Introduction
In today’s devotional we’re going to explore the connection between faith and living an unveiled lifestyle. There is so much life, peace, and joy for you if you will join God in the work he is doing, and has already done in your life. May your faith increase today, and may your experience of God’s presence deepen as we create space to seek God together.
Scripture
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” HEBREWS 10:22
Worship
My Hallelujah | Bryan & Katie Torwalt
Devotional
To see the living God face-to-face is to have our spiritual eyes opened through the important practice of faith. The entirety of our relationship with God really boils down to faith. By faith we trust in him even though we haven’t seen him. By faith we believe the Bible is truly his word. And it is by faith that we enter into his tangible presence where our hearts are transformed and our lives changed.
Paul prays an important prayer at the beginning of Ephesians that I believe God desires for you and me today. Ephesians 1:17-18 says, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” We need the eyes of our hearts enlightened. We need to develop spiritual eyes to see all that is available to us in God. We need faith to guide us into the deeper things of God.
Hebrews 10:19-23 says,“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
God longs for us to draw near to him. He longs for us to experience him unveiled, face-to-face with the eyes of our hearts open and our hearts full of awe and wonder. The single most exciting truth of our lives is that the God of the universe, the Creator of all, can be seen and known. Spending time with him is more satisfying, entertaining, uplifting, and better than any other way our time could be spent. If we will have the faith to make time and let God move in and on our hearts, practicing faith as God’s word tells us to, we will experience a reality unknown and unseen to the naked eye. We will experience the reality of heaven: God and man joined together in communion.
Faith is a gift given to those who cry out to know God. It is a gift given by the Holy Spirit in response to our desperation for relationship. If you will seek out more in your communion with your heavenly Father, he will respond with an increase of faith. He will answer your call by carrying you into the depths of his endless love where you belong—where you’ve always belonged.
May God grant you a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” and open “the eyes of your heart” today as you spend time in prayer.
Prayer
1. Meditate on the importance of faith in seeking the face of God.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:22
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened.” Ephesians 1:17-18
2. Ask God to give you an increase of faith. Ask him to open the eyes of your heart to see him. Ask him for the Spirit of wisdom of revelation in the knowledge of him. Wait on him and allow him to fill you with faith.
3. Spend time seeking the face of your heavenly Father. Rest in his presence. Allow him to show you new things about himself. Ask him how he feels about circumstances going on in your life.
“You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’” Psalm 27:8
Go
May we be a people that seek out the fullness of God. May we be children awed by the beauty, majesty, mystery, and love of our Father. God has more in store for us than we could ever ask or imagine if we will seek him with all of our hearts. Fight the mediocrity of this world for the higher calling of experiencing all that God longs to give you.
Extended Reading: Psalm 27 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Psalms.