God alone is the prize - by Bec Bonython

I have only ever won a couple of prizes in my life. I once won 5 CD’s years ago from a radio show, being the 10th caller out of hundreds of Adelaidians. For those few minutes of calling and hanging up, calling and hanging up, calling again and hanging up, until your heard that dial tone….. there was literally nothing else that mattered. Nothing else was on my mind except for that prize. Nothing could have pulled me away from the phone, and for all I know, my house could have burnt down and I wouldn’t have realised.

Why?

Because my focus was purely and solely on those 5 CDs - my prize!

Likewise, God wants us to have the same focus, captivation and dedication to Him. Because God himself is our prize.

Sometimes in our walk with God we can stray from the prize, even though we have very good intentions, honourable ones in fact. But sometimes we can think that the other benefits that God brings are the prize.

We can think:
• That finding His direction is important so that we can walk in obedience… But that is not the prize.
• His words of encouragement to us is peaceful and brings us confidence…. But that is not the prize.
• His comfort and strength, although powerful and secure for us… But that is not the prize.
• His healing and miracle, although a blessing…. But that is not the prize.

God alone is the prize. Just Him. God, in all His beauty and majesty and might is our prize. So I encourage you to continue to seek God alone. Spend time in His presence, talk with Him, just BE with him. Relish in His company. Worship Him. He is the One who encompasses all you are searching for.

Brother Lawrence said:

How happy we might be, if only we could find the Treasure, of which the Gospel tells us – all else would seem to us nothing. How infinite it is! The more one toils and searches in it, the greater are the riches that one finds.

May Psalm 27:4 be our prayer:

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple.