{"id":711,"date":"2018-01-10T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T18:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/the-pursuit-of-god\/"},"modified":"2019-02-18T10:12:40","modified_gmt":"2019-02-18T16:12:40","slug":"the-pursuit-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/?p=711","title":{"rendered":"The Pursuit of God"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"9tr85\" data-offset-key=\"6jaot-0-0\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"6jaot-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"d9res\" data-offset-key=\"6jaot-0-0\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uaq999L8lC8\/WlUZKPyDZAI\/AAAAAAAAbds\/np604GC1HsMf6L15jF5-d2q8GKEx7swrQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Passionate%2BPursuit%2Bof%2BGod%2B-%2BRoad.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/PassionatePursuitofGod-Road.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"6jaot-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"d9res\" data-offset-key=\"8d3cg-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8d3cg-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"dd5ag-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"dd5ag-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\nPursue:  to follow, run after, chase someone or something to catch them <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"dihta-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"dihta-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\nPursuit: the action of pursuing someone or something.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"9qhfs-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"9qhfs-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<br data-text=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"bf7t5-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"bf7t5-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\nYesterday, my word of the day was RESTORE.  In studying for this word for today, PURSUIT, two scriptures from Psalm 23 jumped out at me.  David, the shepherd boy, before becoming King David, wrote Psalm 23 and in verse 2-3 he said \u201cHe (God) makes me lie down in green pastures to RESTORE my soul (my will, my mind and my emotions).\u201d  God is wanting us to take a break from PURSUING that promotion or that handsome guy or beautiful girl or that next best thing in technology or the bigger house or high tech car in order to be still and know God first.  And in knowing God we will know that He desires us to PURSUE  wisdom, understanding, and wholeness in spirit, soul and body.  In Psalm 23:6, David makes a declaration of faith:  \u201cSurely Your goodness and mercy will PURSUE me (follow me) all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.\u201d  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"74ur3-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"74ur3-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<br data-text=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"kkb7-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"kkb7-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\nRESTORATION and PURSUING seem to go hand and hand.  David knew about PURSUING.  He PURSUED the lion and the bear and was successful, because he had been in the quiet green pastures with His Shepherd.  He could take on the distractions with fervor and defeat them. Remember the analogy Jesus gave about a shepherd who leaves his flock of ninety-nine sheep in order to PURSUE the one that is lost?  That Shepherd is Jesus PURSUING you and me.  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"d9res\" data-offset-key=\"1tk7t-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"1tk7t-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<br data-text=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"d9res\" data-offset-key=\"436bo-0-0\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-R4icLgM2lU4\/WlUZdTnu0dI\/AAAAAAAAbdw\/aMMFIHuANZcCAb1BMN864ucVF1HkiRvqQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Jesus%2BOne%2BLost%2BSheep.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"363\" data-original-width=\"480\" height=\"302\" src=\"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/JesusOneLostSheep.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"436bo-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"bet74-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"bet74-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\nWhat if we PURSUED our Good Shepherd? If we did, the distractions and the opposing forces that come to defeat us, would be silenced and rendered &#8220;null and void&#8221;. We would then sing with David &#8220;The Lord is MY Shepherd. There is NOTHING that I want.&#8221;   .   How can I be effective in the PURSUIT of happiness, joy, peace, freedom from fear and anxiety, lest I be in a place of  strength and relentless, fearless and audacious in faith, and wholeness in spirit and mind that can only come from knowing the Good Shepherd.  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"652uv-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"652uv-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"dcjg6-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"dcjg6-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\nWhen I\u2019m out at the stables with my grandson, I notice how those animals PURSUE him.  His are the hands that feed them.  They trust him for their daily sustenance.  They depend on him for their water, their protection from the predators that are out there, and they welcome him with their praises (hee haws by the donkeys, mooing by the longhorn, bleating by the goats and cozying up to him by the dog and cat).  Sound familiar? It does if we know what it is to PURSUE God with all of our hearts, trusting in His loving care, and praising Him for breath and life.   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"17ihn-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"17ihn-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n<br data-text=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"4imut\" data-offset-key=\"or52-0-0\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"or52-0-0\" style=\"direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;\">\n&#8220;I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me.\u201d  John 10:14<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"d9res\" data-offset-key=\"88ln6-0-0\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pursue: to follow, run after, chase someone or something to catch them Pursuit: the action of pursuing someone or something. Yesterday, my word of the day was RESTORE. In studying for this word for today, PURSUIT, two scriptures from Psalm 23 jumped out at me. David, the shepherd boy, before becoming King David, wrote Psalm&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[94,4036,4037,4038,2846,134,4039,4040,4041,4042,982,138,4043],"class_list":["post-711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-good-shepherd","tag-i-know-my-sheep","tag-john-1014","tag-nothing-that-i-want","tag-psalm-23","tag-psalm-236","tag-pursue","tag-pursuing","tag-pursuit","tag-pursuit-of-god","tag-restore","tag-surely-goodness-and-mercy","tag-the-lord-is-my-shepherd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=711"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/711\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7768,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/711\/revisions\/7768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}