I’ve come to realize in my life (and it’s taken me a while) that this title is asking the ‘wrong’ , or at least the ‘incorrect’, question. It really misses the mark. I ask Him about my job, my security, my happiness, ’I’ gotta be ‘fulfilled’, so, should I do ‘this’…. or ‘that’? Lovers ask it seeking the ‘right’ decision for the ‘right’ martial partner, someone who will ‘fulfill’ us. The unemployed, or unhappily employed, ask it for guidance to find the ‘right’, (i.e.,fulfilling and lucrative) career opportunty. We seek “HIS” will in relocating; buying a house; shopping for a car; finding another church (where we can be ‘fulfilled’), should we have baby (and, When?) or should we have another one; stay married or divorce (gotta be ‘fulfilled’); etc., etc, ad infinitum..” ! Many of us spend a lot of time seeking God’s Will in our life for we’re certain (we ‘hope’) we’ll at last be ‘fulfilled’.
Andrew Murray penned it so well, “The seeker with HIS EYES AND HEART ON GOD ALONE, will refuse to to rest until he has believed what our Lord bids him, that he has received” (The Ministry of Intercession). Why can’t I remember, “Do not worry……Seek you first ….His righteousness…and all these things will be given to you….” Jesus (Matt 5:31 – 34). Hello!? Is anybody home!? There’s the precious promise for my life’s security, well-being and fulfillment!
Jesus admonished us seekers of divine guidance to “Believe that you receive what you ask.” We have a plethora of requests and agonize…”Is this according to ‘Your will be done’…in my life?” We worry we’re going to displease Him or err in our judgement and subsequent decision. And….sometimes…or often times…we do!
In our myriad of life’s requests….we are never quite sure we’re ‘in His will’…we have begun at the starting line…but in the wrong direction! It is NOT getting the divine answer that is paramont….for often even when we make ‘it’ we’re still not quite sure it’s ‘His will’.
Andrew Murray crystallized it for me, “The spiritual, heavenly blessing of God’s answer to your prayers must be spiritually recognized and accepted before you feel anything of it. It is faith that accomplishes this. A soul that NOT ONLY SEEKS AN ANSWER, BUT SEEKS FIRST THE GOD WHO GIVES THE ANSWER, receives the power to know that it has what it has asked of Him. If the soul knows that it has asked according to His will and promises, that it has come to and FOUND HIMSELF TO GIVE IT, then it does believe that it has received. ‘We know that He hears us’ (1 John 5:15).” (Emphasis, mine -cw)
WHAM! That hit me between my spiritual eyes! I need to get off of ‘looking for the right answer’! IT’S NOT THE ANSWER I NEED….IT IS MY ‘FATHER’ I MUST HAVE! He wants a loving relationship with me……not just be doling out answers and blessings to me as some charity case! I NEED TO BE SEEKING HIM, EVERYDAY IN EVERYWAY! He’ll take care of the answers! Hey! He’s my ‘dad’! It’s His job!
For so long I have been seeking, begging, pleading, agonizing for the answers! All the while my loving, gracious “Abba, Father” has been wanting me just to SEEK HIM not just His ‘treasures’! You see, when HE is my FOCUS, when HE is my GOAL, when HE is my WALK, when HE becomes BREATH, AIR, PULSE to me…. the ONE whom I cannot live without – EACH DAY.. then I “have what I ask“. Because I have Him!
My decisions? Inconsequential. They are because HE is to be my life’s blood and passion. And, I, like a little boy holding his Father’s hand as they walk through a dark wood, though he may have apprehension of their surroundings and what might be lurking in the shadows, he has complete and utter trust in the one who holds his hand! Because the Father knows the way and has only good in store for his “little children” (Rom 8:16, 28).
To me my 0bjective in my daily walk is not in discerning answers but in desiring Him who has the answers…..all of them! And, He has the answers even before I know the questions! I am to “Seek, first, God…”, and HE blesses my ’seeking’!
(Oh yes….the picture with this little treatise? Kinda reminded me of Moses on Mt Sinai . He was there seeking God and the people below were seeking their own answers and fulfillment.)
My good brother you have waxed eloquent on this one. Powerful and so very true. Thanks…I needed that.