"Earnestly Seeking Him"

"Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." (Psalms 80:19) It's not a question of if, but a question of when. We can keep looking for change, and we can keep hoping for answers, but all along, God has already done His part, now it's up to us. What are we going to do with the restoration we have been given? This is the third time we see this verse, each time it's a little more intense; each time, it becomes a little more expectant, a little more dependent upon God's goodness and grace; especially in light of the previous verse: "Quicken us." I can't help but go back to that question Jesus asked of John and Andrew in John 1:38, "What seek ye?" What is it we are looking for? What are we asking God to do, that He has not done already? If it's that we can just draw closer to Him, He has provided the way; actually, He has assured us a way, the way of the cross! I think about all those men of God who lost their lives standing up for this truth, men like John Hus, burned at the stake for believing and preaching restoration to God, directly through Jesus Christ. We have no need to seek assistance from someone else, or to pay tribute, give confession to a priest, or any other man made way of reaching the Throne of God; we can simply enter in by the blood of Jesus Christ! This is personal; although the church might be corporate, our relationship is to be a personal relationship with God, not through any church or organization. Yet, at the same time, we are not in this alone, we have each other, each and every one of us are of the same body, the body of Christ Jesus, our Risen LORD! Maybe it's just me, but it seems I am my own worst enemy when it comes to living out the promises of God. In Luke's version of Jesus showing the disciples how to pray, there is a certain point Jesus makes to us seeking after God, persistence...
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this -though he won't do it for friendship sake, if you keep  knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers -if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."" (Luke 11:5-13) NLT