better job in marketing. We've got a great product in a lot of cases, but the church is failing in this area."
"Get rid of these radical judges and put prayer back in the schools."

Nancy: Jesus addressed this issue. He didn't say the world would notice if we'd memorized our Bibles, or if we would have perfect attendance at church, or if we would have overflowing church buildings, or all kinds of programs.

He said, "Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Is your church's primary focus on strategies, programs, and promotion? Or is it on love?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Surgery

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I know of a woman who found herself at a marriage retreat, making a mental list of all the ways her husband needed to change. Then, unexpectedly, the Holy Spirit started to do some supernatural surgery in her heart.

"God began to peel back the layers of my heart. There was bitterness, hate, rebellion, and an underlying pride that corrupted everything."

Nancy: In that moment, she chose brokenness. She asked God to forgive her. She discovered brokenness brings blessedness. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

As you think about a difficult relationship you may be in, are you sitting back waiting for the other person to change? Could there be some spiritual surgery needed in your own heart? Are you willing to let God show you your needs and change you?

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Knowledge Without Love

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

"I think it's great that my wife's been taking all those Bible classes, but it's kind of intimidating."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: The apostle Paul says, "If I understand all mysteries and all knowledge . . . but have not love, I am nothing." As women today, we have opportunities like never before to study the Word of God. But our knowledge has to be balanced with love.

"She tells me that she wants me to lead spiritually, but when we read the Bible, she argues with everything I say."

Nancy: Knowledge without love puffs up. It makes us arrogant and hard to live with. If our knowledge doesn't make us more humble and submissive to the authorities God's put in our lives, then it's worth nothing.

We need to keep growing in our knowledge of God's Word, but let's also ask Him to develop in us truly humble, loving hearts.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Proud vs. Humble - Themselves

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Proud people feel confident in how much they know.

"Your doctor doesn't know what he's talking about. I've seen this before. The pressure will last a couple days and then . . ."

Nancy: But humble people realize how much they have to learn.

"I know he's a little hard to understand, but he may have something good to say."

Nancy: Proud people worry what others think of them.

"It seems like everyone has a brand new SUV, and I'm still in this clunky car!"

Nancy: Humble people aren't preoccupied with themselves at all.

"Lord, you're watching. All that matters is pleasing you."

Nancy: When it comes to our attitudes about ourselves, we're all tempted by pride. But the Spirit of God helps us choose the pathway of true humility. So we don't need to be driven to extremes . . .

"Yeah, you could call me a workaholic. But I'm going to lighten up once I get the promotion. "

Nancy: . . . because humble people recognize God-given limitations.

"Lord, I didn't finish my to-do list for today, but thank you so much for letting me talk with my neighbor."

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Jonah or Jeremiah?

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Which prophet are you more like? Jeremiah? Or Jonah? Both of these men spoke to sinful people. But Jonah delivered God's Word from an angry heart. He didn't want his audience to get the message and repent.

On the other hand, Jeremiah delivered his message in tears. His heart was broken for the people who had strayed from the Lord.

This illustrates what Paul says in 1 Corinthians: "If I had the gift of prophecy, but don't exercise that gift in love, I am nothing."

When you find yourself having to confront someone with the truth, what's the attitude of your heart? Is it one of anger and revenge? Or does your heart break as you deliver your message out of obedience and love?

Ask God to give you a tender, compassionate heart like Jeremiah.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Holiness and Suffering

info@seekinghim.com (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: What helps you to grow in holiness?

"Come to the Holiness Conference—this weekend at the Expo Center!"
"Buy 7 Steps to Holiness today, at your local Christian retailer."

Nancy: You know, God uses something surprising to teach us holiness—suffering! In fact, the pathway to holiness always involves suffering.

When our lives are all roses and no thorns, we tend to be spiritually complacent. We neglect serious self-examination and confession. But affliction has a way of stripping away the stubborn deposits of selfishness that build up in the course of everyday life.

The psalmist put it this way, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word."

Are you going through a time of suffering? Let me encourage you, hard as it may be, to embrace it as a gift from God. Ask Him to use this time to make you more like Him.

With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.