With All of Your Heart
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
On May 5, 2017, I was sitting in the parking lot of the Staybridge Suites Hotel. I can't say whether I was excited, nervous or both. Whatever it was prompted me to get there a little over 3 hours early. I was there to attend the God Encounter, an encounter that would be one to change my life. About an hour before going in, I poured my heart out to God. I was determined to be as transparent and honest as I could. I had reached a point where I felt like everything concerning me was out of place and no matter how hard I tried putting things in order, nothing would come together.
This was in regards to my relationships, my career, my finances, my purpose, and most of all my relationship with God. I was overwhelmed with hopelessness. As a "believer", that was a difficult reality to face. I told Him that I was tired and I was losing the will to keep fighting. I felt that I had nothing else to give. After I poured out my heart, the Holy Spirit led me to Jeremiah 29. I started reading, and soon realized that some of this chapter was a part of a devotional that read earlier that day. In that moment, I became aware that God was already at work.
As I continued to read, I came to a familiar verse, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I almost stopped there because I was excited about the promise, but the Holy Spirit prompt me to keep reading. When I read verses 12 and 13, my heart was immediately quickened to what God was trying to get to me.
In its original context, this specific promise was to a set of people who were in exile because they turned their hearts from God. They walked in disobedience and began to worship other gods. They were no longer living under the covenant and protection of God. When I received this revelation, everything became so clear. I spent much time praying and reading the Bible. I encouraged others and even taught the word of God. I was under the belief that I was living the Christian life to the best of my ability. Truth be told, however, the whole focus of my heart was not God and His will.
Matthew 6:33(NLT) reads, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." I felt depleted in just about every area of my life, but as soon as I turned my heart completely back to God and sought Him above all else, things started to fall in place. Over the past year, I have seen God move in ways that I would have never expected. When I shifted my heart's focus back to the Father, my thoughts and desires came into alignment with his will for my life and purpose. I will be transparent, it was a difficult thing to do because I had become comfortable in that place of “exile”. I didn’t know there could be anything different. Through reading His Word, I was reminded of the promise and made the decision to step out in God. I didn't know what exactly to expect but I knew it had to be better than where I was. He definitely exceeded my expectation!
Take a moment and self reflect. Does God have your heart's complete focus? Are you seeking Him above all else? When you seek the Lord with all of your heart, you will find him and there you will gain access to the promise.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your word says that if I seek you with my whole heart, I will find you. So I pray that you create in me a wise and discerning heart. I will be honest, that I've sought after validation from others, success from my achievements, and fulfillment in my good deeds. Today, I surrender to your will and I pray that the eyes of my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand the confide
nt hope to which you have called me according to your perfect will. In Jesus I pry, amen.
Scripture References: Jeremiah 29:11 | Ephesians 1:18 | 1 Kings 3:9
