Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtIn my walk with God, I have learned countless life-changing truths. One I vividly remember from my early years as a young dad! My children were 3, 5, 7, and 9 years old, and I desired, almost more than anything, the wisdom to help them know the Lord in ways I never did.I had grown up regularly participating in a local church but really only knew religious activities and prayers I'd learned to recite with no thought behind them. I had never read the Bible, and when it came to God, although I tried to talk to him in my heart, it felt like He was a billion miles away and had no time for me. As a young 24-year-old man, I one day heard the gospel and what Jesus did for me. The thought that He was crucified to take the punishment for my sins was mind-blowing and humbling beyond words. I sincerely thought I'd never make it into Heaven, only to find out that He gave it to me—to us, as a gift if we would receive it! Wow! I gave my life to Jesus immediately! From that moment on, it was like the eyes of my heart were opened to see life through God's eyes and everything changed—instantly! I became so hungry to read the Bible and learn of Him that I was like a person at a buffet, wanting to heap my plate as high as I could over and over again.There were multiple things I really desired to know that only God could answer. As much as I was developing a personal relationship with the Lord, I wanted to know Him even more. I wanted to know Him intimately—not religiously. I didn't know how to make that happen. I wanted to see the direction God had for my life. I loved God so much that I wondered if I had a call of God on my life, and yet I wasn’t sure what that was or how to know for sure.I decided to devote myself to getting up early enough (before everyone else woke up) to have time to spend with Him reading the Bible and praying in the quiet of the living room. I went to bed a little earlier and got up early to read, pray, and seek the Lord. I was motivated by the promise of help from the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 (NIV) which promised, "... He will guide you into all truth..." Devotion to God is meaningful to God. When we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to God, we are set free from wrong motives. We stop doing things simply for appearance's sake or to please others. Instead, we devote our time and efforts to God out of a pure love and trust in His guidance. And God blesses us greatly for devoting our heart and time to seeking Him!Over time, things I greatly desired to know and understand about what God had for my life and how to train my children in His ways, came to me. My prayer time was filled with questions and God always found ways to speak to my heart—in church through the preaching of the Word, through Bible study, and through friends as we talked about God's word. It has blessed my life in more ways than I could say in a book. Being devoted in seeking God's guidance for the direction of our lives is a commitment to knowing Him. Again, it is honoring to God and something He loves and responds to! It is the smartest thing we will ever do in this life! The result is supernatural and unfolds before you over time! It was so supernatural that I had to get a journal and start journaling all the ways God would interact in my life!Creating a devotional life—a consecrated time alone with God, will fill your heart with excitement, peace, joy, and thanksgiving! It takes devotion and dedication to truly seek God, but the result is intimacy, knowledge and wisdom that comes through the guidance of His Holy Spirit. And the reward is a greater faith, trust, peace, and joy than you've ever experienced, and seeing God move in your life in miraculous ways! The things He teaches you reward you all the rest of your life! And for that reason, I contend that there is nothing more significant in this world than having a devotional life with God!1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, He will be found by you..."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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