Keep Searching

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."  (Matthew 7:7-8).

     We have all had the misfortune of misplacing something: our keys, pencil, money, a paper with information on it, or other things. It is frustrating to realize the item isn't where you thought it was. You must remember where you had it, and begin tracing your steps to try to find it again. Sometimes, it is found quickly; other times, it takes longer. Sometimes, the item is never found. 

      Have you ever lost your hope? Your joy? Your peace? Your direction? Your focus? Your strength? It is such a sad, hopeless feeling realizing that what you once had has been lost. You feel as though it will never be restored to you. The devil wants you to think it's gone forever. If he can convince you that it's gone forever, then you will stop seeking for it. You will give up and become defeated. 

"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it. And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost." (Luke 15:8-9).

     This passage shows how a woman sought diligently for some money she had lost. She didn't sit down and give up. She didn't moan and cry. She didn't blame someone else. She didn't ask God why. She didn't get depressed. She lit a candle (got in the light) and looked everywhere in her house for this money. I can imagine that she looked under the beds, in the closets, in the drawers and cupboards, under the rugs, everywhere. This woman was determined to find what belonged to her. She did not let anything or anyone stop her. 

     Are you as diligent as this woman? When you realize you no longer have the joy of the Lord, or the peace of God, or strength, peace, hope or whatever else it may be, do you sit down and give up, or do you search until you find it? Jesus has all the answers you need. He is your peace. He is your hope. He is your strength, your joy, your healing, and everything else you need. So, you don't have to look anywhere else for what you've lost. Alcohol, drugs, relationships, money, wealth, or anything else the devil tries to get you to turn to will not satisfy. Only Jesus satisfies. 

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."  (Jeremiah 29:13).

     If you seek God with all you have in you, you will find all that He has to offer. This search for Him must be with all your heart, and not just haphazard and when it's convenient. It must be a pursuit like none other. 

"My soul followeth hard after thee:" (Psalm 63:8).

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;" (Psalm 63:1).

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalm 42:1).

    

      These Scriptures and so many others show us the importance of seeking the Lord with our whole heart. We are missing out on so many things in our lives because we often neglect seeking Him more. 

       Is something missing from your life today? You will find it if you will search for it diligently. Do not give up. Don't believe the lies that you've lost it forever. Nothing is so far lost that it can't be restored. Keep searching, and you will find it!