Seek, Be, Do
Photo by Christopher Jolly on Unsplash
At the end of every year, I SEEK the Lord about a theme for the upcoming year. It was very clear to me that the Lord was speaking to my heart to proclaim that 2025 would be the year of the SEEK, based on Matthew 6.33. I believe wholeheartedly that if we SEEK God’s kingdom first, then all other things we need (He shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4.19) and desire (as they align with the will of God) will be added unto us. Then, about midway through the year, I asked myself and others, what does it look like to SEEK? What do you think? Most times when we think of SEEKING, we think of DOING something. I want to propose that SEEKING is NOT DOING!
I prefer the term means of grace over spiritual disciplines, although I use them interchangeably. When we refer to spiritual disciplines, it is almost as if we are DOING something ourselves and not God working in and through us to accomplish His good pleasure! Means of grace sound more like the Lord DOING the work, and we are beneficiaries of what He has already done and already called us to. Have you come up with what SEEKING looks like yet?
When I teach about Cultural Intelligence and Cultural Values, one of the cultural values is BEING vs. DOING. BEING is more about affirming people and relationships, where DOING is more about accomplishing tasks and managing processes. We identify cultures that are more BEING (Latin America) and those that are more DOING (Good ol’ USA). Cultures that are more DOING tend to work after work. For instance, we go home and paint the house on the weekends after working 40 or more hours during the week. Conversely, cultures that are more BEING tend to take long holidays, work shorter weeks, and enjoy life more!
“What are you trying to say, preacher?” I am trying to say that the Lord is teaching me that SEEKING is BEING! You see, God is not calling us to DO more. We get it wrong all the time. We have enough to DO. The Lord created us first to be in relationship with Him. I think sometimes He couldn’t care less about some of the things we DO and are passionate about. SEEKING requires spending time, listening, heeding, and obeying.
Let’s also add trusting as the new SEEKING. SEEKING looks like not having a care in the world, being on sabbatical for 6 weeks, and not knowing what the next assignment is. That is me right now, and I am loving my position with the Lord and in the kingdom. Here are some sabbatical rhythms I have prescribed to myself:
Daily devotional Bible reading
Daily exercise: Walking and lifting weights
Cooking at home and eating healthy
Daily prayer
Talking to a friend
Reading a book or two
Trips to Florida and Mexico to relax
2-hour train ride to my capital city (Raleigh, NC) to hang out with a friend
A few minor league baseball games
Sleep (daily long afternoon naps)
As an aside, the reason we are so sick in the United States is because we do not get enough sleep/rest. I am getting plenty of sleep!
I am learning so much in this year of the SEEK by BEING still and allowing God to fight my battles and DO all the work behind the scenes. He spoke to me recently and told me, “I am giving you the desires of your heart.” This is not the first time the Lord has spoken this to me, but I immediately wept when I heard it again.
My challenge to you, busy, always moving about, thinking of the next project, citizens of the kingdom, is to just BE! Relax. Take a deep breath. Go play golf. Go to the beach. Get a massage. Here are a few other ways to SEEK and BE. For the nursing mother feeding at 2 am don’t worry about how much you prayed or read your Bible, but enjoy the solitude while feeding and find the spiritual practice in that. For the college student, find time to walk across campus without hurrying, to relieve social anxiety… God is with you in that, too. For the construction worker, take deep breaths every hour. I heard Pastor Sheryl Brady say, “God gave us breaths in increments…” So, while you are taking those deep breaths, thank God for each one of them!
Our arrogance makes us think the Lord cannot handle things without us, but let me help you. He can or He will get someone else to do it. Not to sound dreary, but if we die (we will die eventually, but not putting a date on it just yet for us), they will celebrate us for an hour, then replace us, and eventually forget about us. Get out of your head and go do something fun today, then get back to work for the kingdom. It will do your body and soul some good. BE encouraged!