Desperate Pursuit
I want to be desperate for God. I want to desire an intimate relationship with God more than I desire anything else. What is true about me, and maybe true about you is that I tend to pursue and am desperate for what God can do for me, more than I am desperate for God, Himself. I am desperate for the benefits of having a relationship with God, more than I am desperate for the relationship itself. So I find myself pursuing things that I think will satisfy, but always leave me wanting more. I’m…
- Desperate for acceptance
- Desperate for approval
- Desperate for intimacy
- Desperate for relationships
- Desperate for happiness
If we were honest, we would say that we are more desperate to improve our lives than we are to know more deeply the One who is life. So we substitute knowing God with figuring out what He can (should) give us. If we are a Christian, God will give us a good marriage. If we are a Christian, God will give us a good relationship with our kids. If we are a Christian, God will give us deep and meaningful friendships. If we are a Christian, God will give us a faithful spouse. If we are a Christian, God will give us a level of happiness that will surpass all of the troubles of life. If we are a Christian, God will give us a fulfilling career. If we are a Christian, God will give us…….and so many people sit in brokenness because they are a Christian, and yet, God hasn’t “given” them what they thought He would (should).
I know this way of living, because I have lived it. I bet, many of you are living it right now. You can’t put your finger on what is wrong, but you know deep down in your heart, something isn’t right. There is a sense of restlessness, a sense of disappointment, a sense of loss that you feel, but don’t know why. You are unsatisfied…
- Unsatisfied with your job
- Unsatisfied with your marriage
- Unsatisfied with your kids
- Unsatisfied with your church
- Unsatisfied with your life
Marriages don’t just explode. Affairs don’t just happen. Divorces don’t just develop overnight. Kids don’t just instantly rebel. Relationships don’t just melt down. Maybe your are desperate for the wrong things…not bad things, just the wrong things. Maybe you are seeking what God can offer you more than you are seeking God. Maybe what your marriage needs most is for you to stop seeking to be right, and just seek God. Maybe what your kids need most is for you to stop seeking to rule over them, and just seek God more. Maybe what will allow you to experience more joy at work is to seek God in spite of your circumstances. Maybe you’ve pursued satisfaction more than you have God, and you’ve ended up with neither.
What “thing” that God can give you are you tempted to pursue in your life, more than you pursue God?
15 Comments to “Desperate Pursuit”
Leave a Reply
Justin…That last paragraph needs to be digested deep within bro. Deep within. Wow.
I write it not as I have digested it and figured it out, but as I take steps in the journey! Thanks bro!
Hit the nail on tha head! I seek for Him to make me content more than I actually seek Him. What you said made sense. We do look for Him to give and bless and provide more than we truly look for just Him. Awesome!!!
Thanks Meredith!
Wow, this is really good stuff, Justin. Good, convicting stuff.
A lot of what you touched on reminds me of what Timothy Keller identifies as the "older brother syndrome" in his book "The Prodigal God". In it, he talks about how always "doing the right thing" or "following the rules" can often be deep-down spiritual manipulation because we believe if we do those things, God owes us something. It is not desiring or pursuing a relationship with the Father, but pursuing his things. It is a behavior that can actually separate us from the Father just as much, or even more so, than the more obvious outwardly rebellious behavior of those "sinful" younger brothers.
Also reminds me a bit of this C.S. Lewis quotes: "What does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring."
I have heard nothing but great things about Prodigal God…I need to pick that book up! Thanks for sharing!
Great post… like Meredith I seek contentment more than I seek God… I needed to read this today especially with where I am at this moment in my life.
Becky…you are not alone….and contentment isn't bad, it just shouldn't be our God! Thank you for your honesty.
I second the "wow."
I'm too stunned to give an intelligent response here. This could be a perfect blog post.
Thanks Jason!
There's just nothing worse than a Monday morning blog that puts a stop to my lists and plans and causes me to refocus my energy on that which is truly important.
You and Trisha both have excellent blogs today. Thanks for sharing yourselves (of course, you'll have to come out to Kingston Springs and get my list done now!!!)
Justin, very good ..sometimes I think I get so wrapped up in thinking about restoring my marriage that I loose focus of God of just seeking God. Maybe I am seeking more of what God can do for me than God HImself.
Peter Lord says : "we want God because He'll be an asset for us – an asset in our ministry, our marriage, our career, etc. Imagine that… God, an asset…."
So, there is the issue, just as you say – we want God for what He can do for us. Instead, our real need is to "… seek God's face and not His hand…" .
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Pete Wilson, Curt Jones, Grant Jenkins, Justin Davis, Justin Davis and others. Justin Davis said: Desperate Pursuit http://goo.gl/fb/l8f6 [...]
[...] Desperate Pursuit [...]