Step Two in Crisis: Focus and Seek God by Rick Warren

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV).

We’ve all had times of crisis that test everything in life, including our trust in God. Daniel gives us a great blueprint for prayer during these difficult times.

We can find six important principles for this in Daniel 9. In the last devotional, we looked at the first of those principles — we let God speak to us before we speak to him.

The second step to praying in a way God will answer during a time of crisis is to focus our attention on God and seek him.

Daniel did this in Daniel 9:3a: “I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him” (ESV).

This is basic relationship advice that works beyond your relationship with God. You’ll improve any relationship in your life if you physically turn yourself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to you. Whenever my wife talks with me, I turn my face toward her. I’ve been married for more than 40 years. I can tell you this pays great dividends in our relationship. She loves it, because she knows she has my undivided attention.

Turning your face toward someone shows attention. You can do with this God, too. Physically, look up toward the sky. If you can, go outside and look into the heavens as you pray.

Physically turning toward God is the first step in truly focusing on him and seeking him, which is vitally important during a crisis (and every other moment of our lives).

In Amos 5:4b, God says, “Seek me and live.” (NIV). You’re not really living unless you’re truly seeking God.

We’re often in crisis because we’ve stopped seeking the Lord in certain aspects of our lives. To get out of the crisis in life, we have to do things differently.

You’re guaranteed success by God when you seek him. He tells us, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV).

Talk It Over

How focused would you say you are when it comes to seeking God in every area of your life? Take some time to reflect and decide. What are things you can do to be more consistent and faithful?
Where do you find yourself frequently distracted when you pray?
Where are you most able to focus fully on God when you pray?