You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
All My Heart
I know that I have not always sought you with all my heart. There have been many times when I have not sought you at all. I have gone and done my own thing. I have lived my own self-sufficient and self-reliant life. I have pursued my own plans. I have followed my own purposes. I have sought my own comfort and pleasure. I have lived a life, quite apart from you. How was that life? It was no life at all. Nothing I pursued could fill the emptiness inside of me. There was nowhere I could go or nothing I could do that would fill the void inside of me. Every pursuit, every accomplishment, every comfort and every pleasure left me feeling empty. But that isn’t half the story. What is the rest of the story? My self-centered and self-reliant life left me bruised and battered and broken. How so? I lived for myself. I enjoyed things. I used people. I lived a dark and sinful life. I walked on a path that led further and further away from you. At least that is what I thought. I’m glad you added that.
What happened to you? I reached rock bottom. I could take it no more. I wanted no more of my empty and meaningless life. I had enough. I felt like I was without hope in a dark and broken world. What did you do? I cried out to you. I asked you to show yourself to me. I say I asked. I really screamed. I would have heard you either way. Yes, but you heard the depth and pain with which I cried out to you. Yes, I did. I deserved nothing from you. No, you did not. Yet, you heard my cry. You answered my prayer. Yes, I did. You were with me even in the darkness of my empty life. Yes, I was. I was not so far away from you that I could not be found by you. No, you were not.
I have been following you now, for many years. Have I always sought you with all my heart? Have I ever sought you with all my heart? The answer to both questions is probably not. Yet, the desire to follow you with all my heart burns hot within me. Yes, it does. Well, I have this one request of you. What’s that? Fan the flame of my desire to seek you with all my heart. Make my desire to seek and know you burn white hot within me. I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will hear and answer your prayer. You will seek me with all your heart. You will find me. You will know and love and follow and serve me with all your heart. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, thank you for your promises. Thank you for your word. Thank you for your faithfulness. I will seek you with all my heart. I know I will find you as I seek you with all my heart. You will help me to come to know you. You will help me to go and do your will. Amen
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Rhythms – Jeremiah 29-13 – Seek – Find – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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