“God is constantly looking for people who will worship him in ‘spirit and in truth’… people who have free-hearted and wholehearted admiration, respect, commitment to God as the highest being of all.”
Dallas Willard
There’s something to be said about our freedom of choice, regarding spending time alone with God. Choosing to pursue God and be in His presence makes God feel loved and valued. When someone pursues spending time with me, just to be with me, not because their motive is to get something from me, that speaks loud and clear that I have value. Their intentional reaching out and making time with me a priority demonstrates my importance to them. Having it be an exercise of their free will, rather than being coerced to spend time with me, makes me feel special. If I feel this way, how much more does God feel this when we choose time alone with Him, giving Him our wholehearted devotion?
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” According to this scripture, God is actively seeking those who are wholehearted with devotion to Him. God is searching for those who voluntarily choose Him and His will over their own. Our heavenly Father wants to be pursued by His children, for them to be intentional in spending time alone with Him, not because they’re forced to and not because they want to get something from Him. Rather, they desire to give something to God – their hearts.
The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that God desires us for what we can do for Him. When all along, God just wants us. He desires an intimate relationship with us, like best friends who have a history together. My adult children know that one of my favorite requests when we visit them in Omaha, is to have time alone with each of them. I love being together as a whole family, but I’ve discovered that heart-to-heart, in-depth talks frequently come when we have time alone. I’m intentional in my pursuit of a relationship with each of them because I want to get to know them better. I hope that their being seen, known, and heard will help them to feel loved, accepted, and valued.
As A.W. Tozer writes, God waits to be wanted. How can you in this brand-new year of 2023 show God that you want Him and that His presence is worth pursuing?
“He is sensitive to the slightest move of the heart toward him.”
Dallas Willard
Relevant Reflection:
What is one way you can demonstrate to God today that you want to be with Him and are intentional in pursuing Him?
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