When We Forget to Seek the Lord
Scripture — Isaiah 65:1 (NRSV)
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
to a nation that did not call on my name.
Focus
I wonder: if you truly believed that God was with you through the Spirit, what difference might this make in your life? How would you feel? How would you act? What might you be emboldened to do for God’s purposes and glory? How might God use you in ways you can’t even imagine?
Devotion
Isaiah 65 begins with a tragic thought. God stood ready to help Israel, but they didn’t bother to call upon God. God was ready to be found by those God had chosen, but they were not looking for God. In fact, as the rest of this chapter reveals, they were seeking other gods, indulging in the religious practices of the pagan nations.
As I read this sad comment made by the Lord, I have to wonder how many times what was once true of Israel has been true of me. How many times has God been ready to help me, while I failed to turn to God? More than I realize, I’m quite sure. Now I haven’t engaged in pagan rites, mind you. But when I’ve been in a jam, I have often turned to something other than the Lord for help. Most of all, I tend to rely on myself: my cleverness, my intuition, my logic, my worry, and my hard work. God is ready to help me, but I seem to like putting myself through the emotional wringer for a while before I’m ready to seek God’s help. How sad! And how foolish!
I wonder how our lives would be different if we truly believed that God is there for us, ready to help if we only ask. The promise Jesus once made to his first disciples is also given to us: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). Of course, the human person of Jesus is not physically with us. But Jesus is with us now and always will be through the indwelling Spirit of God.
I wonder: if you truly believed that God was with you through the Spirit, what difference might this make in your life? How would you feel? How would you act? What might you be emboldened to do for God’s purposes and glory? How might God use you in ways you can’t even imagine?
Reflect
Have there been times in your life when God was ready to help you, but you failed to ask? When?
Why didn’t you turn to God?
Are you facing challenges today for which you need God’s help, but haven’t asked? Are you willing to ask now?
Act
Talk with God honestly. Tell the Lord where you need guidance, wisdom, and strength.
Pray
Gracious God, I wonder how often you look upon me with wistfulness, realizing how I have failed to turn to you when you are so ready to help me. Forgive me for my self-reliance and my foolishness.
By your Spirit, teach me to live each day trusting in you. When I face a challenge or trial, may my instinct be to turn to you. Help me to look for you in every aspect of my life, whether I’m working or playing, resting or praying.
Teach me to live in deeper and more consistent fellowship with you, so that I might serve you more effectively in the world, and so that I might live life to the fullest.
All praise be to you, gracious God, because you are always there to help me. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Final Hope.
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...