Seeking a Better Life?

Do you remember playing the game, Hide and Seek? The child assigned to find the others would close their eyes or at least pretend to close their eyes and count to 20. It was a simple but exciting game that would make us giggle when the seeker quickly found the others before us. But we didn’t realize that our laughter gave the seeker the exact location where we were hiding. There was always one child, Jimmy, who we could never find. Jimmy was never found because he didn’t mind getting his clothes dirty, nor did he laugh when his playmates were found in their hiding places. And when it was Jimmy’s turn to seek, he quickly found all of us and won the game. Jimmy knew something that we failed to realize, finding places to hide required going above and beyond what we were willing to do.

Then with a humble heart, you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13. 

When God tells us to seek Him, it’s not because He is hidden. Seeking God allows us to have an up-close and intimate relationship with Him. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Romans 12:11-12

Serving God should bring excitement. We have access to God at all times, and in every circumstance, we can approach God in prayer. Our desperation to remain close to God reveals that we possess the love, faith, trust, and obedience, (which are fruits of humility), to obey His will. Loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind proclaims that we honor His Deity-He is our Creator and Supreme God. We also acknowledge that we are incapable of living without His presence in our lives.

God never requires more of us than we are capable of doing. He knows that His Divine Intervention is needed for us to be victorious overcomers. Serving God on His terms reassures us that He will resolve our challenges according to His will. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

We have many tangible desires and devise strategies and develop plans to pursue our wants. But are we zealous for God? “Zeal is dedication or enthusiasm for something. If you have zeal, you’re willing, energized, and motivated.” (vocabulary.com). How often do we possess the desire to desperately seek God? Do we maintain zeal when we are enjoying excellent or great times, or do we become discouraged and seek God only when our circumstances change and harsh struggles overwhelm us?

God never leaves us to guess or self-determine what is required to seek and serve Him. Love for our Heavenly Father keeps us motivated to be in His presence continually. We are to go above and beyond in our prayer, praise, and worship to our Most-High God every day and throughout our day and night.

Making the habit of keeping a song on our lips and speaking praises of thanksgiving allows us to stay in the presence of God. Abiding love, abundant grace, and never-ending mercies are freely given to us. Not because we can ever do anything to deserve those gifts, it is a testament of God’s love for humanity. Often it is the distractions of our everyday lives that separate us from seeking God and staying in God’s presence.

Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

If you are having difficulty staying in contact with God, then I encourage one change in your life. Satan loves individuals who live a disorganized lifestyle. Make a much-needed change by structuring your life. Pray, commit, and ask God to help you break the nonproductive habit of disorganization. Take a moment to write goals for the next three days and include worship sessions to begin and end your day. With prayer and diligence, chaos will turn into calm, and your lifestyle will reflect that all is well. With a peaceful mind, and organized environment, you can meditate on the Word of God and worship freely without distractions. Present your plans to God in prayer, asking for His blessing. 

Ask God to give you wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV. Do not fret if your plans worked out differently. If it was not because of a distraction that kept you from fulfilling your goal, then know that Divine intervention kept you in the direction that God desired for you.

Approach God with humility and practice the powerful habit of diligent prayer. Seek Him in the joyful, good times and in the stormy, sorrowful times. God is waiting for us to faithfully come to Him. God’s Promise: Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

Bible Reading: Isaiah 65

God, we thank you for giving us the answers on how we can live according to your will. We pray for the zeal, and the love to serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. God, we need your help to change the obstacles that are keeping us from desperately seeking you. We love you and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.