What Does It Mean to Seek God?

Knowing His light exposes the areas I need to yield to Him is encouraging. If I remained in the dark, I would stumble around, unaware of my need. How marvelous that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)!

When we’re hungry, we seek food. When unemployed, we pursue a job. If we’ve lost our way, we look up directions. Seeking is an intentional action. It means searching for what you need.

God created us, loves us, and wants a relationship with us, but disobedience broke us apart. Jesus Christ came to restore that brokenness by dying on the cross to pay for our sins, conquering death by rising again, and offering us the gift of eternal life with Him.

God sent Jesus because He wants us to know Him. He reaches out to us and calls to us, but He doesn’t force us to come. He waits, watching for us to respond and seek Him. David, an Old Testament king, wrote, “The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God” (Psalm 14:2 NIV). We look for Him because He draws us. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NIV).

The glorious truth is that God promises, “If...you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV). Again, He declared, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).

God knows every thought and can see who genuinely wants a relationship with Him. Anyone who honestly wants to know the truth and searches for Him, willing to hear what He says, will find Him.

But how do we seek Him?

1. Seek Honestly

We need to want His truth, even if it means changing what we’ve always believed. We come willing to let our guard down and take a step of obedience. We must come to God in a spirit of humbleness and with an open heart, not with an air of haughtiness or pride. He’s looking for the heart that says, “God, I want to know You,” or the doubter who sincerely declares, “If you’re real, please show me.”

I’ve known about Jesus since I was an infant and trusted Christ for salvation when I was 13 years old. I don’t know what it’s like to search for God without that foundation, but I believe He sees every heart that’s desiring to know Him, and He answers.

2. Be Quiet

Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV). We live in a time when, for many people, there’s never a quiet moment. Music plays in our ears non-stop. We sleep with the TV on. The radio blares while we drive, and videos play while we eat, creating a constant distraction. Phones fill every free moment.

To hear God’s voice, we need silent times when our hearts are focused with a willingness to hear from Him. The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, wrote, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6 NIV).

Find a quiet place. Be still and listen while shutting off all distractions. Sit by a lake, sit in your closet, rise early or stay up late, but carve out a time for silence. Meditate on a Bible verse, say the name of Jesus, and ask Him to speak to you. Let your heart listen. Breathe in His peace and exhale anxiety. Love Him.

This is difficult! I’m one of those who carries my phone everywhere. I have to be intentional about seeking quiet. Even knowing how important silence is, I struggle with turning to distractions before prayer. I have to make a deliberate choice, and I don’t always succeed. I often falter, but I don’t give up. You shouldn’t either.

3. Talk to God throughout Your Day

Praise Him. Thank Him for your blessings. Pray for people who come to mind. Ask Him for help when you encounter obstacles. Confess when you sin and tell Jesus you love Him.

I find it helpful to write prayers when I have time. It focuses my heart and mind on Him. Consider keeping a prayer journal.

Find a time for concentrated prayer. Ask for His guidance. Bring all your cares and concerns to Him. Prayer isn’t just bringing a list of our requests to God. Prayer is connecting with Someone you love. It’s a relationship with the God who desires an intimate connection with us. He wants us to rely on Him.

Prayer is always a good choice, but there are times when I realize I’ve rushed through my day without thinking about God. Sometimes I tell people I’ll pray for them and then forget. The key is acknowledging to God my weaknesses and asking Him, through His strength, to help me improve. I stumble when I try to do better in my own effort.

My aim is to begin each day with prayer and continue to pray for whatever God lays on my heart throughout the day. Progress is the goal.

4. Digest Scripture

Any reading of the Bible is beneficial, but it’s especially true when we take a meaningful verse or passage and focus. Chew on those verses. Read cross-references, research what others say, and consider the meanings of the words. Look for an application to our lives. Scripture teaches we are blessed when we delight in His Word and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).

The Bible is God’s love letter to us. Aren’t we compelled to read a love letter over and over? The more we read Scripture, the more we realize what His amazing love for us looks like. It’s mind-blowing!

We all know Scripture is important if you want to know God. For some, reading is a chore. Start where you are, even if it’s taking one verse to meditate on for a week. There are also Bible apps that read Scripture to you. Any amount of truth we focus on produces fruit.

5. Learn from Others

Talk to Christians you know who are close to God. Seek Him together and join with them in prayer and fellowship. Attending church and maybe looking for a Christian podcast to listen to are beneficial. We need daily encouragement from others (Hebrews 3:13).

Get to know mature Christians and ask questions. Be bold and express your thoughts and doubts to your pastor or priest. Most believers want to give encouragement to others. On earth, God uses us as instruments to spread His love and truth.

6. Choose Faith

Ultimately, we come to God by faith. Scripture teaches, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

We can’t see Him with our eyes or hear Him with our ears. We can’t touch Him. We choose to believe based on His character and power as revealed in nature and in His written word, the Holy Bible. We witness how He has changed the lives of others. As His children, His Spirit witnesses in our hearts. Scripture teaches, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV).

7. Follow Him

We follow Jesus step by step. We begin by believing in Him and trusting Him for salvation. Once we believe, we are His forever. Speaking of His children, He promised, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28 NIV).

Once our soul is secure in His hands, we follow Him by obeying His Word one day at a time. One hour at a time. We take the next step at this moment to follow the light He gives to us.

Elisabeth Elliot, missionary and author, often said, “Do the next thing.” That might be to pray, say no to sin, offer a word of encouragement, do your job to the best of your ability, or love the person in front of you. It might be cleaning up a mess or sharing the gospel. His Spirit guides us as we yield to Him. He reveals His will as we study the Bible. He promises to guide us in the paths of righteousness.

I used to believe that by the time I reached the age I am now, I would finally be mature. I’d be the wise, spiritual woman. Instead, the biggest obstacle in my life is most often me. The closer I get to God, the more I’m aware of my sin. Renowned Christian author C. S. Lewis wrote, “It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence.”

We’re all imperfect humans. Scripture teaches, “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB). The day will come when we will see the glory and reality of His face and live in His presence forever. Thank God no matter how often we fall, as I do daily, He forgives us and helps us start again. God’s love for us isn’t affected by any failures on our part.

We’re always searching for something to fill the emptiness in our souls. We look to success, entertainment, food, alcohol, money, sex, admiration, popularity, and so much more. But what we are looking for is only found in Christ.

King David prayed, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NIV). I often think of this verse. Life on earth apart from God is like a desert with no water. We continually strive to quench our thirst. God is the only one who can give us living water that truly meets our needs.

The beloved Apostle John recorded, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17 NIV). Jesus Christ is the living water.

May we say along with King David, “My heart says of you, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8 NIV).

Susan Aken writes devotions and articles for Wholly Loved Ministries, is an Oklahoma native who’s lived in Nebraska since 1987 and has been in public education for over thirty years. She and her husband have one son and a wonderful daughter-in-law. Besides writing she has a passion for special needs and prayer ministries. She enjoys time with family, reading, photography, movies, walking in nature, and a nice cup of tea. She believes life is a journey and we’re all in different places. Jesus is everything to her and it’s all about grace. Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or on Facebook.