“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
Giving someone your attention is arguably the greatest gift you can give them. Why? Because your time is your life.
When you turn your face to someone and focus your eyes on them, it shows that you genuinely care and are interested in what they have to say.
You can do this with God—you can turn your face to him in prayer. Just look up! Show him that you’re checking in and ready to talk. Even though it’s a good way to pray, there's nothing in the Bible that says you have to close your eyes or bow your head. For me, when I close my eyes and get quiet, I go to sleep. Instead, I like to pray out loud and look up, because it gives me a physical reminder that I’m refocusing my attention on God.
Daniel did this when he needed God’s help and wisdom: “So I gave my attention to the Lord God, to seek Him by prayer” (Daniel 9:3 NASB).
God wants you to seek him—and the Bible is filled with promises for those who do:
“Seek me and live” (Amos 5:4 NIV). As you persistently seek God, you’ll start learning how to really live.
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me” (Proverbs 8:17 NIV). If you’re having trouble finding God, make sure you’re seeking him with the right motives—wanting to know him and not just wanting to get something from him.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). You're going to find God when you make spending time with him a priority—when you see it as critical to your daily life, not just something you might get around to in your spare time.
“God . . . rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). Would you like God to reward your business, your finances, your relationships, and your future? Then seek him.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need” (Luke 12:31 NLT). When you pursue God first, the stresses and worries of the world will lessen their hold on you.
So give God your attention. Turn your face to him, and show him that he has first place in your life.
Does it make a difference to you if you have someone’s full attention? How does it make you feel if they’re not looking at you when spending time together?
How does focusing on God give you the right perspective for your dreams, goals, and plans?
Why do you think God wants you to seek him?