Seeking His Heart Above His Hand (Daily Devotional)

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 29:13

Thought: Seek the Giver above the gift; His heart is the superior provision.

Devotional:

We often find ourselves coming to God with a list of needs for provision, healing, help, or guidance. And while God graciously delights in providing, Jesus reminds us that the deeper call is to seek Him first. Provision flows from His hand, but intimacy flows from His heart.

To seek God’s heart is to desire His presence more than His gifts, His character more than His benefits, His will above our own plans. Just as the psalmist declared, “One thing I ask from the Lord… to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple” (Psalm 27:4), so our greatest pursuit must be the Giver—not the gift.

When we align our hearts with His, we discover that His presence is our true provision. Every blessing of His hand pales in comparison to the richness of His nearness.

Real-Life Analogy

Think of a child who only runs to a parent when they want a toy, but not for a hug. The parent may give the toy, but what they long for most is the closeness of their child’s heart. In the same way, our Heavenly Father delights to give, but He longs even more for us to rest in His love.

Reflection Questions

1. Do I often seek God’s blessings more than I seek His presence?

2. What does it look like in my daily life to “seek His kingdom first”?

3. How would my prayers change if they centered more on knowing Him than on receiving from Him?

Journaling Prompts

• Write about a time when you received provision from God but realized later what you needed most was His presence.

• Finish this sentence: “If I had nothing but Christ, I would still have ___.”

• List three ways you can pursue God’s heart more intentionally this week (prayer, worship, service, time in the Word).

Closing Prayer

Father, forgive me when I chase after Your blessings more than I pursue You. Teach me to seek Your heart above all else, and to find satisfaction in Your presence. Help me to trust that as I draw near to You, everything I truly need flows from who You are. May my life reflect a desire for intimacy with You, not just provision from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen