Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his face always – 1 Chronicles 16:11 (Christian Standard Bible)
At the feet of the Lord, I seat, to enquire of Him, “Lord, how may I seek your face?” “Lord, what does it really mean that I seek your face?” When we pause and ask God a question with sincerity of heart, God does respond. The Holy Spirit who dwells in the quiet place of our hearts does speak to us. This is you seeking God’s face.
The Command to Seek God’s Face
God commands and expects us to seek his face. Seeking God’s face is not an option. It is the way to go for every true believer who loves God.
“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger” – Zephaniah 2:3
“Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God…” – 1 Chronicles 22:19a
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” – Jeremiah 29:13
What Is the Meaning of Seeking God’s Face?
A simple look at various biblical versions and translations of 1 Chronicles 16:11, already points out to us, what it means to seek God’s face.
To Seek the Face of God is to:
– Worship God continually.
– Search for God in our heart.
-Pray before God constantly.
-Continually be a seeker of God.
-Continually desire God’s presence.
-Look out for what pleases God always.
-Trust in God and in the power of his might.
-Always look up to God in all that concerns you.
-Keep out of our heart and lives that is not of God.
-Consistently long to be in God’s awesome presence.
-Desire to know God’s will and God’s ways in all things.
-Forever commit yourself to being a ardent son/daughter of God.
-Constantly speak to God about everything, both great and small.
-Invest yourself, your time, talent, gifts and your resources in the things of God
The Reward of Seeking God’s Face
When we seek the face of God, God does somethings for us. This is because God “…rewards those who earnestly seek him” – Hebrews 11:6b:
God gives you strength – “Seek the LORD and the strength he gives!…” – 1 Chronicles 16:11a (NET)
God gives you life – “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live;…” – Amos 5:6a
God “…will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14b
God allows us to find Him – “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” – Acts 17:27
God comes near to us. It also makes us leave sin and our old ways behind – “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” – James 4:8
God will give you everything else you desire and even more. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” – Matthew 6:33
God makes us experience his love, when we seek his face. “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me” – Proverbs 8:17
God will never forsake you. “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you” – Psalms 9:10
You will lack no good thing. “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” – Psalms 34:10
Even in facing the issues of life, and amidst the many questions we have on our mind, and regarding our many concerns, both spiritual and mundane, we are called to seek God’s face, that he may answer us.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” – Matthew 7:7-8
PRAYER
When thou said, seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. – Psalm 27:8.9
“This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob” – Psalm 24:6
May we truly become a generation that seek the Face of God, in Jesus Name. Amen.
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