Whom are you seeking?

 We spend a lot of time looking or seeking for things. We desire many things, spiritually and physically.  We seek after better health, more money, friendships, relationships, and many other things that are good and some not so good. Spiritually, we seek after blessings, gifts of Spirit, wisdom, or even signs of filling of the Holy Ghost. I have heard and seen many seek after the things of God. This is all good. These are benefits of knowing Him, but are we missing the mark?

Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

John 18:7 NKJV

When the Pharisees came to arrest Jesus, he asked them twice whom they were seeking. They were looking for him. The wanted Jesus, of course, not for the right reasons. They still sought him.

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV

We are to seek Him and Him alone.  We need to seek Him with all our heart and soul. There is no greater thing we can seek that God himself. Jesus gave us personal access through His sacrifice and resurrection. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is above all. He is Almighty God. He is love. He is peace. He is our strength. He is our creator and our Savior. He should be our everything. He should be the One we are passionate about. The One who consumes us and our greatest desire.  

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 KJV

When we seek Him first and above all else, everything we need is taken care of in this world and spiritually.  Too many times,  we seek an aspect of Him rather than just seeking him. We seek a sign or just a little blessing when he wants us to desire Him. We may want a healing  or an answer to a prayer. We may even ask for a sign, for abilities, or a gift of the spirit. These are all good things, but are those becoming our passion rather than the One who gives them? Our hearts must be fastened on Jesus. 

An example in the Bible comes in Acts chapter 8.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Acts 8:18‭-‬22 KJV

When Simon saw the Holy Ghost fall on the believers he wanted that power so much that he wanted to buy it.  He did not understand the truth that he really needed to seek God. Peter told him his heart was not right. Our hearts may not be right. I am not saying we are wrong to desire gifts or things of God because he did tell us to desire the best gifts. But when the gift is of more importance than Him, we have misplaced our desire on a part of the benefits of knowing Him rather than just knowing Him. He is all we could ever need.  All the other stuff comes when we know Jesus and seek Him above all else.  

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on  You, Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

So I examine my own heart. Whom or what am I seeking?  Am I seeking God or just a benefit? I want to keep my eyes stayed on Him. My only real desire is to know Him.  I want to trust Him for everything else. My heart will cry, "I only want You, God!" When we keep Him first, he will provide all the benefits we need in the spiritual and in the physical. We can truly trust that he is doing what is best for us for He is good. When He is the center, he will lead us, use us, protect us, and give us the desires of our heart.  Seek Him first.

Just a little thing?

 When you start to bake, it's really important to pay attention to the amount of each ingredient that goes into the recipe. Just a little bit of the wrong thing can change the recipe or ruin it.  Just a little too much salt can ruin your whole recipe.  I remember as a kid making cookies and accidentally putting way too much salt. The cookies were ruined. No one wanted to eat them. Spiritually, the same thing is true. We can allow just a small thing to enter into our heart or our mind that will cause our whole heart and her whole mind to not be right with God.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Song of Solomon 2:15 KJV

A little fox can  spoil the vine as mentioned here in Solomon. What this means is that a small thing can destroy something much larger. We might partake of something so small and not realize the full effect that it could have on our lives. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts for from it come the issues of life.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23 AMP

What we allow to come into our hearts and our mind affects what we think and believe. One small thing can come in and create unbelief and doubt that changes the way we see ourselves and God. Sin comes mostly from unbelief. When we allow a small bit of unbelief or doubt to enter in, it changes our entire perspective.

Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, And put devious lips far from you.  Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage] And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].  Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet, And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

Proverbs 4:24‭-‬26 AMP

Just a small seed of unbelief can grow and affect a whole life. We must be diligent in guarding our hearts from anything that will take us away from the truth of who God is. We can see that we must keep our eyes looking directly ahead and our gaze fixed straight. Our ways will be steadfast and sure when we keep our eyes fixed on the truth of who Jesus is.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other way that we can live a truly successful and blessed life than to know Jesus as our Savior. Anything that comes in and tries to convince us that he is not the truth , we must put away and not allow it into our hearts. We must keep ourselves aware of anything that tells us otherwise, cast it away from us quickly and immediately. I recently read a story about him father who was trying to show his children this truth. He made brownies and they were so excited to have the brownies, but before he let them eat them, he told them he had included a surprise ingredient. He told them it was just a small amount. They probably would even notice it. He had included a small spoonful of dog poop. His children were shocked and said they would not eat the brownies. He said, "Why not? You won't notice it." They still refuse to eat the brownies and wondered why he did such a thing. He explained that just a small amount of something can taint and ruin a whole batch. His point was made that our souls are also affected by a small amount of any sinful thing that we allowed to enter. We must guard our hearts and our minds from any sinful thing, no matter how small it seems, that attempts to distract us from serving God.

 There's an old song that we used to sing as children that said, "oh be careful little eyes what you see." This song taught me at a young age that what comes into your eyes and our ears can affect our heart. It reminds me that we must guard our hearts and minds from the things that we see in here because it will affect us in greater ways than we realize. God knew this so he put it in his word. We can be aware to guard our hearts and minds. What enters our eyes and our ears should always be what will build us up. We  need to pray that God will keep us and protect us from all things. We need to ask God for Wisdom and discernment about what we listen to, observe, and partake in. We need to guard against little seeds of sin that may attempt to plant themselves and grow in our hearts. Rather, plant the Word of God and may it bring forth His fruit. 

Why?

 Have you ever asked God, "Why?"  I have many times. I asked him why I have had difficulties and hardships. I asked him why my mother passed in a car wreck. I asked him why my son was born with a birth defect. I asked him why when we have had financial struggles. I have asked why others have suffered. I have asked why certain bad things have happened. I have recently asked why about coronavirus.  I have asked this question many times. I have even asked why he made creation the way it is and people the way we are. Each time I ask why, he always responds with this question to me?

"Do you trust me?"

I have learned that when I wonder why, especially the hard things, it is really my own reaction of worry and mistrust in that moment. My fear takes over. 

Isaiah 55:8‭-‬9  says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord .  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God is not mean or unfeeling but he created us with a plan in mind for each and every one of us for a purpose. He has a path for us to walk. This life is not perfect on this earth.  He knows that too. These earthly bodies are bound by natural laws and are really temporary homes for our souls.  The journey on this earth is different for each of us with joy and sorrow, pain, grief, pleasure and thrill. God knows how to take each part of our lives and use it for His purpose and glory to be revealed in us. 

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3 KJV

We go through seasons of heartache and pain. Some may seem to last longer than we think we can endure. But God has healing waiting. His joy comes, his praise lifts us. He is glorified. 

In Psalms chapter 30 we can read that weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. We face trials and struggles but I know God is faithful and God is just.  He loves us and has nothing but good for us. He is a good God. 

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalms 100:5 KJV

I can answer the question God speaks to me when I ask, "Why?" I can say say, "Yes, I will trust You."  Is it always easy?  No. But does it always bring me peace and hope? Yes, yes is does. Do I always understand the reasons behind the trial and struggle? No, I do not. I have learned that some things are better left in His hands. He knows and that is enough for me. Other times, the reasons behind the situation is revealed and I am grateful and thankful that God knew all along what I needed and for his hand working things for my good.  No matter the season, I can trust my Lord for He is always good. His purpose is not one of comfort and ease here in the temporary. He is looking after our souls with eternity in mind. He has a greater value and plan that leads us to eternity. He can take every situation and use it for our good, for the good of others, for the perfecting of his saints, or to reach a soul that is lost. His purpose is more than we can think or understand in this natural life.

Even when we face uncertainty, loss, pain, and the fear of the unknown, we can place our faith and hope in the goodness of God knowing His purpose and plan is to reveal himself to us and draw us nearer to His will. He loves us and has no greater purpose than to bring us home to eternity. 

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:11‭-‬12 KJV

We will fade away in the natural. We will face our eternity. We will endure others heading to eternity before us. Trials will occur in this life. When our hearts want to cry out, "Why?" we can turn our hearts and our face toward heaven. We can place all our faith in the Master's loving hand and declare, "I will trust You. No matter what may be, I will trust you." 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 KJV

The next time I ask God, "why?" I know he will again ask, "Do you trust me?" My answer is, "Yes, Lord. I will trust you. In the face of every struggle, moment of fear, defeat, and tears, I will trust You!"  Joy always comes in the morning. His direction path is before me. I will walk on with my faith growing  and my trust in Him.