Hey Reader,

Last week, we began a three-part conversation I'm calling, The Return. We talked about those seasons when life gets busy, our rhythms change, and we suddenly recognize a distance in our time with God. Rather than allowing guilt or shame to keep us focused on the distance, I encouraged us to focus on the return because the distance may have happened, but the return is what matters most.

This week, I want to share one of the ways I intentionally return when I recognize that distance in my own life.

I do something I call a SEEKING.

A seeking for me is an intentional period of time I set aside when I recognize that the noise around me has gotten too loud and I need to become more attentive to the Lord. I intentionally remove a distraction, create more space, and commit myself to seeking and hearing from God.

This week, I found myself thinking about Isaiah 55:6:

I love this because Isaiah 55 is filled with invitation. Come. Listen. Seek. Call. Return. God is calling His people to turn toward Him, receive what only He can provide, and leave behind the things that could never truly satisfy them.

I've learned that when God's voice seems quieter to me, I know it's time for a seeking.

And something beautiful happens when I do this. I become more aware of answered prayers I might have otherwise overlooked. I'm more sensitive to those moments when the Holy Spirit prompts me to pause and pray, and I'm more attentive to what God is showing me through His Word.

It's as though the noise gets softer and His Word gets louder.

Now, I want to make an important distinction. A seeking isn't the same thing as a biblical fast. When I talk about biblical fasting, I'm referring to intentionally abstaining from food for a set period of time for a spiritual purpose.

For me, a seeking is more of an intentional time of consecration.

I may remove social media for a period of time, stop responding to text messages after a certain hour, or remove sugar or something else that has become a regular part of my day. The specific thing may change, but the purpose remains the same: I'm intentionally removing something that has occupied my attention so I can create more room to seek the Lord.

And when I do, I can feel the return happening.

I'm reminded that the distance I felt wasn't evidence that God had gone anywhere. Sometimes busyness, distractions, and the demands of life had simply occupied more of my attention than I realized.

But the return makes the distance obsolete.

So what could seeking look like for you?

Here's where I would begin:

• Ask the Lord what has become unnecessarily loud in your life. What could you intentionally lay aside for a few days so you can become more attentive to Him?
• Begin to listen intentionally and pray more frequently. Increase your prayers throughout the day. Sylvie from Africa, who faithfully joins our Monday and Wednesday YouTube Bible studies, said it best:

• And lastly, replace the noise with the Word of God.

One thing I always do during a seeking is identify verses and passages of Scripture to read, study, meditate on, and return to throughout that time. I'm not simply trying to hear something. I want my heart and mind anchored in what God has already spoken.

I was recently introduced to a free resource called Malachi Daily, and I immediately thought about how well it fits with what we're talking about. If part of your seeking, or simply your daily desire, is to become more intentional about spending time in Scripture, this is a wonderful tool to help you do that.

Each week, Malachi Daily helps you memorize a passage of Scripture while also helping you understand its biblical, historical, and cultural context. You'll learn how the passage fits into the larger story of the Bible, how the original language can deepen your understanding, how it connects to other parts of Scripture and points to Jesus, and how to live it out in everyday life.

You know my heart is for us to become students of the Word. It's not just about being able to recite Scripture. I want us to understand what we're reading, remember what God has said, and allow His Word to shape how we live.

If you're wondering what Scripture to focus on during your seeking, Malachi Daily could be a great place to begin.

​Join Malachi Daily for free​

Choose what you're going to lay down. Create some intentional space. Pick up the Word. And seek.

“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6, NKJV)

I believe God will meet you in powerful ways as you intentionally turn your attention toward Him and His Word.

Because sometimes returning begins by becoming intentional about seeking.

And remember, time with God is time you will never regret spending.

In the Word with you, ​Rachel G. Scott​ Founder, Word & Seed Ministries​ Bible Student-Teacher

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P.S. Next week, we'll finish this three-part series with Restore. We've talked about returning and seeking, but what happens when we get back to His feet and realize something in us needs to be restored? That's where we're going next.