Seeking God

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:1-8, NASB).

If someone were to ask whether we’d like a deeper relationship with God, we would probably say yes. But are we willing to do what is necessary to achieve it? Many Christians today are trying to find a shortcut to a closer relationship with the Father. But intimacy takes time and effort; knowing God better is a lifelong pursuit. Here’s how we discover the depths of His character through His Word:

  • Meditation involves reading a Bible passage several times and thoughtfully considering what it says about God. Psalm 63, for example, encourages us to ponder the Lord’s power, glory, and lovingkindness.

  • Study allows us to draw from several Bible passages to gain a greater understanding of the Lord. We benefit by considering the context and writing style of the verses and then asking ourselves what they reveal about God.

  • Prayer is our response to meditation and study of the Word. What we discover about God overflows into praise, gratitude, and petitions that align with His will.

We can’t cut corners if we want to walk closely with the Lord. But the rewards of a deep relationship with Him are worth the wait and effort – only through intimacy with Him will we know true satisfaction and joy.

Jeff

Joni Price