Are you seeking God with all your heart? Is what you believe shaped more by the world or the Word of God? Do you study God’s Word with a desire to know His truth or to affirm your own truth? Are you willing to repent and turn to God when His Word reveals that you are wrong? This is what’s required to seek God with all your heart.
One of the most helpful lessons I’ve learned is that we read Scripture to learn about God. Of course, through learning about God, we learn about ourselves and the world around us. Understanding that God’s Word is about God helps us to remember that our opinions and circumstances do not change who God is, what He has said, what He has done, and what He wants for followers of Christ.
I have a well meaning loved one who likes to use the statement, “I like to believe that God would/wouldn’t…” My response is always, “It doesn’t matter what you believe because it doesn’t change who God actually is.” God is real. He has ruled and reigned throughout history, and we don’t get to make up who He is. Instead, we have the opportunity to know who He is through the study of His Word.
Seeking Correction
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Philippians 3:15
One of my good friends and mentors calls this verse the “when I am stupid verse.” I love that because I have been wrong in my way of thinking many times, and God’s Word has corrected me. Who likes being corrected? Definitely not me. I greatly dislike the word No. In the flesh, correction is painful, but in the Spirit I welcome it and thank God for it.
So many times I’ve questioned my way of thinking. In those moments I’ve prayed, Lord, am I wrong? If so, please correct me. Align my thoughts with Yours. Sometimes He corrects me and sometimes He affirms what I believe to be true. But my desire should always be to know the truth. No matter how passionately I feel about something, if God’s Word shows that my way of thinking does not line up with His, then I must submit to His.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24,
I see too many professing Christians who say things, do things, and post things that are worldly and claim that they are from God. If you are not continuously comparing what you believe to Scripture then you are being influenced by the world more than the Word of God. Seeking with all your heart requires God’s Word being the greatest influence in your life. We should desire to know the truth so we can reject lies.
Seeking Obedience
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22-23
This verse was very eye opening to me after spending 30 years claiming to know the God of the Universe but never reading His book, attending His church, or associating with His people. God through the Holy Spirit revealed to me that my disobedience was a sign that I never knew Him. Thank God He didn’t leave me there.
We don’t like to acknowledge that our obedience to God’s Word is directly connected to the state of our faith. I’ve mentioned before that God has used many women in my life to disciple, mentor, and encourage me in my walk with Christ. He has also allowed women into my life that have attempted to discourage me.
I’ve had women look down on my faith and ignore my warnings about disobedience. They claim to have a better understanding because they have attended church and Sunday school all their lives and/or hold a seminary degree. These same women embrace and advocate for issues that God’s Word has clearly labeled sin and tell me that’s the loving thing to do. Their refusal to read Scripture and to be obedient to it shows that they do not view Scripture rightly as the Word of God. Therefore their advice to me is useless at best, and dangerous at worst.
Reality is that a healthy faith knows that God’s way is always better than my way. To seek God with all your heart means being willing to submit to all of Scripture. It also requires refusing to be ignorant about the things that God has been clear about. If He designed it then He knows how it works best. That makes Him the expert, and we are wise to be obedient to His Word.
Seeking His Word
This week, consider the issues that you are passionate about, the things you support on social media, and points of view that you advocate to others. Spend time in prayer and in God’s Word with the desire to determine if these things line up with Scripture. Be willing to repent when God’s Word reveals that you are wrong.
I encourage you as you study Scripture to seek to know God, seek to be corrected where your way of thinking is being influenced by the world, and seek to be obedient where God has called you to be obedient. Then and only then will you find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Be sure to visit my Resources Page for resources to help you seek God with all your heart. I would love to hear from you. Send me an email through my Contact Page to share with me how God is using His Word to change your life.