Diligently seeking the Lord

The twenty-third Psalm begins ”The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” And concludes . . . “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:1,6.).

This “He and me” Psalm about our divine Shepherd is very well known and recited by Christians and non-christians alike throughout the world. It is a Psalm of King David. 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I will not lack anything. And goodness and mercy is guaranteed to follow me during my lifetime here on earth. 

God will always be there for His children. He says. “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

God certainly keeps his word and fulfills His promises. However, we cannot expect that the help and blessings we need from day to day are going to come down from above without any response from us.

In the first place there has to be prayer. Prayer works with God, and God works through our prayers. Perhaps some might be saying, “why bother to pray when God already knows all my needs?” This is a wrong outlook. Yes, God is fully aware of my needs, simply because God is all-knowing (omniscient), and He is always present (omnipresent).

Paul writing to the Philippians stated: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Note: “everything by prayer and supplication …. let your requests be known to God.” The Christian’s part is by prayer and petition. And to that God says, “Call to me and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3).

We also have this wonderful assurance of our gracious God. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them” (Psalm 145:18,19).

The Scriptures tell us of many things God has done and will do for His children, and we can absolutely depend on Him to do so. However, there are things God will not do for us, but rather He expects us to do for ourselves. For example, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus was still in his grave clothes. Jesus then said to those standing around to remove his grave clothes and let him go (John 11:44).

It is God’s will and purpose for Christians to “seek” Him as evident in the Scriptures. “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10). David exhibited triumphant faith when he appealed to God in prayer, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek” (Psalm 27:7,8).

David’s prayer clearly shows God desires that His people “Seek my face.” And our worshipful response should be “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” God will never forsake those who seek Him.

Seeking God’s face means approaching the divine presence of the holy God, who is above and beyond the things of this world. God Himself guarantees that when we seek Him, we’ll find Him. He says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:13,14). 

In the two preceding verses God says: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope.” And here is the divine invitation, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you” (Jeremiah 29:11,12).

We cannot seek the Lord in any casual manner. There must be a recognition of God’s holiness and righteousness. And also to be aware that what God promises He is able to perform. 

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). By trusting in the LORD, and acknowledging him, He will clearly show and guide you in the right path to take.