To seek God, you must believe that He is, and what is that belief called? FAITH. “Faith is the confidence in that which we hope, and assurance of that which we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). You cannot seek God, if you do not believe:
1. That God exists
2. That God hears
3. That God can help you
4. That God will help you
5. That God cares for you
2. That God hears
3. That God can help you
4. That God will help you
5. That God cares for you
These are five (5) very different things, but of equal importance.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:6, BSB, bold mine)
This Scripture is often misquoted in the context of believing FOR things, but it is actually in the context of believing IN God- That God exists, and is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Let us think about it for a second, if you do not believe God exists, you will not seek Him or follow His word. Which means you will live separated from God, not knowing God and being separate from His covering. Which makes it impossible to please God.
Do you believe that God is? Not a passive existence. But living and active. When you pray do you believe that God will answer and intervene on your behalf? That God will work for your good? Or do you take matters into your own hands even after praying? God acts on behalf of those who trust in and wait for Him. Imagine not having to do it all on your own? You pray and trust, and God gets moving on your behalf! This means that only one of you is doing the thing, and it isn’t you! God is doing it, instead of you!
From ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides You,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
(Isaiah 64:4, BSB, bold mine)
God also rewards those who seek him. Let us look at Daniel who devoted himself to prayer his whole life and always prayed to God three (3) times a day (Daniel 6:10):
Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling. “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. (Daniel 10:10-12, BSB, bold mine)
The angel of the Lord appeared to him, and gave Daniel a lot of revelations, including the rise and fall of kingdoms up to Alexander the Great. Revelation was not the only reward. Daniel was blessed in his work and lifestyle. He walked with God every day, enjoying friendship, wisdom, strength, favour and insight. What a blessing!
After we believe that God is, and in Him we can find refuge, solutions and help, and from that reach out to Him in faith, the next step is moving in faith. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family” (Hebrews 11:7, BSB). Noah built an arc, having never seen rain in his life, because He believed the word of the Lord. Guess what? It saved his life together with his family and all species of land creatures (Begin with Genesis 6 for the full story)
In summary, believe that God is, that God cares, can and will help you and rewards those who seek Him. Reward of peace, faith, wisdom, solutions, comfort, strategy, deliverance, friendship, favour and rest, just to name a few. In His presence there is fullness of joy. Thereafter, rest (an internal rest) because God will move on your behalf as you trust and wait in Him. Lastly, move in faith J. We live by faith and not by sight. Trust that God has you, that God is leading you and watching over you as the apple of His eye. God will not let you down! You do not need to see the entire path, just the next steps, and keep your eyes on the One who wrote the whole story. The One who exists outside of time and space. Your Papa. Indeed, in the words of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:45, BSB). It applies to you gents too!