God in My Garage?

Lord God, King of Heaven, Ruler of all! We desire to know you more, to taste and see the goodness of who you are. Lord be our strength where we are weak. Be our peace where we are worried. Be our courage where we are afraid. Show us what it is to walk in your light, to surrender all, to seek your face. To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;“
Isaiah 55:6 ESV

What does it mean to "Seek the Lord?" Sure we could dissect the words, look at the Hebrew definitions of each word, and come up with a nice tidy answer. But what does it mean practically? How do I do this?

To start with a working definition of seeking we'll just say seeking is this: Seeking means to search with intentionality. To look until you find something. To search with a purpose, and determination.

So, am I supposed to be looking for God like some rogue Phillips screwdriver that got buried in all the junk in my garage? As far as I can tell, He's gonna be much harder to find than that screwdriver. He's not just hiding in my garage somewhere... At least I hope He's not...

Just got back from checking, He wasn't there. So what do I do now?

Well, there are a few methods that people have developed to search for God over the years. Let's take a look at what some of those might be.

First, we have been left a manual. Not a manual for life, but a manual for knowing God. You see many people have tried this "seek the Lord" thing before you and I. Some of them even wrote some handy notes down for us. We today call this manual the Bible. It's a big book, and it's rich with knowledge and insight into who God is, what He's like, and how we can find Him.

Second, we can pray. What is prayer? Talking to God of course! It doesn't have to be fancy, there are no right words, there is only a conversation between you and your heavenly father. Make it simple, be honest. Sometimes in prayer less is more. It's okay to just pray "Lord help me!"

Also pro tip: If you're speaking to someone, that usually means they're listening, and not talking at the same time as you. If you've never heard from the Lord and would like to: try listening! Sitting in prayer quietly and listening will do wonders for your prayer life.

Lastly, we can seek God in community. The Holy Spirit of God lives within each one of His children, and the Lord can use others to speak truth and wisdom into our lives. If you're unsure about my first two suggestions, finding a good church, as well as a small group within that church, will certainly do you a lot of good. Good people will help get you on the right path to following Jesus.

So you're telling me to read my Bible, pray and get involved at church? That's it?

While that's not a comprehensive list, it's certainly a start, and seeking God is a life long process. Might as well start now.

There's a Chinese proverb that says "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step." I would submit to you that seeking the Lord is just the same. It's a day by day activity.

Okay, but what if I seek really hard and don't find Him?!

Glad you asked! This is not possible my friends. God promises us that if we seek Him we will find Him. He is a personal God! We can know Him just as we know our own friends and family or any other human being. And the best news of all is that He wants us to know Him. He wants us to build a relationship with Him. He wants to be found by us, unlike that pesky screwdriver.

In the book of Jeremiah, Chapter 29, Verses 11-13, God makes this promise to us:

”11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.“
Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV

What a fantastic promise!

As you search for God, as you seek Him in prayer, in reading your Bible, and in fellowship with your church community, expect to find Him. Because He promises, both to you, to me, and to anyone who will come, that He'll be there.

“1 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David."
Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.“
Jeremiah 33:2-3 ESV

Father thank you! Thank you for your goodness to us! That you sent your only Son to die, that we may live. That you took up our cross, that we may take up life in you. Holy Spirit help us to take hold of this gift which you have freely given us. We want to experience the life, the peace, the joy, that only comes from knowing you. Help us God! For we do not know what we do not know. Show us who you are! We want to know you! Make the cry of our hearts to know the One who formed us. That we may be complete. That we may be secure. That we may be safe in the loving arms of our Creator! Lord would you give us peace. Lord we thank you for your goodness to us. We are eternally grateful for all you have done and are doing for us. We praise you! We love you because you first loved us, and Father we pray that you would show us how to love you more and more!

All these things we pray in Jesus' mighty and precious name. Amen.