Seeking God

We come to today's verse on the heels of remembering the character of God and the hope we find in His plans for our lives. And its in light of those realities that should cause us to passionately pursue Him in prayer. In the passage, prayer is a response to our knowledge of, and confidence in, the nature of God; it’s not necessarily just a response to His blessings.

The Advent season offers us a special opportunity during one of the busiest times of the year to slow down and reflect upon how well we continue to wait on the second advent of our Lord. That wait has continued on for the Church for nearly 2,000 years, and there's no telling how much longer we'll have to wait. So in the meantime, is prayer a priority in your life? Is it a central aspect of your daily worship?

Or better yet, what are you praying for? Are you praying for the suffering to cease, or for the strength to endure the suffering? Are you praying for God to provide more, or are you thanking Him for what He's already provided? Are you praying for smoother paths, or are you seeking the Lord's guidance no matter where He takes you?

We also need to consider to whom we are in fact praying! We're not praying to a distant God who's unfamiliar with our circumstances. We're praying to a God who is near, who is attentive to our prayers. The psalmist in Psalm 66:17 acknowledges how he has cried out to God with prayer and praise, and in verse 19 remembers that the Lord listened and attended to his prayers.

However, in verse 18, he notes that if his heart's motivation was stained by sin, God would not have listened. Likewise, we read in 1 John 5:14 "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us."

God hearing the prayers of those in captivity was contingent upon the people remembering God's plans and promises and continuing to follow His will. Remember, the power of prayer is not rooted in the words we speak, but in the One to whom we speak those words. So if you're not walking in the will of God, don't be so sure he hears your prayers and is actively working to answer them. However, if you are clinging to the plans and promises of God and walking in His will, rest assured that He hears you, He is attentive to your cries, and know that you will receive what you ask for in His name!

For the nation of Judah, it was a return to their homeland from captivity. For you, maybe it’s physical healing…financial breakthrough…a reconciled relationship…peace for today and hope for tomorrow. Whatever it is, remember to prioritize prayer to a God who hears those prayers and answers them according to His will. This is what it looks like to seek Him while we wait on Him.