How We Seek Him

STORY: Lost and Found

Have you ever heard someone vent about a frustrating search for something they lost? They always say they found it the last place they looked. Well, hello! Why would they keep looking for something after they found it? Of course it was the last place they looked!

Have you ever lost your keys? I’ve learned to keep my house key on a hook right by the door. I grab it on my way out and put it in my car’s cup holder. When I return home, it’s easy to find. If I get distracted and put the key in my purse, I’ve got problems. My bag is a black hole. Everything hides in the bottom, somehow avoiding eye contact with me.

In today’s study we learn the importance of seeking the Lord. One way we can find Him is to have a routine of spending time with Him and not letting that time get lost in the black hole of our day.

STUDY: Search and Rescue

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. (1 Chronicles 16:11 NLT and Psalm 105:4 NLT)

• We spend our day searching for so many things. Do we work as hard searching for the Lord?
• How can we search for God’s strength? How will that help our days go better?
• We are to continually seek Him. How can we do this and still do other things?

God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. (Psalm 53:2 NLT)

• God is seeking us to see if we are seeking Him. Wisdom and seeking must go together, since they’re included in the same sentence.
• When we acknowledge we don’t know everything, we show true wisdom. We exhibit trust by asking God for more wisdom. (James 1:5 NLT says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”)

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. (Proverbs 2:2-4 NLT)

• How can you tune your ears to wisdom? When you do this, what do you hear?
• When you concentrate on understanding, does it help you to have more understanding? How does this help you be wiser?
• Insight must be extremely important, for us to need to cry out for it. Again, this passage mentions understanding—how does having insight help with that?
• Wisdom, understanding, and insight are as valuable as silver. They are compared to hidden treasures. It takes passion and tenacity to search for hidden treasure. Rather than going the easy way out with decision making and conflict resolution, what would happen if you searched for these three treasures to help you?

In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. (Isaiah 26:9 NLT)

• What are some examples of how you’ve searched for God in the night? This could be a literal night, or the dark times in your life.
• What are some examples of when you’ve earnestly searched for God in the morning? Again, this could be a literal morning, or some other types of awakenings and bright times in your life.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)

• Why do you think it’s impossible to please God without faith?
• What is required of those who want to come to God?
• God rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Other Bible versions use the words diligently and earnestly. How do you seek God in that way?
• What are some examples of how God rewards authentic, fervent seekers?

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 NLT and Luke 11:9-10 NLT)

• The above passage is from Jesus’ sermon on the mount. What is the process of seeking discussed here?
• Why do you think it is relevant to emphasize “keep on” rather than merely seeking? Can you think of times you gave up seeking before you found what you were looking for?
• Do you see how your tenacity results in doors being opened for you? How do you factor in making sure what you want is in God’s will?

STEPS: In all Things, in all Times, Seek God

1. Seek God early. Don’t allow problems to escalate before you go the Lord. Think of a situation going on right now. How can you tap in to God’s wisdom?
2. Seek God late. Don’t think a circumstance is too far gone for God to rescue you. Cry out to Him for help. What is a helpless situation you’re in right now?
3. Seek God continually. Don’t wait for problems to seek God. Seek Him in good times and bad. In mundane and extraordinary. In all things. Seeking God is more about spending time with Him than asking Him for help.

Copyright © 2018 Kathy Carlton Willis, used with permission.