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2 Chronicles 11 – Those who had set their hearts to follow the God of Israel followed the levites as they left.
What does it mean to set your heart to seek God?
King Asa and Jehoshaphat
2 Chronicles 14 – Asa did what was right and took away foreign alters. He called the people to seek the Lord. Asa was an effective seeker. His son was as well.
2 Chronicles 20 – Jehoshaphat had trouble, just as his father had. “We are powerless against this great horde, but our eyes are on the Lord.” This must have been quite a scene, everyone from oldest to youngest was there.
God responded with a message for Jehoshaphat and the people. Do not be afraid, the battle is the Lords, you will not need to fight.
Attributes of Effective Seekers
What do you think about when you think about seeking God? And what are some attributes of those who do this well?
- Effective seekers are inquiring of God. They look to God for direction. How interested are you in knowing what God wants from you?
- Effective seekers rely on God. They believe that God is almighty and that they need help. They also give credit to God when things go well.
- Effective seekers are courageous. It takes courage to seek God. Not because God is scary, but because we have an enemy who is apposed to it and also because we have to make ourselves second.
- Effective seekers are worshipers of God.
- Effective seekers are obedient, they get rid of sin. Seeking and obedience go hand in hand. Psalm 24, Isaiah 55:6-7, Psalm 119:2, James 4:8 – Seeking God is impossible without obeying him, without turning from sin.
- Effective seekers are concerned about others. Seekers care about the things that God cares about, they want others to join them in seeking, obeying and turning from sin.
- Effective seekers are wholehearted, on the inside a seeker has resolve to draw near to God. Seeking God isn’t about going through the the motions, only those who seek God with the whole heart will find God. Jeremiah 29 – “You will call me, and I will hear you… when you seek me with all your heart.”
Bad things still happen to seekers, but they can hope in God and find confidence in Him.
Seeking God isn’t something that you do just once and they you’re done. Asa stopped relying God at some point. It is very sad, but it is a reality, that a heart that seeks God isn’t to be taken for granted.
The point of seeking God isn’t about a mystical experience, its about aligning yourself with God, figuring out wha the wants from you and then doing it.