Earnest Pursuit

Remember when we were little, how much we loved playing hide-and-seek: the thrill of the hunt, the excitement in the find, and the fun we had with our friends? We played for countless hours, in daylight and dark, never tiring of our search. The reward was too great! It’s with that same earnest pursuit that we must seek Jesus.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you… —Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

This past weekend, we had Opendoor Conference 2023, and it was incredible. It’s a time we set aside as a church each year to actively seek God’s heart and vision for ourselves, our families, and our church in the year ahead. We walk into each service expectant for what God will reveal to us and hungry for His Word. We invite our friends, block off our calendars, and bring our journals to take notes. We hang on every word.

So why don’t we do this all year long? In a world full of noise and busy schedules, it’s easy to get distracted. Unless we actively seek Jesus in all we do, we cannot experience the fullness of what God has for us.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.—2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

Freedom is the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. It’s the ability to live without fear: the fear of missing out (FOMO), the fear of not being good enough, the fear of rejection, abandonment, and hurt. Freedom is when anxiety no longer cripples our thoughts and minds. When we seek God daily and spend time with Him, freedom is what we find.

Journal: What are some things that are holding you prisoner at this time?

What are some ways we can seek God first in all we do?
  • Worship God
    • I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. - Psalm 34:1 NLT
  • Thank God
    • Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
  • Talk to God
    • The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth. Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God.... - 1 Timothy 2:1-8 MSG
  • Spend Time with God
    • Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. - Psalm 1:1-2 NIV

As we reflect on Conference and the things God revealed to us, it's important that we make some intentional shifts in our lives. Instead of a temporary feeling, we want permanent freedom, so we must determine to earnestly pursue God in all that we do.

Journal: What did God reveal to you in Opendoor Conference 2023?

Activation: Begin actively seeking God in all you do by practicing the list above.

Prayer: God, I submit my mind, will, and emotions completely to You. Help me to actively seek You in everything I do. From the time my feet hit the floor in the morning until I lay my head down at night, I will praise You, thank You, talk to You, and spend time in Your presence. Help me shut out the distractions of the day and keep my eyes only on You. - Amen
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