The more you desire to be closer to God, the more you will invest in building your relationship with Him. God wants to be pursued. In fact, He will even create circumstances in our lives to motivate us to seek Him.
Pursuing God is an important habit in cultivating intimacy with Him. Consider the advice David gave to Solomon,
“And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9
David explains,
“The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.” – Psalm 14:2
Why does God want us to pursue Him?
Pursuing God requires wholehearted, focused attention. How well can you pursue a goal or person if your attention is divided? If you are pursuing God, you cannot also be pursuing idols.
Time and again the Israelites worshiped idols instead of God.
“They made him angry with their pagan shrines, and made him jealous with their idols.” – Psalm 78:58
When we pursue God, we are demonstrating our desire for Him. The pursuit reveals the priority we place on the relationship. It can be measured by the time, energy, and money we are willing to invest. And it is natural for us to have a greater appreciation and place a higher value on whoever or whatever it is for which we make those sacrifices.
God has created us for a relationship with Him. He has taken the initiative and made a great sacrifice on our behalf. Now He wants us to also make sacrifices for the sake of the relationship.
“Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1
So what’s involved in pursuing God?
Our investment > Seek God > Draw near to God > Wait on God
God wants us to seek Him. We are to search God out—to strive after a deeper relationship with Him.
“When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul” – Jeremiah 29:13
“Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!” – Isaiah 55:6
“With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands.” – Psalm 119:10
God wants us to draw near to Him. We are to sincerely approach Him in humility and with regret for our sinfulness. He desires repentance leading to singular devotion. All too often we say all the right words to God but we are not being wholehearted.
Jesus sees through our façade,
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” – Matthew 15:8
“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.” – James 4:8
God wants us to wait for Him. He is God. He is worth waiting for. His response to our desires will be according to His timetable. Meanwhile, during the interim, we are to have an attitude of patience, faith, and submission.
“Yes, as your judgments unfold, O Lord, we wait for you. We desire your fame and reputation to grow.” – Isaiah 26:8
“I rely on the Lord. I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word.” – Psalm 130:5
What are you willing to invest in your pursuit of God? Seek Him, draw near to Him, wait on Him and He will reveal Himself to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to make your relationship with God the highest priority in your life.
“I seek your favor with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you promised.” – Psalm 119:58