Do You Seek Jesus…Or Only What He Can Give You?

Why do you pursue Jesus?

Is it because you want Him to give you something or because you simply want more of Him?

This question has been circling around in my mind for the past few months, and it’s really made me reflect on my reasons for praying and spending time with the Lord.

Although I would love to claim that my motives are pure and holy, if I’m being honest, I can’t say that’s always the case.

Many times, I come to Jesus with my mind full of requests.

Jesus, will you help me with this?

Jesus, please be with …

Jesus, here is my list of needs.

I come to Jesus, not to get to know Him more, but to tell him what I need.

I have these plans in my head of how I want my life to go, and I come to Him so He will help.

Jesus was pretty clear about why He came to this earth: “Not MY will, but YOURS be done,” he said to his Father.

Unlike Jesus, I often say, “Lord, MY will be done. Not YOURS, but mine.”

How sad that instead of seeking His plans for my life, I often ask Him to help me seek mine.

As I was preparing to write this post, my husband and I went out for lunch, and it was so nice to talk uninterrupted. To reconnect. To share with one another.  I wouldn’t have taken it very well if on our date, my husband pulled out a list and then told me all the things he needed from me. Relationships can’t be one-sided…one person always taking and the other person always giving.

And yet, many times, that’s how we treat our relationship with God.

We don’t come to Him with the purpose of connection and intimacy. Instead, we come to Him and ask Him to give to us. We come to Him with a wish list. And then we wonder why we don’t feel connected. Connection doesn’t result from a one-sided conversation. It results from two people pursuing one another. And don’t for a second think God isn’t pursuing you. He is. He has. And He will continue to seek a relationship with you.

If connection is missing, it’s not because of Him.

But, if you’re anything like me, it might be because you’re not pursuing Him.

What do you think? Do your prayers ever consist of wish lists for God?

What has helped you seek HIS will above your own?