“Seek His face – continually?” (Psalm 105:4). Yikes! There was a time in my life when verses such as these felt, at worst, like an oppressive obligation and at best like a spiritual workout. (You know how it is when you know you “should,” but you don’t really want to, but then – afterwards – you’re glad you did. It was like that.)
But the Lord has given me a new orientation, rooted in the faith that “He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). How would your attitude towards seeking the Lord be different if you were able to believe He stood ready to reward You every time you sought Him? The truth is He does. When we accept that by faith, we begin to experience Him in a deeper, personal and more rewarding way. Even if we don’t always see dramatic results in our situations, we are more aware of His touches, His movements, His voice.
Verses about prayer are more than commandments, they are incredibly generous invitations. Invitations to enjoy the delights of who He is, to be fascinated by the infinitely creative ways He refreshes our faith. More than as a means to ask for what we want or for Him to change what we do not like, prayer is a transport to a place where we can experience the wonders of His person and enjoy His affection towards us.
The Lord is no less excited about you than He was the day you first came to Him. He is just as happy to see you, just as welcoming, just as caring, just as involved and just as committed to nurturing your trust in Him as He was when you were a brand new infant in Him.
A new orientation to prayer is rooted in a truer view of God. It is that view that makes us eager to seek His face – and yes, continually.
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