Hosea Chapter 6: Verse 2 (NIV Translation)
Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”
We know, without even having to think about it, that the sun will rise every day. Hosea reminds us that if we make a determined effort in our heart and mind to press on and seek God, then He will respond to our effort as surely as the sun rises. There is no need for any doubt in our mind about Him doing so.
The problem with the people of Israel in Hosea’s time was that they didn’t make that whole hearted effort to press on. Often, they only went through the motions, saying all the right things but only actually doing them in a half-hearted fashion, and also not always very sincerely. I know how I feel when I come across someone who is being insincere. It’s quite easy to tell, and its actually not very nice. Yet sometimes we expect God to respond to a half-hearted or insincere prayer.
I also know what a difference it makes when I make a real effort to press on (that is to make a determined effort to continue) in any area of my life, doing what I know I should, in particular with my struggle to eat healthily and exercise. God wants me to be as determined to press on following His ways and seeking to know Him more. If I do so, then as surely as the sun rises, He will respond.
Dear Lord,
Give me determination and willingness to press on in following Your ways, and also in doing what I know to be right, with the confidence of knowing that if I do so, then as surely as the sun rises, You will respond. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.