When we drive on a particular daily route and somehow get interrupted by unexpected traffic or road blocks with a detour as our only option, we get inconvenienced.  Until we decide to accept and understand what is happening, we open ourselves to offense that often leads to complaining and murmuring.  But, with a broadened mindset, we may even get to discover what the alternate route has that we may need in the near future.

Growing in the knowledge of the Word of God functions the same way.  There are times we hear for the very first time a specific Word preached and our initial response is … huh? … then, we are up to discover something new.   The Scripture says, “God’s glory is shown when He conceals things; a king’s glory is shown in his ability to explore the facts of the matter.” (Proverbs 25:2 Voice)

We have been commanded to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).  We have been taught to ask and it will be given to us; seek and we will find; knock and the door will be opened to us. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).  Yes, we do all these things by faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Oh how the Lord our God delights in revealing Himself to us especially when we seek Him and find Him when we seek Him with all of our Hearts (Jeremiah 29:13).  I love how the Voice translation says it, “We will look for Him INTENTLY and we will find Him.”  To go after and pursue Him with our fullest attention, affection, devotion and commitment, not just partly but with our whole being bring Him pleasure. 

One day, someone shared this verse that I heard for the very first time.  I literally stopped, thought deeply about it and meditated.  I inquired of the Holy Spirit to make me understand for this was indeed contrary to what I know.

“I was found by people who did not seek Me;
    I showed My face and said, “Here I am! I am right here!”
        to a nation which did not call on Me.”  (Isaiah 65:1 Voice)

All the while, I thought He can only be found when we seek Him with all of our hearts.  Yet here in this verse, it says He was found by people who did not seek Him.  Hmmmm … Surprise!!!!  Our God is greater and His sovereignty is beyond comprehension. 

In the silence of my heart with an elevated curiosity and inquiry, an unction from deep within me said this, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion (Romans 9:15).  This is God’s multi-faceted wisdom that is being made known to me at this point in time (Ephesians 3:10 HCSB).   Then, I had a deeper revelation of how rich the Lord our God is in His mercy and so abounding in His love that even those who did not seek Him, He was found. 

When a new and living way is uncovered before my eyes, it is usually followed by an upcoming experience to make it more established, accepted, settled and entrenched in my heart. This is now the specific, active utterance and application of God’s word, a direct revelation or instruction from above.

Because I live alone, I have all the time and place to myself.  My norm routine of the day is I wake up, freshen up, sit by my window to read and meditate.  Then, I stand, walk and pray without time constraint.  But, I was soon scheduled to have this week-long trip that surely would interrupt my morning routine.  Somehow, I was a bit concerned.

God is indeed so rich in mercy and abounding in love that He revealed to me this new verse that I just heard and meditated on.

“I was found by people who did not seek Me;
    I showed My face and said, “Here I Am! I Am right here!”
        to a nation which did not call on Me.”  (Isaiah 65:1 Voice)

He said, “Be free!  Don’t be so caught up with your routine.  Instead, be mindful that in everything that you do and say, I will be found by you.  My presence dwells in you.  Whatever you need, I AM.  I will manifest Myself to you even in the midst of your busyness. I will show Myself strong to you to heighten your awareness of Me.  Even when you’re overwhelmed with whatever you’re doing, I will make sure You’ll see Me move right in your midst.”  In essence, it is truly Him showing His face saying, “Here I Am!  I Am right here!”

Isn’t His Word and His Voice awesomely liberating?  Truly when His Word is revealed to us specially for a specific purpose, all worries, cares and troubles dissipate.  “The voice of the Lord splinters even the biggest of trees and mighty cedars of Lebanon like matchsticks (Psalm 29:5)”  The powerful, majestic and authoritative voice of the Lord gives clarity to our minds, brings peace into our hearts and infuses joy into our lives.  His Word is like a sledgehammer that breaks into pieces anything that is of utmost resistance (Jeremiah 23:29), anything that does not bring Him pleasure.  It is He Who is effectually at work in us, energizing us, creating in us the power and desire both to will and to do for His own pleasure, delight and satisfaction (Philippians 2:13 AMPC).

Part of how God affectionately cares for us and watchfully cares about us is He prepares us beforehand.  With what He has revealed to me before the trip, His Word brought me so much joy and peace, for in Christ I live and move and have my being.  Nothing and no one can ever separate me from Him and His love.  In times when I fail to seek Him, He is faithful to show Himself mightily.  When we abide in Him and His Word abide in us, we are one with Him. How then can we not find Him?

I am not saying that we can just casually and at all times not seek Him because of this.  No!  This zeroed in to my very care and concern about that particular trip, yet may eventually be an embedded revelation to explore and experience as days go by.

His Word is timely and timeless.  How intimately mindful He is of us that even with just our passing thought, He answers us with the revelation of His Word and makes known to us how we are to deal with our day-to-day affairs all because He deeply cares for us. 

Everyday He is speaking to us, growing us in the knowledge of Him.  Our journey of knowing Him never stops.  Therefore, you and I Who are IN CHRIST, are invited to seek Him with all of hearts, letting our roots grow down into Him and let our lives be built upon Him.  Then our faith will grow strong in the truth we were taught, and we will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7).

Take heed, for He Who speaks gives light and life into our daily living.

“My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.”  (Proverbs 4:20)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for caring for us affectionately and caring about us watchfully by revealing to us a timely and timeless Word for us to explore and experience. Indeed, we live because You speak and by Your Word as our daily bread and sustenance, we are strengthened in our innermost being. Thank You, Jesus, for saving us, protecting us, preserving us and making us whole by the power of Your presence in our lives. You are the Word made flesh, therefore, when we hear and speak of Your Word, we hear and speak Your Name over our every circumstance. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for bringing to us new and fresh revelation of Jesus that we may grow in the knowledge of the truth of Who He is, that we may live and move and have our being in Him always. Amen!