Seek the Lord while He may be found.

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17:27)

I entered a new decade of life last June, and with that age comes lots of people older than I am saying, “It’s just the beginning” of whatever new age-related issue I’m facing, be that skeletal ailments, gray hair, or whatever else. 

One of those issues that I think we all have dealt with occasionally is losing something only to find that very item right there in plain sight, or even with us the whole time. I don’t know about you, but I have done this most frequently with my phone. I will search the house for it only to find it in my pocket or worse (and much more embarrassingly) – my hand!

But that’s what comes to mind when I read this verse. How many times have we been looking for God in our lives only to find God’s presence right there with us the whole time? We seek God – and we should seek God – but the irony is that God is always there with us. 

God’s love is steadfast and constant, and when we are looking the hardest for it, we often find it in the last place we look. Occasionally, then, we have to remind ourselves to slow down, take a step back, and, instead of looking for God where we think he should be, let God reveal where he already is.

Prayer:

God, when you feel illusive in our lives, remind us that those moments are opportunities to slow down, breathe deeply, and see how you are in our lives. Help us to remember that, even in the times when we don’t feel like it’s true, you are always with us. But most of all, help us to not look for you where we think you should be, but to seek you where you already are. In Christ’s name we pray, amen. 

This devotion was written and read by Dwight Dockery.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.