Before looking for what you need, seek Who can provide your needs.
There is a popular folk proverb that says, “God helps those who helps themselves.” I say this is a folk proverb because it is not a Word found in scripture. To some people this saying may sound practical and sensible. But to the faithful, it should be a small little warning.
If you are out of work and need a job, people may tell you do not just sit around the house and pray. You must get out and seek a job and when you do, God will help you. If you want to stop a bad habit, then you should stop associating with people or things that promote that habit. When you do things like these, God will help you.
I find a little problem with the proverb. It wants you to try to help yourself first and then seek God. But the Lord wants us to seek Him first and He will help us by directing our steps. So, the question is what do you seek first? To help yourself or to seek the One who can help you help yourself?
Matthew 6:33 says this. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” So, what are the things Jesus reference here? Well, they are the practical things we all need in life – food, water, shelter, work, clothes and so forth.
Jesus is telling us that God knows that we have a need for many practical things in life. But to have those things, we should first seek after the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then all those things and more will be added to our lives.
When the Israelites were wondering in the desert for 40 years, they did not lack for anything. Their clothes did not wear out. Their shoes did not become worn down. They were provided food from heaven. They were provided water from rocks. They were protected from their enemies. They were provided shelter from the elements.
God wanted them to learn to first seek Him. All that they needed was then provided to them. I know it’s hard for us to see this happening today. To many of us, our challenges, our enemies, our adversaries, our needs, seem closer to our lives than God is.
So, we feel compelled to try to solve our immediate needs before we seek Him for His help. But we must know this is all untrue. It does not matter how grave your circumstance is, the Lord is always closer to you than anything could be. So, what are you seeking?
Learn to first and always seek Him and His righteousness. Let this be your life. When you do that, you will learn that He is closer to you than you imagined.
If you need a job, you will find it more quickly and easily when you are seeking Him. He directs you to the work you need.
If you need healing, you will find it more quickly and easily when you are seeking Him. He will provide you a path to your healing.
If you need restoration in a relationship or deliverance from a sin, you will find it more quickly and easily when you are seeking Him. He has the fix and will provide the freedom you need for your broken relationships and from your bond with sin.
When you seek Him first, you are saying, Lord I am looking for You. Please find me and direct my steps and my paths. Life may be a struggle for you, and you may feel like you are going to drown in the waves and the swift cold waters of the things that keep you down.
But do not be discouraged. When you seek Him, you come to learn that the waters may be swift, but Jesus is the water. He is coming swiftly to you and carrying you to a place in Him of calm. Work may be difficult to find but Jesus is ahead of you directing you to the work that is best for you.
What are you looking for? Well, first let that be the kingdom of heaven and all His righteousness. Seek the work, healing, safety, food, relationships, and so forth that is found in His Kingdom and in His righteousness.
He is what you should be looking for. Find Him, and all other things you need will be provided to you. Don’t just ask Him to help you find things you need here on earth. Seek Him and His kingdom first and He will direct you to the things He has reserved for. Live a Delivered Life. Love you.
Live Delivered 