Seek God's Face

Psalm 27:8

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Recently, as I was before the Lord in prayer, I asked Him to anoint me in a special way so that I could effectively minister to His people. I prayed earnestly, thinking that such a request would surely please Him—that He would be impressed by my desire to glorify Him in this manner.

However, I was shocked when I heard Him say:

“Has it ever crossed your mind to seek Me so that I bring forth what I have already placed in you? What about the plans I already have for your life? Are those important?”

It felt as if a door had been slammed shut in my face. Yet, at that moment, my entire approach to seeking God was exposed.

I had thought seeking God was only about asking Him to fulfill my desires—to bring about the things I wanted to see Him do in my life. It had not fully occurred to me that God already had a plan for my life; one that was established before I was born. He had already placed gifts within me to impact the Body of Christ according to His will.

This is the difference between seeking God’s hand and seeking His face.

SEEKING GOD'S HAND vs. SEEKING HIS FACE

When we seek the hand of God, we are only seeking Him for what He can do for us. Now, don’t misunderstand—seeking God’s hand is not inherently wrong. In fact, He instructs us to ask, seek, and knock. However, if this is all we do, we risk developing a transactional relationship with God.

Consider this:

What if someone in your life only came to you when they needed something? Never to check on you, never to know your heart—only to make requests. How would that make you feel? Used? Unloved?

This is exactly what happens when we only seek God’s hand.

On the other hand, seeking God’s face is about knowing Him. Even if He never did another thing for us, seeking His face is a relentless hunger to know Him intimately—to understand His ways and to be called His friend.

When we shift our posture from seeking God for our desires to seeking His will, we will find that He opens up His heart to us.

When I made this shift, I noticed that the Lord began to reveal the gifts He had already placed in me. He started to order my steps in ministry. He trained me according to His purpose, and I began to experience a fulfillment that no earthly achievement could ever compare to.

This experience is not unique to me. It is the Father’s desire to have fellowship with all His people. So, I encourage you—seek both His face and His hand earnestly.

Methods Of Seeking God

There are various manifestations of seeking God. However, the most crucial element is sincerity of heart and self-denial. Consider a few ways in which you can diligently seek the Lord:

1. Prayer

When seeking God, prayer is essential. Prayer allows you to express your heart to the Father and make your requests known to Him. Prayer can take many forms—spoken words, silent meditation, or even the whispers of the heart—and God hears them all. However, it is not the length of your prayer that determines its effectiveness, but rather the sincerity of your heart and your submission to His will.

I have found that a few heartfelt words can reach God far more powerfully than hours of empty repetition. If you find yourself repeating phrases, let it be because you desire to—not because you feel you must to be heard (Matthew 6:7).

As you pray, listen to God. Allow Him to speak. Be attentive to the people or situations He may bring to mind. Hearing God’s voice is essential to seeking Him and walking in true fellowship.

2. Bible Study

If you truly desire to seek God’s face, then Bible study is indispensable. The Bible is God’s Word—a revelation of His ways, His mind, and His heart. Therefore, it is impossible to truly seek God without immersing yourself in His Word.

As you pray, take note of Scriptures or concepts He may bring to mind. Study them. Let them edify your spirit and transform your thinking. If you immerse yourself in the Word of God, you will not only grow in the knowledge of Him, but you will also find that your life begins to change as well.

3. Fasting and Watchings

Fasting is a form of seeking God through sacrifice. It is an offering of reverence—a way of humbling yourself before Him to demonstrate your desperation for His presence, guidance, or intervention.

People fast for many reasons:

• To gain clarity in the Word of God
• To seek healing
• To intercede for the salvation of a loved one
• To draw closer to God

Regardless of the reason, fasting shows God that you value His presence above all else.

Watching is a similar form of fasting, where instead of abstaining from food, you abstain from sleep—spending the night in prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with God.

Isaiah 58 describes the type of fast that pleases God. I encourage you to read through it and follow its principles when fasting.

4. Fellowshipping in the Word

Another way to seek God is by listening to His Word as it is taught or preached.

With today’s technology, you can easily access sermons, Bible studies, and teachings from anointed ministers. Keeping your mind saturated with the Word of God is a sure way to fellowship with Him and seek His face.

5. Other Forms of Seeking

There are many additional ways to seek God, such as:

• Praise and Worship – Lifting up His name in song and adoration.
• Meditation – Quietly reflecting on His Word and His goodness.
• Fellowship with the Saints – Strengthening one another in the Word of God.

However, the most crucial element in seeking God is a sanctified life. Separate yourself from darkness and ensure that your heart is right before God and man. If your life is pure before Him, He will accept your offerings and delight in revealing Himself to you.