Moses ascended Mount Sinai to experience the presence of God.  For forty days and forty nights he deprived himself from the basic necessities of this world in order to find the nourishment and nutrition he so desperately needed from another world.  In short, that is the essence of fasting- starving our flesh, while God feeds our faith.

We hear very little of the subject these days; and that’s not really a shock.  We are so enamored with self-promotion, self-fulfillment, and self-advancement that we give very little thought to self-denial.  We have traded the cross-centered life for the consumer-centered cross.  The …

I recently told my wife that we needed to improve our lawn care.  It had been several years since we had a company who maintained our weed and feed, and my plan was to intentionally look for someone to give me a price.  Within a few hours of that conversation a local company actually called me to see if we needed service or maintenance.

After a few minutes of explaining our needs, I gave the salesman all of our information; he seemed genuinely surprised that I was so eager to talk with him and give him my business.  I then …

There are two words that have been the guiding light of my life and ministry.  Years ago someone wrote two words in the back of my Bible and these two words have influenced and impacted me more than any other combination of words that I know.  They are simply…Stay Teachable.

The writer of Proverbs said, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:8-9).  I honestly believe that …

TEXT: Psalm 63:1-11

Introduction:

The title of the psalm is consistent with its context- it was given while David was in the wilderness.  This psalm was more than likely written while David was running from Absalom his son.  David’s search and thirst for God was very real and it began early in the day.

1. David’s Search for God (v1-2)

A. It was an Early Search (v1a)

• “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee”
• The words “early” and “seek” both imply the period that belongs to the morning.
• David understood the importance of starting the

Fred Smith contends, “In every significant event there has been a bold leader, a shaped vision, and most often, an adversary.”  This principle rings true from Genesis to Revelation.  The Bible is full of men and women who triumphed in the face of insurmountable odds, daunting enemies, and impossible circumstances.  As a spiritual leader, you too will find yourself in precarious situations throughout the course of your ministry; situations that are never addressed in seminary training, situations that cannot be resolved through text-book solutions.  It is during those dark moments of faith that we must rely on the strength of …