Pondering in His Presence: Wise Men Still Seek Him

"Search for the LORD and for His strength; continually seek Him." Psalm 105:4

It's incredible the things for which we will spend hours seeking. How many times a day do we search for keys, cell phones or glasses? My twin sister Japhia often texts me and asks me to pray that the Lord will guide her to some item she has misplaced in her home. Minutes and hours are consumed as we look for temporary items that can most often be easily replaced.

Absolutely nothing can compare to the value of a life that is spent seeking the Lord.

In a devotional written for InTouch Ministries, Canada, the author asks the question, "What does it mean to seek God?" His response: "The phrase describes a wholehearted effort to know the Father and follow Him more closely. Those who pursue this kind of fellowship with God are determined to spend time with Him. They also want to forsake anything that could hinder growth in their relationship with the Lord. God's committed followers claim His promises and trust Him to fulfill His Word. Their experiences with the Lord bring amazing satisfaction yet cause them to hunger for more of Him."

"The Christian life is meant to be an ongoing pursuit of God. To walk through the door of salvation and stand still, without drawing any closer to Him is to miss the treasures that are available in Christ. Those who seek the Lord soon discover that knowing Him is the greatest reward of all."*

Many years ago, I purchased a Bible study entitled, "Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival." The copyright date is 2004, so my guess is I actually did buy it twenty years ago. I had great intention of working on this 12-week study and my longing to seek the Lord was real, but it was not passionate enough. How do I know? Still not one page of the homework has been completed. I could share so many excuses. Twenty years ago, my son was twelve years old, and it was the year we moved back to my hometown. I would have been helping my parents, volunteering with a speech pathologist in the school and facilitating weekly Bible studies. That's just it though. It is the good that always crowds out the best. Do you recall the sentence standing alone above? "Absolutely nothing can compare to the value of a life that is spent seeking the Lord."

Here's a thought to consider as this year comes to a close. "What if someone told you that one year from now you could look back over twelve months of consistent spiritual growth? You could be walking more closely with God than ever before. You could be enjoying a deeper awareness of His love for you and your love for Him. You could be walking in greater freedom over sin. Your life could be bearing the fruit of the Spirit and God would be using you as an instrument of His grace in others' lives. Would you want that? These are not pipe dreams; they are the fruit we bear as we grow in intimacy with God."**

Seeking God is not just about "doing devotions" are "having a quiet time", but a call to devotion. It is cultivating a personal, intimate, love relationship with God. The phrase adorning many Christmas cards this season is so true. Wise men still seek Him. Do you?