In reading Proverbs 8:17 it says, “I love everyone who loves me, and I will be found by all who honestly search.” (CEV)
Daniel gives a great blueprint for prayer during difficult times. Yesterday I looked at the first of those principles: I let God speak to me before I speak to him. The second step to praying in a way God will answer during a time of crisis is to focus my attention on God and seek him.
Daniel did this in Daniel 9:3: “I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him” (ESV). This is basic relationship advice that works beyond my relationship with God. I’ll improve any relationship if I physically turn myself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to me. For instance whenever my wife talks with me, I turn my face toward her.
Turning my face toward someone shows attention. I can do with this God, too. Physically, look up toward the sky. If possible, go outside and look into the heavens as I pray. Physically turning toward God is the first step in truly focusing on him and seeking him, which is vitally important during a crisis, and other moments of my life.
In Amos 5:4, God says, “Seek me and live” (NIV). I’m not really living unless I’m truly seeking God. God guarantees he will always be with me. He says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV).
In summary, God loves everyone who loves him. If I seek him I will find him. Yesterday I looked at letting God speak to me before I speak with him. The second step is to focus my attention on God and seek him. In Daniel's example, he turned his face to the Lord God, seeking him. This is good basic relationship advice that works beyond my relationship with just God. I’ll improve any relationship if I physically turn myself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to me. Turning my face toward someone shows attention. I can do this with God as well by looking up toward the sky. I can even go outside and look into the heavens as I pray. Physically turning toward God is the first step in truly focusing on him and seeking him, I’m not really living unless I’m truly seeking God. And the good news is that God guarantees he will always be with me.
I want to focus on God better, so looking up and turning my eyes toward God is a practice I want to incorporate into my prayer life. Father with help from the Holy Spirit, help me to really focus my attention on you. As I work today, help me to understand what role you want me to take and how I should respond. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my career, my day, my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. These things I ask in your Son Jesus Christ my savior’s name, amen.
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