SEEKING GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY

Jeremiah 29:13 gives us directions on how to seek or pursue God. It says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." The background of this verse is about God encouraging the people of Israel to seek him with all their hearts because they have been rebelling against Him by committing idolatry (worshipping other idols). In order for the nation of Israel to find or connect with God, they had to seek Him with all their hearts. Their hearts were a very important part of seeking God, because their hearts reveal their true motives and intentions. The reason they began to worship the idols in their land was that their hearts did not want to submit to God's ways. They wanted to live their lives apart from God. There were also Israelites who were following God half-heartedly. They still believed in God, yet they were living in sin, and they didn't want to change or repent. God wanted them to seek Him with all their heart, knowing that when they did, they would find Him. 

In order for us to seek or pursue God, we need to seek Him with all our hearts. God doesn't want us to be half-hearted when we pursue Him. Our hearts must believe that He is our God, Lord, and Savior. Our hearts must be surrendered to Him. If we are living in sin, we must repent, turn to God, and surrender everything to Him again. The reason Jesus had problems with the religious leaders during His ministry on the earth was that their hearts were very far from Him, yet their actions showed their devotion to God. They were only focusing on outward appearance so that the people would notice them and praise them, yet their hearts were far from God. If we want to seek or pursue God, we must pursue Him with all of our hearts. When we pray, we must pour our whole hearts into Him and trust Him completely. 

It is very clear in the above verse that in order for us to find or connect with God, we must seek Him with all of our hearts. It is an act of complete surrender and trust in our God. Let us seek God with all of our hearts today in whatever we are doing, and let God reveal Himself to us in a very special and powerful way. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What does it mean to seek God with all of my heart? What happens when I seek God with all of my heart? Am I willing to seek or pursue God with all of my heart in my daily activities? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for teaching me today that I must seek or pursue you with all of my heart. Please forgive me if I haven't been pursuing you with all of my heart. Please help me to seek you with all of my heart so that I can connect with you and be in your presence. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.