When You Seek Me With All Your Heart

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13; Joshua 24:14-18; Ephesians 3:20-21

I've recently hit a slump in my life where I'm not as dedicated to my daily devotions as I used to be. Way back in October of 2022, I read about a scientific study where they found that the brains of those who prayed for 12 minutes a day for 8 weeks where changed and molded for the better. Scientific evidence proved the Truth of God. At that time, I wasn't choosing to walk with the Lord as I try to now, but I did want to get to know Him more, so I started waking up around 6:15am every morning to pray for 12 minutes. The first few weeks I found it difficult to pray for 12 minutes straight. Like....12 minutes of prayer felt so awkward haha What did I have to pray for for 12 minutes? Soon after that I found that 12 minutes wasn't enough time! I had so much to talk about with my Father and I began to wake up earlier so I could spend time with Him.

My life began to change.

This really lay the foundation for the journey I would walk with the Lord later in that year. He was preparing me and my heart to find Him and be changed for life.

I started waking up consistently every week day to meet with Jesus and envelope myself in the Word for about a year and a half more or less after that. I didn't always enjoy waking up at 5:00am, but I was so thankful I made the choice to wake up and meet with Him before anything else. But this summer, I've found myself choosing to sleep in instead of giving myself time to really meet with Him. Yes, I've gotten up earlier than not to read my devotions, but I never give myself time to really process the Word and spend time with Him. I'm getting better about it, but it's been a journey for sure.

Anyway, this week I realized that I really do want to start seeking Him out and finding Him again. I miss how peaceful and confident I felt in His presence no matter what my day held. The Holy Spirit brought to mind Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart". So, I decided to put down my Nintendo Switch ( I love having grown up money haha) and pull out my Bible and seek the Lord with all my heart.

I started by going to my concordance ( I think this is what it's called?) in the back of my Bible and seeing every instance where the word "God" is mentioned. Then, I would ask the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to read and see what He has for me in that instance. Finally, I would write down what I learned and then a conclusion of Who God showed Himself to be in that instance. This has been such a great way to seek the Lord!

Here's a few things He's shown me:

A) Genesis 3:23 - Adam and Eve

• God knew Adam and Eve sinned, yet He was persistent and wanted to meet with them anyway after eating of the fruit.

• God simply wanted to talk to them even though He was fully knowledgeable of their sin.

Conclusion: God wants to meet with us after we sin. Our sin may build a temporary wall between us and He, but He never leaves - He wants us to climb the wall and meet with Him anyway.

B) GEnesis 32:22-32 - Jacob and the "Man" HE Wrestled

• Jacob wrestled with Jesus (I just learned it was NOT an angel He wrestled with, but a Man) to show how we wrestle with God sometimes. Not physically speaking, but very much spiritually and mentally.

Conclusion: God will always win - we cannot out-wrestle Him. What's comforting is He is kind and only has our best in mind.

C) Exodus 8:10- Moses and THe Plagues

• Pharaoh represents the enemy and his hold on us. Moses represents Jesus standing in the gap for us.

• God allowed the plagues to bring Himself honor and glory
  

Conclusion: Everything happening against me in my life is meant to be used for my good if I allow God to do so. He wants to help me, but I have to allow Him to.

God is showing me He always has and always will come out on top, and if I allow Him to, He will come through for me too. He will go above and beyond what I need simply because He loves me, and He loves 'wowing' His children. He is a very good God and a very kind Father.

Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

Be blessed this week friends. You're never alone.

Thanks for reading,

Joel