Do I Treat God This Way?

Daily, I check my email, but the person rarely writes.

I search my Face Book page, hoping there’s a message, a comment, but the person only sends an occasional “like.”

Photos posted on Face Book assure me the person is indeed alive; just busy, there’s no time for me.

Unless there’s a problem, then my phone is guaranteed to ring. Suddenly, I’m expected to listen and empathize while that person cries and vents.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I’m a safe place for that person. But there’s a pattern. I hang up feeling used. And I don’t like it.

But the behavior I dislike in someone else, points a finger back at me.

Do I Treat God This Way?

Daily, He watches me. He waits. He listens for my voice, hoping I’ll meet with Him. Seek His presence not His hand.

But often, I’m self-absorbed; too busy, no time for God.   

Unless there’s a problem; then I’m guaranteed to call on Him and beg…

Lord, help me!    Give Me!    Show me the way!    Fix my problem, TODAY!

Don’t get me wrong. God is my Rock, my Refuge, and Wonderful Counselor. But there’s a pattern. Does God feel used…by me?

Do I seek God for what He can do for me, or seek Him for Himself?

“O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

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Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory. Because Thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips will praise Thee.” (Psalm 63:1-3)

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Do I meet with God to ask for more favors? Or do I ask for more of Him?

“O, Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, And a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:1-3).

Saying and doing are two different animals.

However, in light of God’s Word, and the joy I’ve experienced being in His presence…

Why wouldn’t I choose to seek God daily?

Author: Karen Foster

I'd like to say I've changed, but after decades of living, I still have the same four passions. My relationship with Jesus, spending time with family, attending live theater, and writing devotions & first-person stories about a loving, faithful God who reveals Himself in our every day circumstances.

4 thoughts on “Do I Treat God This Way?”

  1. So sadly true. I liked the way you put this thought, “Seek His presence not His hand.” And that’s just what we do, isn’t it? Thanks for a great reminder and at a perfect time in my life when God has me focused on Him . . . just Him.

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    1. I’ve been thinking, we are trained from a young age to go to God with our prayer requests. Hard to break old habits and come to God with no agenda…especially when we have definite needs to be met. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. God is great! I love the Bible verses you chose, Karen. We are so blessed to have a God who loves us so much, who longs to spend time with us, and who is compassionate and forgiving when we’re less than perfect. And your Facebook story is the perfect illustration of what He must feel like when we don’t seek Him – or seek other things first.

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    1. Yes, God does loves me even when I fail to seek Him. I think of Isaiah 30:18 “The Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you…”
      He waits….knowing the days I won’t come. How gracious of God, and how sad when I’m too preoccupied with me, to care about Him when all He wants to do is show compassion and grace.

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