God

Seeking a God Who Makes Your Heart Rejoice

Perhaps if we spent more time reading about God, we’d realize the joy in seeking him

Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always. ~I Chronicles 16: 10–11 (NIV)

“She has such a sweet face. I could look at her face all day long,” my husband said about our firstborn daughter.

I agreed, of course. How fun it was to admire our newborn and study her eyes, nose, and lips. We enjoyed watching our daughter sleep in her crib and our arms.

As she grew, I got to know her personality. I knew when her mouth quivered, she was about to wail. I watched her eyes light her face when she was excited. I knew when she wanted everyone to listen as she told a story, and when she wanted others to laugh at her entertaining play. Being with my daughter brought me much joy.

Likewise, I knew that reading about God would help me get to know him better, but as a young mother, I often raced through my Bible reading, many times, just to get it done. While I had looked to God for strength for my daily chores, I wondered if that was where I stopped.

Seeking God

Now as an older mother without the demands of young children, I ask: Do I desire to spend time seeking to know God better? Do I seek his face always? In Hebrew, the word face is often translated as presence. How can I better live my days by being aware that God is with me and that he wants me to learn from him?

Sometimes we think we know all there is to know about God. Maybe that’s why we don’t dive into the biblical accounts that show who he is. If we take the time to read some of the familiar passages, this can be a way to spend time with him and get to know the characteristics of Our Sovereign and Holy God. When we read about his love, his mercy, his power, and his salvation for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we draw closer to this ever-present God, and our hearts rejoice.

Become Familiar with His Word

These days I savor certain passages of scripture. I’ve been digesting Matthew 14. In this chapter, I see all the ways Jesus turned to God for his strength as he:

• drew away from the crowds to mourn the death of John the Baptist
• had compassion on the people and thought of their need to eat and fed the crowd
• thanked God, his father, for providing enough food for all
• went away on his own to talk to his father in Heaven and afterward walked on water
• healed many who wanted to be cured of their illnesses

In the King James Version, verse 11 of I Chronicles 16 says seek his face continually. Daily I remind myself: Don’t take your eyes off the very God who desires to commune with you.

Prayer

Lord, when we draw near to you, you draw close to us. May we have lives that daily reflect who you are and may we desire to get to know you through your gift to us, your Word. As we dig deep into it, ignite our hearts so that we know we serve a living and loving God.

Glory in His name!

Amen.

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