Proverbs 8:34 – 36

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death. (NIV)

On the surface, it seems like this passage opens with three passive words, “listen”, “watching” and “waiting”. But when you look at the Hebrew words, there is a sense of intentionality associated with them. When seeking the Lord you listen intently…you watch expectantly…you wait with anticipation.

When my wife and I were dating, I not only listened to every word she said, I listened to how she said it. If we were going to meet somewhere for dinner, I looked expectantly for her car, waited with anticipation to see her. Why? Because I was falling in love. Our relationship was growing deeper. The bond between us was growing stronger.

Now this if this is how we behaved in our relationships with other people, how much more we should be intentional with our relationship with the Lord. In other words, don’t be casual in your personal relationship with the Lord. When you find Him, you’ll find life, i.e., you’ll come alive, you’ll be strong, you will spring up and go. If you remain casual in your pursuit of Him…well, you lose out.

Are you intentional in your relationship with the Lord? Are you seeking Him with anticipation? If not, what’s holding you back from being alive?