SEEKING GOD’S HEART

“Glory in His holy name; let the HEARTS of those rejoice who SEEK the LORD!” – Psalm 105:3

Next to longing is SEEKING GOD’S HEART: “Glory in His holy name; let the HEARTS of those rejoice who SEEK the LORD! SEEK the Lord and His strength; SEEK His face evermore!” (Psa.105:3-4). The word “seek” occurs thrice in these two verses, with the assurance of rejoicing for hearts that seek God. Psalm 105 calls God’s people to give Him thanks and praise in response to His “marvellous works” or “wonders” (v.5). It basically highlights God’s special work with the Israelites, beginning with His covenant with Abraham and focusing on the exodus from Egypt and movement to the Promised Land. The Hebrew verbs translated as “seek” or “search” infer intentionality in the process of looking for something; plus eagerness and desire. Verse 4 could therefore be paraphrased, “Carefully search for the LORD and His strength; continually and eagerly seek Him.”

For Believers, who are already in covenant relationship with God, seeking Him is a matter of paying attention; waiting on Him to commune with His Heart; watching for Him and His work each day as we go about our various activities and businesses. The Holy Spirit helps us to seek God carefully and eagerly, learning to pay attention to Him throughout the day, always open to the Spirit’s still, small voice. He stirs up in us a great desire for God’s Heart. No matter what we’re doing or where we are, we seek Him with our whole heart. We give attention to the Lord from the moment we awake till the moment we close our eyes at night.

Seeking the Lord also involves living intentionally with reliance upon Him. We seek for “His strength” by calling out to Him for help and allowing His Spirit to guide and empower us. We seek the Lord when we desire to honour Him with all of our lives, not just the obviously religious stuff. We seek God by praying, reading Scripture, gathering with other believers for worship, and serving in the work of His Church and Kingdom. But we are to seek the Lord “continually” or “evermore.” The contrary is when we seek Him irregularly or fail to do so at all; when we rely on our own wisdom, desire our own glory or want to do things our own way.

Whether in the classroom or the boardroom, chatting with friends or deliberating with colleagues, we seek the Lord by being open to His guidance, wisdom, and strength. The very act of seeking God honours Him, giving Him rightful place as Lord of our lives. It also enables us to live for His purposes, advance the Power of His kingdom, and operate in dominion: “He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm” (vv.14-15).

This is a good time of the year to set a goal to seek God early and more regularly; setting time with Him each day to be in Him Word, to pray more consistently, and attend church regularly. God blesses such decisions and efforts: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears...The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing” (Ps 34:4,10). Moreover, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lam.3:25).

When we seek for God’s Heart, listen for Him, and desire to honour Him with every part of our life, it’s as if our souls know that we are fulfilling our rightful purpose in life. This is the Blessed Life: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Ps 119:2). This is the divine assurance: “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’...” (Isa.45:19). Indeed, it’s wonderful and highly rewarding to seek God and His Heart!