Seeking God Isn’t About Far-Out Experiences
There are certain times when the Lord calls us out of the routine of our daily lives.
These are special seasons where His only command is, “Seek My face.” The Lord has something precious and vitally important to give us that the familiar pattern of our daily lives cannot accommodate. During such times people are often delivered of sins that have plagued them for years; others discover a new depth in their walk with God and, thus, greater effectiveness in ministry and prayer. Still others obtain breakthroughs for their families and friends as the Lord, in response to their drawing near to Him, brings their loved ones into His kingdom.
Many times we expect spiritual breakthroughs to occur automatically, but most things we obtain from Heaven arrive via our asking, seeking, and knocking. In other words, we have not because we ask not. Pursuing the Lord is the secret to a fulfilled life. Recall the words of King David. He was a man who was forced to live in the wilderness; he was hunted by enemies and slandered throughout the nation by King Saul and his cohorts. David had many reasons to fear, yet instead he lived boldly.
Where did David’s confidence come from? He said, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4). David wasn’t delivered from “all [his] fears” simply in the routine of life’s course. No, he said, “I sought the Lord . . . and He . . . delivered me.” When we seek God, our faith is restored. As we draw near to the fullness of God, our fear is subdued.
Highest Goal in Seeking God
Those who understand the ways of God know that many of the greatest realities God has for us are gifts He has hidden in His heart. To obtain these blessings, God must be sought. You see, the Lord not only desires to bless us, but He also wants us to draw near to Him. He wants us to discover and know His deep love for us.
Thus, the highest form of seeking God is not for personal needs or even for other people. There comes a time when we seek God for Himself. Maturity comes as we break the cycle of seeking God only during times of hardship. A touch from God is wonderful, but we are in pursuit of more than just an experience—more than “goose bumps and tears.” We are seeking a place of abiding in Christ, where we are keenly aware of His presence within us.
How do we enter this sacred place? If we will study the life of Moses, we see how he sought God and lived in fellowship with Him. Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.— Exodus 33:7
Notice that “everyone who sought the Lord would go out.” If we are going to truly seek the Lord, we must “go out,” as did Moses and those who sought the Lord. We must pitch our tent “a good distance from the camp.” What camp is this? For Moses, as well as for us, it is the camp of familiarity.
Is there anything inherently wrong or sinful about the things that are familiar? No, not in themselves. But you will remember that when Jesus told His disciples to follow Him, He called them to leave the familiar pattern of their lives for extended periods and be alone with Him (Matt. 19:27). Why? Because He knew that our human nature is unconsciously governed by the influences of the familiar. If He is to expand us to receive the eternal, He must rescue us from the limitations of the temporal.
This is not to say that we neglect our families or become irresponsible as we seek God. No. But if we set our priorities right, we will discover that God has given everyone enough time to seek Him. After having done what love would have us do for our families, we simply say no to every other voice but God’s. We redeem our time: cancel hobbies, forsake television and the Internet, and put away the newspaper and magazines. Those who truly desire to find God—find time.
Francis Frangipane is the author of numerous books, including Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God, The Shelter of the Most High, and The Three Battlegrounds. Pastor Frangipane is also the founding director of In Christ’s Image Training, an online ministry school with students in nearly 80 nations. His heartfelt prayer is to see Christlike pastors and intercessors in every city united before God and revealing the love of Christ to their communities. This article was excerpted from her newly published book, I Will Be Found By You.
