What are you looking for?

Almost everyone that I know is looking for something: acceptance from friends, a promotion at work, the love of their life, to loose weight, retirement, vacation... the list goes on forever.

For most of these people, these things consume their day. They are absolutely preoccupied with this never ending quest. The problem is, they are never satisfied when they get what they are looking for. There is always something else around the corner that is pushing them towards the next thing!

To me, this begs the question: what will make you happy? What will give you peace?

Peace is a concept that has been lost in our day. It's turned into a tag line, or a greeting, or something that people do to look cool.

The Bible uses the word "shalom" for peace. Shalom not only means peace, but it's this kind of peace that comes through completeness. The big question is where does this completeness come from?

In the book of Hosea, God asks Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman. This unfaithful woman symbolizes how the relationship between Israel and God had become. Israel had left their first love and were seeking after other gods in an attempt to find peace and happiness.

The following is said about Hosea's wife:

She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them.Then she shall say, "I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now."

His wife would continually try to find happiness - shalom - and never find it! She was seeking after the wrong thing. In the New Testament, Jesus shares the same idea but slightly differently. He says:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying "What shall we ear?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Imagine how your life would change if you chased God instead of chasing things? God understands what your needs are, but if you seek Him first ask for His strength and guidance how would your world change?

My challenge to you is to take a few days and put this in action and see if your peace... your shalom increases.