Are we seeking His glory or our comfort? Dare we ask Him to search us?
A father genuinely loves his child. He provides, protects and gives generously. But the child comes only when something is wanted—always an outstretched hand, never a desire simply to sit with him.
The father’s gifts are welcome. His company scarcely matters.
Could something of that attitude have entered our relationship with God? We seek healing, provision, protection and answers. But do we desire the Father Himself?
If we examined our prayers, how much would they reveal about wanting to know Him—and how much about wanting Him to improve our circumstances?
James brings that question into uncomfortable focus:
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
— James 4:3, KJV
“Lusts” here includes self-indulgent pleasures and desires. James searches the purpose behind the request. We may ask for something good while intending to use it chiefly for ourselves.
A prayer can contain accurate Scripture and still proceed from an impure motive.
When a Promise Becomes a Demand
God’s promises are precious. We should believe them. But knowing and quoting a promise does not establish that our hearts are submitted to its Giver.
We may quote, “By whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24), yet approach God with an attitude that amounts to: “I know what You have said. I have made the confession. Now You owe me the result.”
Where is the humility in that approach? Where is the gratitude? Where is the concern that His mercy should be made known and His name honoured?
Wanting relief from suffering is understandable. The searching question concerns what governs us. Is our own comfort the controlling purpose, or do we sincerely desire that our lives—including what we receive from God—should glorify Him?
This is a question for honest examination, never a licence to pronounce judgment over someone who remains ill.
Hebrews 4:16 invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace. There we obtain mercy and find grace to help. Our confidence rests in the One who welcomes us. We have no achievement that makes Him our debtor.
What Are We Seeking First?
Jesus said:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
— Matthew 6:33, KJV
In that passage, “these things” concerns necessities such as food, drink and clothing. The Father knows His children need them. Jesus calls us to give His kingdom and righteousness first place, trusting His care.
Human nature readily reverses that order. We seek the benefits first.
We can even turn obedience into a bargain: “I will seek the kingdom so that I can obtain what I really want.”
The words have changed, but the ruling desire remains untouched. God’s kingdom has become a means of securing our preferred life.
Jesus exposed something similar after feeding the multitude:
“Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
— John 6:26, KJV
They came looking for Jesus. He knew what they were looking for in Him.
Would we still seek His company if there were no immediate improvement in our circumstances?
Seek My Face
God’s words in 2 Chronicles bring together the heart responses we need:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV
These words were originally addressed to Israel in its covenant setting. Their call to humility, prayer and repentance nevertheless searches those of us who bear His name today.
“Seek My face” speaks powerfully to our relationship with Him. Do we desire His presence, His fellowship and His direction? Are we willing to turn from what displeases Him?
We cannot sincerely seek closeness while insisting that He leave our cherished disobedience undisturbed.
David expressed a desire to dwell in the Lord’s house, behold His beauty and enquire in His temple (Psalm 27:4). The Lord Himself was the object of his longing.
Even Humility Requires Grace
Here we encounter another danger. We hear that we must humble ourselves and immediately begin a project of making ourselves humble through determination.
Soon we may become pleased with our progress.
Pride can survive beneath religious language, spiritual knowledge and even an appearance of humility. The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable thanked God while rehearsing his own superiority. The tax collector could only plead for mercy (Luke 18:9–14).
God’s command calls for our response, but we depend on His grace to respond rightly:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13, KJV
His work reaches into our willing—our desires, purposes and motives.
We need Him to produce the very desire to honour Him. As we mature, our dependence on Christ should become more deeply understood. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Dare We Ask Him to Search Us?
Jeremiah warns:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9, KJV
The next verse gives God’s answer: “I the LORD search the heart.”
Self-deception means that our own favourable assessment cannot settle the matter. We may say, “I want this for God’s glory,” and believe ourselves. He sees what we cannot.
David therefore prayed:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
— Psalm 139:23–24, KJV
Dare we make that prayer our own—and receive what He reveals?
Will we allow Him to expose entitlement beneath our confession, pride beneath our knowledge, and self-interest beneath our requests?
The invitation is gracious. James writes, “But he giveth more grace” (James 4:6), and then calls us to draw near to God.
We can bring Him the heart we actually have. We can confess our mixed motives and ask Him to cleanse them. Even that honest turning depends upon His mercy.
Do we want His presence—or mainly His presents?
The answer begins to emerge when we can sincerely pray:
Father, search me. Make Your glory precious to me. Teach me to love You, and to receive every gift with gratitude. Lead me into a life that pleases You.
All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.