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Looking For God

So many people claim to be "looking for God" and for many, God will never be found.

I once knew a man that opened an email account. He was a skeptic and the whole intent of this email account was to "test God". If God was real then He (God) would send him an email to that address in which he hadn't disclosed to anyone else. This was all done under the disguise of what he called logic.

Let's look a bit closer at this entire scene. A non believer sets up a test in which he set the rules of the test to test the creator of the universe and God can't be tested. He is already a known entity, tried and true. When God tests us it isn't so that He will be able to see how we might act in a certain situation or under certain conditions. God already knows these answers. Any test that God puts us through is to show others (anyone but God) how we will act under certain conditions and situations. Many times a test is to show ones own self how they will act in certain situations.

God owes us nothing and when the man that opened the email account realizes this he will be miles ahead of where he is now. I have no doubt in my mind that if it is something God wanted to do He would do it but an all encompassing conclusion of the reality of God tied to this self serving test proves nothing.

Even if God had sent this man an email this man would have claimed someone tricked him.

This man wasn't looking for God. This man was looking for the non-existence of God, some form of "proof" for his own mind that his belief is right. He had tried numerous times in the past to prove to others that the almighty God wasn't real. As far as I know he was never able to prove it to anyone and it appears he is now trying to convince his own self. What might it be that makes a person feel such a need to be able to say they looked but didn't find?

Something else to consider what this man was doing under the disguise of logic is the test itself. If you were going to make an honest and sincere look for something wouldn't you go to where you might expect to find it? Would you go deer hunting at the downtown post office or if you were searching for gold would you look on your roof? Of course not. If you are deer hunting you would probably want to go to the woods and for gold, there would be better places to look that on your roof unless you live in a gold mine.

You need to go where God might be, somewhere you might expect Him to be if you truly want to find Him. Where might a person expect to find God.?

There are a few places that we might expect God to be seen, one being the church, another being in the Bible.

Let's remember that God is not human. He isn't bound by the physical laws that we as humans are bound by. God is a spiritual being and that is what we need to look for. We can study the Bible to get an idea of what to expect. If you think God is going to run across the highway as an old man in a robe right in front of your car, it probably wont happen. If you are expecting a vision or a burning bush then chances are your search will wind up empty. I'm not saying God can't or wont do this but it isn't the usual way a person finds God.

God shows Himself in many ways. Many times we just may see Him without knowing it, especially if we don't have any idea what we are looking for. God shows Himself in His Word and in His people. God shows Himself in situations both good and bad, in nature and many other places including our own heart. Once we know God then it becomes much easier to recognize Him, see Him, feel Him and experience Him in our life.

If you are searching for something you need to take along the right tools and the main tool would be a Bible. The Bible not only tells us what to look for but this is one of the ways that God talks to His people, through His Word.

Many times it is hard for a person to get past the very first verse of the Bible, especially when trying to use a mind with the limits of humanity while trying to understand something spiritual. That is the entire reason we are told to step out in faith.

- KJV - Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This alone is enough of a reason for some to stop considering this book because this first verse raises a question. What was before this and if someone can't provide me with a reason AND proof that I like then I will totally discard this entire book of God's Word and wait for an email to arrive. After all, that is so much easier than a real search and a lot more logical.

Had we continued on a true wise path not centered around earthly logic we might run across this verse.

- KJV - John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We will also realize that the way to find God begins with a person stepping out in faith. Once we make this step of faith then God becomes much clearer and easier to experience.

Now we see that maybe there is something to this book called the Bible. Maybe that is why it is called God's Word afterall these are all words that were inspired by God. It is these words that tell us what to look for, where to look and how to find God for our own self. Anyone looking for God needs to look for themselves and the best place to start is by looking at God's Word.

Another place to look for God is the Church. Again don't expect to see the old man in a robe. Even the way your feelings change when first walking into a church is a clue that there is something different. There are usually others looking for God in the same building, some striving to get closer to God and there will be others trying their best to show God to you through their own hypocritical actions. There are usually some people in which you can see God in their life. Not just in church but in their life wherever they are and chances are you will see God in them without them ever saying a word. These people have found God and He now exudes from their very being.

Now that a "sincere" search for God is being conducted we start to see hints and signs of the presence of God. We have studied and know what to look for and we have put ourselves on a good path and to a degree we are starting to show some amount of faith. At least enough faith to go to places where we might actually find God instead of waiting idle for him to appear out of thin air or send us an email. If we were live tracking an animal at this point we would be seeing fresh tracks and signs that we aren't far away.

Lets take a closer look at faith and see just exactly what it is.

- KJV - Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When we read this verse it begins to start making some amount of sense, especially if we have done what is needed to actually find God.

There is another place that we can look for God. He can be found in the hearts of all true Christians. When I was a kid the preacher used to always tell us that God will knock on our heart's door and want to come in and it is up to us to open the door. While that may sound simplistic there is much truth to that. Many people are looking for God because God is knocking on their heart. Something is stirring up that emotion to know the truth for their own self...

and for some this emotion is to disprove the existence of God.

Either of these emotions alone is a sign of something real, something deep inside making us want to resolve this in our own mind. It is something real and at times, ever present. Just try asking yourself, what drives these emotions?

A great place to look for God is in our own heart. Find a peaceful place where you can be alone and try talking to God. Ask him to reveal himself to you. Don't be expecting a physical appearance. Perhaps it will be but be ready for whatever way God wants to reveal Himself to you. It might only be a feeling but it will be a real feeling. If we show our faith then God will bless that. Once this path is found, more faith will come easily and God will reveal Himself even more to us.

Perhaps the next time that you lay down to go to sleep would be a great time to search for God. Those moments when we lie down, eyes closed but before we start to sleep. That is a great time when God can speak to us. If you are looking for God and it seems that all else has failed, try looking in your own heart in those peaceful moments before you fall asleep. Try starting the conversation with Him yourself and you just might be surprised at what happens. Not only might you experience God then but you will be able to look at other times in your life when God made Himself evident to you.

Invite Him into your heart and see if you can not only feel God within your own life but you will be able to see Him as well. Not as an old man in a robe but as God, a real and living spiritual being.

Once we find God and know this truth then we can start a life long journey with God in our life. This is done by accepting Jesus as your savior, repent of your sins and living a life as prescribed by Him.

This is real and is for you. Accept the Lord today and live a better life for all eternity.

Once you have found the reality of God and you are on speaking terms, say this prayer in that quiet place in your life.
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness.
I believe that you died for my sins.
I want to turn from my sins.
I now invite you to come into my heart and life.
I want to trust you as my Savior and follow you as Lord.
These are the basics for becoming a Christian. Read them, think about them, meditate on them. You might even feel God tugging at your heart during this time.

When you are ready then tell God how you feel.

He will be happy to hear from you.


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