What does it mean to "seek God's face" and how can I know if I've found it?

[TruthSeek3r]

2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.​

What is the meaning of the expression "seek my face"? How can I know if I have finally "found God's face" or if I still have to keep on "seeking it" in order to "find it"?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The expression of face can also mean presence. Being indwelt by God means we already have sought out God's presence. In terms of a nation seeking God's face, it's praying to seek God to the point of being aware of His presence is the sense I get.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

View attachment 290592

The expression of face can also mean presence. Being indwelt by God means we already have sought out God's presence. In terms of a nation seeking God's face, it's praying to seek God to the point of being aware of His presence is the sense I get.

Interesting. This begs the question though: what does it mean to "be aware of God's presence"?

Btw, what is the name of the application you are using?

 

[friend of]

I think it means to desire and seek after more of God. We will always be seeking His face here on earth before we see Him face to face in heaven

 

[Hazelelponi]

2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.​

What is the meaning of the expression "seek my face"? How can I know if I have finally "found God's face" or if I still have to keep on "seeking it" in order to "find it"?

Seeking God's face is to seek after the relationship with God.. (and heads up, when talking about the Hand of God your talking about His power)

This is done via prayer, studying of scripture, and more prayer... lots of prayer..

When your living for God, doing charitable things, being willing to serve others, seeking to learn more of God's nature from His Word, seeking knowledge of Him in His Word, and spending time with God I prayer - and mean it (whole heart) you'll be seeking His face.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.​

What is the meaning of the expression "seek my face"? How can I know if I have finally "found God's face" or if I still have to keep on "seeking it" in order to "find it"?

His face in the New Covenant is the Holy Spirit. Now begin to believe His Holy Spirit is in you. This is seeking His face a continual obedience to Him with the power of His Holy Spirit. Be blessed.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

I think it means to desire and seek after more of God. We will always be seeking His face here on earth before we see Him face to face in heaven

What does it mean to "seek after more of God"?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Interesting. This begs the question though: what does it mean to "be aware of God's presence"?

Btw, what is the name of the application you are using?

 

[Hazelelponi]

What does it mean to "seek after more of God"?

We grow in Christ... the relationship deepens as we grow.

 

[friend of]

What does it mean to "seek after more of God"?

To seek His will for your life. To embrace all that He offers. To wait for His timing. To pray with abandon.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Sounds to me like once Godly people who have gone astray, and are simply being asked to seek God again.

Seek my face, is just God not being boring, and terming the same as seek me, a bit differently.

And BTW, pretty good deal he is offering there. It would be interesting to see what would happen if the same offer were put to the USA, and everyone knew it was genuinely from God himself? That, or is the offer constantly on the table already for all nations?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Seeking God's face is to seek after the relationship with God.. (and heads up, when talking about the Hand of God your talking about His power)

This is done via prayer, studying of scripture, and more prayer... lots of prayer..

When your living for God, doing charitable things, being willing to serve others, seeking to learn more of God's nature from His Word, seeking knowledge of Him in His Word, and spending time with God I prayer - and mean it (whole heart) you'll be seeking His face.

I still don't get how all the things you listed are equivalent to "seeking God's face".

1) praying (a lot): you are just saying stuff in private (a lot).
2) studying scripture: you are just gaining intellectual information.
3) doing charitable things: you are just doing stuff.
4) seeking to learn more of God's nature from His word: again, just gaining intellectual information.
5) seeking knowledge of Him in His Word: this is just a paraphrase of the previous point.

The only interesting point is this one:

6) spending time with God in prayer.

How do you know you are truly "spending time with God" during prayer? Prayer is a common practice in many religions. Muslims pray, Hinduists pray, etc. Are they "spending time with God" too?

In other words, is there a distinctive experience by virtue of which a Christian can be 100% sure that they are "spending time with God", as opposed to a pagan praying to a false deity?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

That's a powerful testimony by Paul Washer. He testifies about a powerful encounter after months of seeking in a prayer closet night after night. I've heard of similar experiences from other testimonies. Do you believe those experiences are possible for every person, or just for a few select ones?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

We grow in Christ... the relationship deepens as we grow.

What does it mean to have a "deeper relationship with God"? Can you provide concrete examples to get the idea?

 

[Hazelelponi]

What does it mean to have "deeper relationship with God"? Can you provide concrete examples to get the idea?

You just have to live it... are you not closer to God now than you were the day you were saved?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

You just have to live it... are you not closer to God now than you were the day you were saved?

I don't know. I really don't understand what you are talking about. How do you measure "closeness to God"? I always struggle when people use language loosely and they assume the other person understands what they mean. That's why I usually ask for illustrative examples, to ground the concepts on concrete experiences.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I don't know. I really don't understand what you are talking about. How do you measure "closeness to God"? I always struggle when people use language loosely and they assume the other person understands what they mean. That's why I usually ask for illustrative examples, to ground the concepts on concrete experiences.

Just pray then, pray to know more of God... not everyone is the same. Study the Word and work out your own relationship with God in your own way.

Dont seek to compare yourself to others... just yourself.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Just pray then, pray to know more of God... not everyone is the same. Study the Word and work out your own relationship with God in your own way.

Dont seek to compare yourself to others... just yourself.

I'm currently going through the "praying to a wall" phase like Paul Washer's experience prior to his encounter. I feel kind of stuck in this phase though. Overcoming this phase feels like having to leave Earth's gravity and lacking the enough fuel to do it, except that it's even worse because I don't even know what the equivalent to the "fuel" is in this analogy.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I'm currently going through the "praying to a wall" phase like Paul Washer's experience prior to his encounter. I feel kind of stuck in this phase though. Overcoming this phase feels like having to leave Earth's gravity and lacking the enough fuel to do it, except that it's even worse because I don't even know what the equivalent to the "fuel" is in this analogy.

Perseverance, desire to know God, love of God, and the Word of God.

Try changing it up...

are you asking God for "stuff" all the time? Or are you focused on just wanting to know Him more?

Are you consistently setting aside a time of day to pray every day and just talking to God? Or are you sporadic with prayers and praying memorized prayers?

If the later is your answer on these questions, then change it to the former.

If your just talking to God and being consistent, then try some more formal prayers (perhaps your not seeing God as Holy as He truly is) sometimes more formal praying can help with that..

Just don't get stuck in a rut.. change it up.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

are you asking God for "stuff" all the time? Or are you focused on just wanting to know Him more?

By this point I have almost no words to say. My prayers usually go like: " ... God ... where are you? ...", then a long silence where I don't know what else to say, and then " ... what's going on ... what's the matter ... ", then another long silence, and then " ... so many astonishing testimonies, so many people reporting first-hand experience with the supernatural realm ... ", then more silence, and so on and so forth. It's kind of depressing at times.

Are you consistently setting aside a time of day to pray every day and just talking to God?

I've tried to, but also I have a track record of issues with properly managing my time. I should be able to improve this aspect in the very short term.

[...] Or are you sporadic with prayers [...]

I kind of pray every day, but more like in a chaotic fashion due to poor time management. Most of my time goes into investigating the spirit realm though (e.g., see this), so it's not technically "wasted time", but I definitely lack a consistent "sacred prayer closet time" so to speak.

[...] and praying memorized prayers?

No, I don't pray memorized prayers, everything I pray is improvised on the spot.

If your just talking to God and being consistent, then try some more formal prayers (perhaps your not seeing God as Holy as He truly is) sometimes more formal praying can help with that..

What do you mean by "formal prayer"?