ON SEEKING: Seeking His Face

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.

… a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, a time to cast away.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,6

ON SEEKING

Seeking His Face

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Psalm 14:2

God is omniscient – He is everywhere.  His eyes are always open and always watching us (Proverbs 15:3).  He sees our comings and goings, and everything we do in between.  He hears all our words – things we say in prayer, things we say to others (and ourselves), and every thought that crosses our minds (Psalm 139:1-4).  “…He knows the secrets of the heart” Psalm 44:21.

He speaks to us in various ways; through Scriptures, His work of Creation, other people, just to mention a few.  Then there’s what I call my “inside ears”.  His still, small voice, a gentle whisper, that so often is missed because we don’t pay attention or brush it off as a random thought (1 Kings 19:13). 

He speaks to us during prayer time.  We need to set aside time to be still, with a closed mouth and open heart and mind, and wait for Him to speak.  Prayer should be a conversation, not just a quick dash up to His Throne of Mercy, spouting off a quick thanks and a list of requests, then running back to whatever.  When we approach His Throne of Grace, come to Him in prayer, we’ve got to give Him the respect and honor He is so worthy of.  He is, after all, God Almighty, who through Christ Jesus, created everything seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16).  He abhors sin, totally hates it, and does not allow sin in His presence.  We have to come clean, confess our sins, and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9). 

Another way He speaks to us is through His indwelling Spirit (that lives within us who received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior).  Sometimes during prayer time, I think of things – people, events, or situations.  I used to think my mind was wandering off and would get frustrated at my lack of focus, but then I read this phrase, part of Romans 8:27:  “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us”.  Now I feel that when thoughts of things and people come along, the Holy Spirit is prompting me to pray for them. 

Here’s an easy way to remember:

                        A            adoration

                        C            confession

                        T            thanksgiving

                        S            supplication (requests)

Love on Him, give Him praise and adoration, confess sins, thank Him for what He’s already given us; and then make our requests (Philippians 4:7).  Don’t forget about the quiet time to listen.  

Why do we seek Him?  Because He wants us to.  We have to get to know someone in order for the friendship to develop, grow, and thrive.  Like all relationships, we have to work on it or it falls apart.  He made us; He already knows us.  Now we have to learn to know Him.

Go to your room, shut the door, open your Bible, and experience the awesome adventure of seeking His face.  Here are just a few more Scriptures on this topic. 

Old Testament                                                     New Testament

1 Chronicles 28:9                                                 Matthew 6:16 (praying in private)

2 Chronicles 7:14                                                 Matthew 7:7-8

Psalm 119:2                                                         Hebrews 11:6

Jeremiah 29:13

(Scriptures quoted from the English Standard Version of The Holy Bible)