Seeking His Face

Encouraging prayer, God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him anytime about anything encouraging prayer Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling and many other books on prayer provides weekly biblical insight help you learn to love and valve.

James Christmas is just 11 days away are ready not yet got gifts for family and still pulling together, you know, stuff to get mail about you now even in the same world is ready.

So, no, not yet.

You know all the time of year and maybe think about something. My friend Daniel Henderson taught me about prayer and that is, he said.

When we pray we need to be careful not to just seek God's hand, but to seek his face as well by seeking his hands.

That means were looking for what he can give you right that's right that's right. And again. There's so much emphasis on on this it at this time year and you know just on on on giving and getting in.

When you think about prayer. And sometimes we can be so focused on what were asking God for that. Our hearts are are more caught up in that they are in him and so easily. We hardly even know that it's going on at the time that were praying. So could you give us an example yeah yeah Daniel has a great illustration. He says imagine I had $100 bill in my hand and in you and I are having a conversation and old-time were talking you you're not looking at my eyes or my face. You know your head is just bobbing up and down watching my hand with $100 bill and he says basically if if you did that, the chances are I'd be a little hurt, but instead, if you kept your eyes on me and and disregarded what's in my hand, but looked in my eyes I might just use that money to take you out to a nice dinner, makes a lot of sense.

I know that I've done that. I really do know my relationship with God. So if I more than I care to admit. And the whole question here is, do I go to God just for what he can do for me what do I go to him to love him and just be with him to seek his face to not arresting him to enjoy his company will need this reminder. Especially at this time is running. It's interesting how he turned Christmas into such a materialistic holiday when real emphasis is upon God giving himself wanting a relationship with us and all the focus on stuff can take our eyes off of him so true Robbie when you think about it is just an emphasis on material things.

What there were a way that we could make an emphasis more on the relationships this time of year but you know it is our natural tendency to have our hearts just get up get caught up in things that we can touch and see and feel and you know that that's why we really have to be intentional about seeking God's face. So what are some ways we can do that. Practically, when we pray will first hosted to do a quick inventory of of what were asking God for currently.

You know it could be something good like the immediate return of the prodigal over the healing of a physical illness for someone we love and the question is, what if we don't receive what were asking for right that you know are we ready to be. We prepared to not get what we want if you will have, how would we respond to God, get what you say to the person who says I shouldn't think that way that I won't get what I'm asking for because that's not praying was faith. You know that the great question that immediately makes you think of James in the epistle of James, and the importance of praying and not doubting, but this is a little different and this is where we have to think carefully and examine our hearts and motives. The issue here really is what is our faith is our faith in that thing that were asking for. Now we just gotta have it so that life can go on the way we want it to or or is our faith in God that we just got to have him no matter what you know is a pastor. I've met with many people over the years, he became disillusioned because they were asking God for something good like the healing of a loved one and and they wanted it so deeply that they confuse their wanting it that that deep wanting would actually having faith.

But then when they didn't get what they were asking for. They were discouraged and and wondered whether God cared at all whether God answered prayer at all. And the thing that we need to see here the distinction we need to make in our own hearts and minds is that real faith doesn't attach itself to an object or to an answer or do enough to something it really clings to him.

It clings to God thanks makes me think of first. 315 tells us in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Yes, yes, and we really need to do this and to take care to do it can make that distinction in our hearts that you know what you love him no matter what because if we do that will know his presence and peace because because our eyes will really be on him.

You know, get not what's in his hand and and this is what God's word tells us in Philippians 4. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. But that would guard his military were in the original language it means to garrison to surround and protect and and that's what giving thanks and praising God seeking his face.

If you will does ferocity it helps us to hide ourselves in him we want that. That's not easy. Sometimes, especially when we really want something, what were asking for. But we gotta remember, that's where comfort is we have to keep our eyes on him.

Remember that he is more nothing matters more than being with him seek the giver of the gifts seek his face and not his hand. We all need that reminder. Especially at this time year. Yes, we really do Robbie.

Let's wrap up with a prayer that we can all do just that.

How to please help us Lord you came for us to know us to love us so that we could love you and have a relationship with you and Lord please bless us in this help us to seek your face.

The love that you share your love with others who need you. You are our light in the darkness, and we praise you for in Jesus name on hear more from Pastor James by visiting the website James Banks.org or by visiting these church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray