As we seek intimacy with God, we find the direction in His Word for how to seek Him. John 14:26 says that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. If we want intimacy with God, one thing we need to do is rely on the Holy Spirit, our Teacher. There are many scriptures that point us in the right direction and many promises that if we seek, we will find Him. Here are a few.
What We Seek
Deuteronomy 4:29 says “If…you will seek the Lord your God, you will find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and soul and life.” This verse refers to what we seek—God. It refers to experiential knowledge when it says to seek with our hearts, soul, and lives. We will know God more intimately as we seek Him with more than just our minds.
David sought the Lord; he says in Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.”
A Desire to Seek
David prayed that he would have a desire to seek God–“one thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek.” Seeking God brings blessing to our lives because we are constantly in God’s presence (dwelling.) Gazing upon on the beauty of the Lord keeps our eyes focused on what is important and eliminates earthly distractions. Meditating on the Lord and considering God’s ways, which includes reading His Word, allows us to hear God’s voice and stay on the path He has planned. Inquiring or asking God for direction helps us to make important decisions with His guidance and wisdom and not our own. Notice David is seeking one thing. Even though there is a whole list here of benefits, David is seeking God and God’s presence. Seeking one thing, and one thing only, demonstrates the importance of the thing we seek. Our focus is single-minded. Nothing else distracts us from our purpose.
Many who have earthly success have acquired it by single-minded pursuit of a goal, whether it is an Olympic medal, a singing career, or a PhD. Other areas of life get put on hold while they focus on accomplishing one thing. Our pursuit of knowledge and intimacy of God needs this kind of persistence and devotion. The Amplified Bible says David insistently required. If we seek God to this extent, there is no doubt we will find Him.
Our Position As We Seek
II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” This refers to our position as we seek—humble. We need to be humble; we need to “require of necessity.” When we come before God to seek Him, it is because we know we need Him, not what He can give us. We require God because we realize He is the only real necessity in our lives—that nothing else matters unless we have Him. Humility means submissiveness. Humility is the opposite of pride. We can’t come full of ourselves. We have to come willing to empty ourselves so God can fill us. In order to do that, we have to “turn from our wicked ways.” This means acknowledging sin, turning away from sin, and accepting God’s forgiveness so the healing can begin.
The Promise If We Seek
II Chronicles 15:2 says, “If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, craving Him as your soul’s first necessity], He will be found by you; but if you [become indifferent and] forsake Him, He will forsake you.” This refers to the promise—God will be found! We don’t have to be afraid that we will go looking for God and not find Him. If we are honest and sincere about it, we WILL find God. We are, however, cautioned that we must not be indifferent. So, when we seek, we need to be diligent about it. He forsakes those who are indifferent. We can’t have an “I can take it or leave it attitude” toward God. If we want to find Him, it takes whole-hearted commitment. But He is there waiting; don’t give up!
Can we do it? Can we prioritize our daily lives to be this relentless? Indeed, we must if we truly seek to know God more intimately. So seek God’s presence, enter His presence with humility, and receive the promise of true intimacy with Him.