A thought popped into my head the other morning. Was I really seeking God or was I just seeking blessings from him in my earthly life? I decided to do my best to give up my own issues and concerns and seek him in spirit and in truth. In this post, Seeking & Finding God (Part Three), let’s try to look at things, not from our human and obviously finite perspective, but from God’s eternal point of view.

Seeking God On His Terms

Our human perspective and thinking helps us understand the world and the people around us.

However, it also can be a trap in spiritual matters because we see the world through human eyes, not God’s point of view.

If our goal is to seek & find God, I believe we must step away from our perspective and seek him on his terms and in accordance with his thoughts, will, and wisdom.

Looking through a telescope from the wrong end

To study God through our own experiences would be like looking through a telescope from the wrong end. Instead of bringing distant objects to greater size and clarity, we would be making distant objects smaller.

God’s thoughts are not my thoughts. I’m a slow learner, but I finally got it. Even the prophet Isaiah, writing thousands of years ago, knew this when he wrote down these words:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts…”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

Seeking God’s Will In Our Lives

A Welsh preacher wrote a letter to his daughter and I have found this to be the best advice I’ve seen for seeking God’s will:

The one vital, all-important thing is to know the will of God. It is not as easy as it sometimes sounds. I was for over two years in a state of uncertainty and indecision before leaving medicine for the pulpit. But in the end it was made absolutely and perfectly clear and mainly by means of things which God did. These are the rules which I would advise you to observe:

1. Never speak to anyone about it. Don’t tell people what you are feeling and discuss it and ask for advice. That always leads to still more uncertainty and confusion. Make an absolute rule of this at all costs. Say nothing until you are absolutely certain, because we are all subject to self suggestion.
2. Do not even think about it and discuss the pros and cons with yourself. Once more this leads to auto suggestion and confusion.
3. In meetings, etc., do not start with the thought in your mind, ‘I wonder whether this is going to throw light on my question or help in any way?’
4. In other words, you must not try to anticipate God’s leading. Believing as I do that God does ‘call’ very definitely, and in a distinct and definite doctrine of a call, and a vocation is distinct from the ‘need is the call’ idea, I believe that God will always make His will and His way plain and clear. With reverence, therefore, I say leave it to God entirely as regards purpose, time and all else.
   All you have to do is to tell God that you are content to do His will whatever it may be and, more, that you will rejoice to do His will. Surrender yourself, your life, your future entirely to Him and leave it at that… You must not go on asking God to show you His way. Leave it to Him and refuse to consider it until He makes it impossible for you not to do so.

Rev. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Advice on Guidance To His Daughter)

Tell God You Are Content To Do His Will

Rev. Lloyd-Jones gave us a wonderfully wise way to pray as described in rule four above:

All you have to do is to tell God that you are content to do His will whatever it may be and, more, that you will rejoice to do His will. Surrender yourself, your life, your future entirely to Him and leave it at that… You must not go on asking God to show you His way. Leave it to Him and refuse to consider it until He makes it impossible for you not to do so.

Read over Rev. Lloyd-Jones’ four rules to see if they work for you. As you ponder these things and pray, you may find that God has you right where he wants you to be.

Heed God’s Call!

Over time, you may find God is prompting you to change. If so, then heed the call. Mary did this when the Angel Gabriel informed her that she had found favor with God and would conceive and give birth to Jesus. I am still amazed at the wisdom that young woman displayed so long ago:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38 NIV

Yours in Christ, Kurt

Here are the first two posts in this series:

Seeking & Finding God (Part One)

Seeking & Finding God (Part Two)