DAY 35
His Face Before His Hand
| READ Psalm 105:4; Psalm 63:1 |
DEVOTIONAL
Seeking His Face Instead of His Hand "Psalms 105:4 AMP Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually." "Psalms 63:1 AMP O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; My soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
"2 Chronicles 7:14 AMP and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land." "Jeremiah 29:13 AMP Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. [Deut 4:29, 30]"
As I have walked with the Lord over a few years, one truth has become increasingly clear to me. The greatest calling of the believer is not ministry. It is not miracles. It is not influence. It is not success. The greatest calling of every believer is intimacy with God. Everything else flows from that place. One of the subtle dangers of spiritual growth is that we can become more interested in what God can do than in who He is. We can become occupied with His blessings while neglecting His presence.
We may spend our prayer lives asking Him to move His hand, while He is inviting us to seek His face. This is the difference between spiritual infancy and spiritual maturity. Children naturally seek what the Father gives. Mature sons desire the Father Himself. God delights in blessing His children. Throughout Scripture, we see Him providing, healing, delivering, restoring, and protecting His people. Yet above all these blessings, He offers something infinitely greater. He offers Himself. One statement from my original message continues to resonate deeply within my spirit:
"If we seek His face and long to bear the burdens of His heart, He will also move His hand." This is one of the great principles of the Kingdom. Many believers reverse the order. They seek God's hand first. His provision. His favour. His promotion. His answers. His protection. None of these desires are wrong. Our heavenly Father knows our needs before we ask Him. But His greatest desire has always been relationship. When Moses stood before God, he could have asked for many things. Instead, he desired God's presence.
David echoed the same longing throughout the Psalms. Paul counted everything else as loss compared with knowing Christ. The deeper we grow spiritually, the more our prayers begin to change. Instead of asking, "Lord, what can You give me?" We begin asking, "Lord, what is on Your heart?" That question changes everything.
REFLECT
1. Where is the Holy Spirit inviting you to seek God's face as your greatest pursuit?
2. What is one response you can make today rather than postponing?
PRAY
Father, make Your face my greatest pursuit. I thank You for Your provision, protection, healing, and help, but keep my heart from loving Your gifts more than I love You. Deepen my prayers from requests into relationship, teach me to delight in Your presence, and let knowing You become the treasure that orders every other desire. In Jesus' name, Amen.
PRACTICE
Set aside 10-15 unhurried minutes today. Ask God to help you seek God's face as your greatest pursuit. Write down one truth to carry and one concrete act of obedience.
JOURNAL
What is God highlighting to me today?