Seek His Face: Practical Spirituality

The initial and practical aspects of Christian spirituality are captured by David’s words in Psalm 27:8.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8 ESV)

True spirituality always begins with God. He initiates. He invites. He calls us to seek him. We would never seek after God apart from his orchestration in eternity past arriving in the present, playing out into the future of fellowship with him into eternity.

Consider what it means for God to say to you today, “Seek my face.”

First, seek is not casual. Seek is not ho-hum and hum-drum. Seek is active, passionate, motivated, and determined. If David had known about heat-seeking missiles, he would have written about them. The heat signature is God; we are in pursuit and not giving up. Seek also implies it's not always simple. Effort is involved. Expect time to be involved too.

Second, how amazing that God desires our fellowship. God wants you to seek him. Don’t buy into the rumors that God is a recluse or a standoffish and disinterested divine being. Not even close to the biblical testimony. Page one of the Bible debunks those bad ideas. And every page until the final period in Revelation confirms it. It is stunning that the thrice holy God of the universe says to us, “Seek my face.”

Third—he says face! This is special. Personal, intimate, close. He doesn’t tell us to speak to an assistant or to contact his office—that’s impersonal and filled with hoops. He doesn’t say to only seek information, “Seek my stats.” Too many Christians get stuck in data acquisition. Doctrine is vital. Amen, amen. The truth about God, his mighty deeds, his attributes, and so on are essential to the Christian life. We need theology—a spiritual theology. We need to seek his face, God himself. Doctrine ought to drive us toward God. Fellowship is factual.

How do we seek him? What does it look like to actually seek his face, to respond with the second half of Psalm 27:8, “My heart says to you, ‘Your face, LORD, do I seek.’” There is a personal resolve. What will you do?

Seek him in the Scriptures. Listen to his voice. Hear what he has to say. Never forget that the Bible is the word of God. He is speaking to you.

Seek him in prayer. Bring your cares, concerns, pains, and needs to him. Speak to him as a friend. Frequently. Smattered throughout the day. "Lord, I need..."

Seek him in song. Worship him. Honor him. Praise him for who he is, what he’s done, what he is doing, and what he will do.

Seek him with the church. Join with other Christians and sit under the preached word, the Lord's Supper, fellowship, and participation in God's work.

Seek him in discipleship. We want to become more like our risen Lord, so, we look to him—his words, his ways, his work for us.

Seek him in providence. Look at what is playing out in life and ask, “God, what/when/where are you leading me?”

Seek him in decisions. Live in the fear of the Lord. Consider how to glorify him, honor him, and live a godly life. “What should I do, Lord? How should I respond?”

Seek him in doctrine. Learn of him. Know him better, love him deeper, walk with him closer.

Seek him in trust. We don’t always know how life is going to play out. We wait for him to make it known. “I’m seeking your face because I don’t have a clue, Lord.”