Seek the Lord: What Does Seeking God’s Face Mean?
Seeking the Lord is a vital part of our Christian faith. It’s foundational to building a closer relationship with God. But what does it really mean to seek the Lord?
Is it just about attending church services, Bible study, or praying regularly? Or does seeking the Lord have a deeper meaning?
How do we, as women of faith, learn to seek the Lord and follow Him wholeheartedly?
Let’s define seek in the Bible so we can know how to seek God’s face and live for Him in a wicked world.
What Does it Mean to Seek the Lord?
A few months ago I spent some time with my kids and all of my nieces and nephews. They decided to play a game of hide and seek indoors. The space was pretty small, but they were intense.
They had a limited number of hiding places. In fact, I could see nearly all of them from my seat in the living room. But that didn’t stop them.
They hid in closets, under the table, and behind furniture. A couple of times they even ventured into the bathroom and lay down in the bottom of the tub. Each one of those kids was determined to find everyone else.
That’s what it means to seek the Lord. To seek Him in every part of life. Look for His hand in everything, and find His will in every situation.
Unlike kids in a game of hide and seek, He wants you to find Him. He’s not hiding, just waiting for you to see Him. Now, my little niece was pretty easy to spot in the bathtub. But finding the face of God is even easier than that.
The truth is, God wants us to find Him.
To seek the Lord means to actively pursue a relationship with God.
It involves more than just acknowledging His existence. It’s about dedicating time and effort to know Him intimately.
This pursuit includes prayer, meditation, studying the Bible, and living a life that follows His teachings.
“Seek” is an action verb. It involves putting effort into forming a personal relationship with Christ.
But seeking God’s face is also about the condition of your heart. It involves turning away from the wicked ways of the world and its distractions.
A woman who seeks God’s presence searches for His will in every aspect of her life and strives to align her actions with His commands.
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Biblical Examples of Seeking the Lord
If you want to know how to seek the Lord and follow Him in your Christian walk, you can find examples in God’s Word.
The Bible is full of examples of men and women who sought the Lord with earnest hearts to find guidance, comfort, and strength.
Here are a few noteworthy biblical figures known for their pursuit of God’s righteousness:
King David
David was known as a man after God’s own heart. All you have to do is read the Psalms to see his desire for a deeper relationship with his Heavenly Father.
He was far from a perfect man. His sins are well-documented. But he was sincere as he sought the Lord with his whole heart.
In Psalm 34:4, he wrote, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Daniel
If faced with a situation like Daniel’s, most of us would probably assume that God had forsaken us. But not Daniel.
When faced with challenging circumstances, didn’t walk away from his faith. Instead, he chose to remain faithful.
The king signed a law that said no one could pray to anyone but him for thirty days. Daniel’s immediate response was to seek the Lord. Because of his steadfast faithfulness, he was able to take part in some pretty amazing miracles–including surviving a night in a den of lions and interpreting the king’s forgotten dream.
Hannah
The story of Hannah is one of the most beautiful stories of faith in the Bible. Her heart’s desire was to have a child. When she wasn’t able to have a child, she sought the Lord earnestly and asked Him to bless her with a child.
“And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11
The Lord listened to her prayer and answered her. He blessed her with a son who became one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament.
Isaiah
The prophet Isaiah was a mighty man of God. He encouraged the children of Israel to seek the Lord. God had called them and made them His chosen people.
Over and over again, they walked away, choosing to serve false gods. Isaiah preached to them that they should return to the true God of Israel before it was too late.
His words still ring true to us today.
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:6
Mary, the Mother of Jesus
When the angel first appeared to Mary in Luke 1, it would’ve been easy for her to question the will of God. Instead, she chose to embrace His plan for her life. Her prayer in Luke 1:38 demonstrates her faith in God’s steadfast love and her commitment to living for Him.
“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Paul
Formerly known as Saul, the Apostle Paul experienced a powerful conversion on the road to Damascus. After meeting the Lord in a blinding light, Paul went into the city and prayed for three days. God sent a man named Ananias to touch Paul’s eyes.
Paul spent the rest of his life spreading the Gospel. He was eternally dedicated to seeking the Lord and promoting God’s kingdom.
It’s because of his faithfulness that we have such wonderful books of the Bible as Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians. He sought the Lord on behalf of the churches, and God allowed Paul to have a major role in the growth of Christianity around the world.
5 Powerful Bible Verses on Seeking the Lord
These Bible verses will encourage your heart and highlight the value of seeking the Lord in your life. (All verses are from the King James Version.)
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
How can you find the Lord? When you seek for Him. But it can’t be a half-hearted search. You will only find the Lord when you seek Him with your whole heart.
This verse promises that God will reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
There is so much stuff you can chase after in life. Money, power, fame. Instead, seek first God’s kingdom.
Only then will you have the kind of life that honors God. Jesus encouraged His followers to prioritize their relationship with God. He’ll take care of the rest.
Psalm 27:8
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
The Bible tells us repeatedly that we should seek the Lord. Our response should be, “Yes, Lord, I’ll seek you.”
David demonstrates in this verse that seeking the Lord is an intentional pursuit. It comes from your heart and manifests in your life.
Psalm 34:10
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Lions are powerful animals–the “King of the Jungle.” We don’t usually think of them as being hungry! This verse reminds us that God is sufficient for all of our needs.
Those who trust the Lord lack for nothing. Even if young lions are hungry, God will take care of His children.
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.
There are things in life that are hard to understand, and some things that you’ll never understand on this side of Heaven.
But when you seek the Lord, you will always understand that He is working His will in your life. Even in times of trouble, you can depend on His care for you.
Your Next Steps to Seek the Lord as a Virtuous Woman
As a virtuous woman, you strive to embody the qualities described in Proverbs 31. This includes seeking God’s guidance in your roles as a wife, mother, and friend.
Let His love shine through your actions. Jesus’ words from Matthew remind us that seeking Him is our top priority. Everything else is secondary.
But how do you pursue a life of wisdom that seeks the Lord and follows the Holy Spirit? Here are some practical ideas you can follow every day as you grow in the knowledge of God.
Embrace a Life of Prayer
Seeking the face of the Lord means talking to Him. And we do that through daily prayer. Make prayer a part of your routine and schedule.
Begin each day with prayer, asking God to lead and guide your steps. God invites you to come boldly to His throne of grace. You’ll find the strength you need for life.
Dive into Scripture
If you want to know what God says, you simply need to read the Bible. The Word of God is His love letter to you.
Make personal Bible study a priority, but also consider joining a Bible study group. When you gather with other children of God, you’ll have an opportunity to gain deeper insights into the Holy Bible.
Participate in Worship
We sometimes consider worship as lifting our hands in praise. And that is one way human beings show our love to our Heavenly Father.
Heart-felt worship takes different forms. Sometimes it’s personal and in your heart.
God’s love fills you until you overflow with gratitude and peace. Worship is the natural outpouring as you bless the name of the Lord for His goodness to you.
Seek Community
Seeking the Lord on your own is a great first step. But it’s also important to surround yourself with community. Having a group of like-minded believers to encourage and strengthen you will help you increase your faith.
Attend church faithfully, but seek other opportunities like small groups and women’s Bible studies. Engage in fellowship with other women who share your commitment to seeking the Lord.
Reflect on God’s Word
Reading the Bible is only a starting point. But to grow your faith even more, set aside a time for quiet reflection when you can meditate on God’s Word. You may choose a daily verse to read, and start Scripture writing.
This practice can help you tune out the noise of the world and focus on His presence in your life.
Use this free Bible reading plan to help you dig deeper on the what it means to seek the Lord in the Bible.
Just Keep Seeking the Lord
Seeking the Lord isn’t something you do once, and never again. It’s a lifelong journey that requires dedication, intention, and a heart that’s fully committed to Jesus Christ.
Follow these simple steps and embrace the examples set by Biblical characters like David and Hannah.
Read God’s Word, spend time with Jesus in prayer, and seek the Lord with a pure heart. These intentional actions will help you deepen your faith and live as a virtuous woman of great character.
Seeking the Lord isn’t always easy, and it doesn’t happen naturally. It requires commitment, and sometimes denying yourself and the desires of your flesh.
But this continual pursuit of God and His will brings immense spiritual rewards to your life. Finding God’s peace and walking in Christ’s victory in your life are the benefits you’ll reap when you live a life of seeking God and serving Christ.
