Can I Absolutely Seek God With All My Heart? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

Can I Absolutely Seek God With All My Heart?

So many cares of this world that draw us aside and pull at our hearts. So many distractions that cause us to seek after comforts and desires. We rush about our lives with so much on our minds; yet, the one true source of love, hope and joy is pushed aside into a small moment or time. We chase after careers, success, money, love, and things as though they will fulfill the desires of our hearts. Oh, certainly we must go about our days making a living, caring for our family, and our health. Yet, the question that we must consider is “what holds center stage in our hearts?” Have all these things become our first loves and thereby our idols? Or do we seek God first and let Him add that which we need? “³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6).

[bctt tweet=”What would one life fully devoted to seek God above all else look like? “]I truly want to know that in my life. I want to know how to love Him more, desire Him more, and fully abide in Him. Perhaps if I were to forsake everything and live in a tent in the woods away from the world, I could be alone with Him. Yet, then I would be unable to present Him to a world in need of God’s love. To love God fully with all my heart means I must love the world that He was willing to allow His son to die for. So, how do I live surrounded by the world and still seek God with all my heart?

MOSE’S INSTRUCTION TO THE PEOPLE

Moses in Deuteronomy begins to prepare the children of Israel to go into the Promised Land. He reminded them that once there when surrounded by good things to not become proud or build idols to worship. He knew all too well that when prosperous times come, pride would fill their hearts and they would think it was their good works which brought the prosperous times. He warned them not to be drawn aside. Yet, Moses also left them with this hope; even after they fail. He knew they would fail at times because of their self-exalting human hearts. So, Moses reminded them, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. ³⁰When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him.³¹For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you” (Deuteronomy 4 NIV). “If from there”- from the top of that mountain peak of success or from that darkest pit of despair where you have fallen, that desperate place of defeat and self-loathing. Where ever there is—seek the Lord your God will all your heart and all your soul. God, because of His mercy, will not abandon you.

GOD’S PROMISE TO BE FOUND

Moses had advised them and Moses had warned them; yet, the people would fail at times. They were carried away into Babylon as captives. Then, God reminded them through the prophet Jeremiah, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.¹²Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.¹³And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.¹⁴And I will be found of you, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 29)

Yet, the question arises again; how do I seek God with all my heart while at the same time living in this world? While here I have so many demands placed upon me and so many things to lure me away.

STEPS TOWARD SEEKING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS

1. First thing every morning, pray. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; ²To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.³Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee” (Psalm 63) Because His love is better than life, I long to seek Him early in the morning. To sit in His presence and to learn of His power, His might, and His glory. All the pleasures that this world offers leaves me thirsting for something to satisfy the deepest longings of my heart. The only one who can fill my heart is God.

2. Study God’s word. “I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119 NIV) In God’s love letters to us He reveals Himself.

3. Praise God for all that He has done. “all who seek the Lord shall find him and shall praise his name. Their hearts shall rejoice with everlasting joy” (Psalm 22 TLB)

4. See God’s Grandeur in the Nature that surrounds us. “The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19 NIV)

God—the creator of the Universe has reached down from heaven with a promise that if I seek Him, I will find Him. I will find His love, His joy, and His glory. D. L Moody was quoted as saying, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”

What wondrous work can God perform with one person who seeks God with all their heart and soul?[bctt tweet=” Let me Lord seek you with all my heart and soul! Let me lay aside all of me to find all of you?”]

Is there a special way that you seek God or that helps you to remain focused upon God? I would love to learn from you? Click here to share. (From what I have studied Disqus is a the most protected comment system available to bloggers—to keep you safe.)

The song I chose for you today is O My Soul, Arise

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.

Original photograph used from unsplash.com (royalty free)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Can I Absolutely Seek God With All My Heart?

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