What are you looking for in life? How about today? When you woke and started your journey, where did your thoughts drift?

For me, a lot of the time, I immediately go to my to-do list for the day. Whether it be my teaching subjects, preparedness, window cleaning lineup, or any of the many other obligations and responsibilities that life has for me. But God has been speaking. Even today, as I sat down to write this, God is reminding me of where my thoughts need to be. I feel Him asking me the question, “what exactly are you searching for?” The majority of my thoughts tell the story of a man who wants to be useful, productive, and provide for his family’s needs. And that is where my heart is. But am I searching for it in the right ways and the right places?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”‬‬

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭ESV

Literally everything we could ever need in a day, in our life, is experienced in the presence and pursuit of God. I couldn’t be more useful than by sharing Jesus’s goodness and love with others. I couldn’t be more productive than by making disciples. I couldn’t provide anything greater for my family than a godly example or sacrificial love and a life of serving others. All of that comes in seeking God’s kingdom. That will make me the best teacher, the best parent, the best spouse, and the best version of everything I could possibly be. But is that what I am searching for in my day? Is it what you’re seeking out?

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God promises us that if we really search for Him, that He will be found. That begs the question, are we truly seeking Him out? What does that even look like? How would we begin our days and end our days and live out everything in between if that’s what our mission was? Jesus said to seek His kingdom and His righteousness. So, in simple terms, to seek God is to live in a right way before Him and before others. That’s what righteousness is. And also to want to see God’s kingdom here in this world. To do that, we live as He did. It’s to act as that city on a hill and a light to the world. We seek God when we seek to reflect God. Because we need to abide in Him, as John 15 says, in order to bear the kinds of fruit that Jesus did. To abide in Him means we live in such a symbiotic relationship that His spirit dictates our thoughts, actions, and words.

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”‬‬

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭45‬ ‭NIV

One way we can know if we’re searching for God is if we’re experiencing freedom. Things like anxiety, depression, anger, bitterness, and the like, are all clear indication that we aren’t seeking God or the things of God. Precepts are by definition a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought. God has given us ways of living that will enable us to live the fullest life possible. In Micah chapter six, we are told that God calls us to seek justice, love mercy, and to walk in humility. Those should be markers of our lives if we’re search for God.

It certainly takes intentional living. It takes a lot of prayer, time alone with God, looking for Him in the mundane and the miracles. It takes persistence to serve and give, especially when it’s hard to do so. It takes surrender of our selfishness. To seek God is to be consumed with Him. And we can’t be consumed with Him and ourselves at the same time. If you’re like me, then you probably need to let go of the incessant planning and live more in God’s embrace because that’s where peace and purpose are really found.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.