Seeking Him Wholeheartedly: A New Year’s Pursuit
Reflecting on Abide Above's Devotional
Today’s Abide Above devotional encourages us to start the year with an undivided hunger for God. Drawing from Psalm 119:2, it highlights the unparalleled blessing of seeking the Lord with our whole hearts. Let us consider how we can make this pursuit our supreme goal for 2024, exchanging our "puny, worthless all" for the One who is All in All (Romans 11:36).
A Breath of God: Longing for His Presence
The devotional includes a compelling story of a young man seeking God. The sage’s lesson illustrates a powerful truth: when we desire God as desperately as we desire air when drowning, we will find Him. This resonates with Jesus’ words:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
God’s presence is not reserved for the passive or the complacent. It is discovered by those who thirst for Him with every fiber of their being. King David expressed this in Psalm 63:1:
"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."
Our Hungers Shape Our Lives
As the devotional wisely states:
"Every Christian will become at last what his desires have made him. We are all the sum total of our hungers."
What are we hungering for today? Are we longing for fleeting pleasures, temporary achievements, or material possessions? Or are we crying out for the eternal, life-giving presence of our Savior?
The saints of old remind us that a thirsting heart is vital for spiritual growth. Their relentless longing for God propelled them to spiritual heights, inspiring us to set aside lesser pursuits and fix our eyes on the "prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
Satisfied in Him Alone
The promise of God is clear: those who hunger for Him will be filled. Psalm 107:9 declares,
"For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness."
This satisfaction is not fleeting but eternal. It transcends circumstances, offering peace, joy, and strength. When we make Him our supreme pursuit, we find that He is more than enough to meet our every need.
A Prayer of Devotion
Lord, thank You for the privilege of seeking You with our whole hearts. Stir within us a holy hunger for Your presence and glory. As we step into this new year, align our desires with Your will, and lead us to the fullness of joy that comes from knowing You deeply. May our pursuit of You be relentless, transforming us into people who reflect Your love and grace. Amen.
A Final Thought
As we begin this new year, let us resolve to seek the Lord with undivided hearts. In a world that constantly pulls our attention in a thousand directions, let our cry be,
"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:2).
When we hunger for Him as the breath of life, we will find Him, and in Him, we will be fully satisfied. May 2025 be a year of wholehearted pursuit, abundant grace, and unshakable joy in Christ!