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As a mom, there have been many occasions where I told my children to go find something.
“Please go find your shoes.”
“Where did you put your coat? Please go find it.”
“You can’t find your favorite toy? Where did you play with it last? Go and look for it there.”
Almost every time, I would see my child aimlessly wandering around the house, half-heartedly looking. After a little while, I would hear, “Mom, I can’t find it.”
To which I would reply, “Are you REALLY looking?”
As we lean in for this 21 Days of Prayer, we commit to seek God. We seek God for answers, we seek Him for wisdom, we seek Him for healing, for understanding, for peace, for direction, etc. As we seek Him, let us ask ourselves the question, are we REALLY looking? Or are we aimlessly wandering around with half-hearted prayers? We tend to be impatient beings with our instant gratification ways, and it is sometimes easy for us to give up and throw our hands in the air and say, “God, I can’t find you. You must not be here.”
God’s response to us is found in Jeremiah 29:11-13 where he says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Basically, God is asking us, “ARE YOU REALLY LOOKING?”
He has the answers we seek, the comfort we crave, the peace we desire, and the hope we long for.
I find so much comfort is this promise from God. He calms us by assuring us that He has plans for us, and the plans are good and full of hope. After this year, I am so ready to receive this promise. I am ready for some good and some hope. Bring it on!
God then goes on to remind us that He hears us when we pray. He says, “I’m listening.” Think about the enormity of that! He hears me! Little ol’ me, down here in Gainesville, Virginia, as I work in my home office…He hears ME. No matter where you are, no matter what your circumstance, no matter what is going on: God is listening. He hears YOU!
So, we know that God has a plan for us. We know that He is listening. Now God is reminding us that He’s here; we just have to really look. Open our eyes, take off the blinders and LOOK! No half-heartedly aimless looking…REALLY LOOK! When we look WHOLEHEARTEDLY, we will find him! It’s not like He’s hiding; we just have to look. However, we are sometimes like the child who can’t find their shoes that are sitting right by the door.
My friend, I challenge all of us to REALLY LOOK for God during these 21 Days of Prayer. He has the answers we seek, the comfort we crave, the peace we desire, and the hope we long for. May we all find Him.
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