“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” –2 Chron. 7:14 (NIV)

Throughout the scriptures, God’s people are encouraged to seek God’s face. When we seek God’s face, we are actually seeking His presence. The call to seek God’s face was issued to Israel because they had abandoned Him and needed to return to Him.

A person’s face reveals much about his or her character and personality. We see the inward emotions of a person expressed on their face. We recognize a person by looking at his or her face. When you think about it this way, one’s face, with all of the characteristics and expressions, is representative of the whole person. For the writers of the Bible, the human face could represent the entire person.

In Psalm 105:4, God’s faithful ones were called to “seek his face always.” Even if we have not totally abandoned God, there are times when we don’t always seek God’s face. We allow God’s face to be obscured by our human condition and fleshly desires. But still we are urged to seek God’s face!

Have you ever been at a movie or at some other event with a stage where someone or something was in front of you blocking your view? We might get frustrated with the obstruction, but we will usually situate ourselves—craning our neck, leaning over, and doing whatever we can—to see whatever is going on onstage. When life events obstruct our view of God’s face, we should situate ourselves and do whatever it takes so we can still experience the face of God!

“Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:3–6).

How, though, do we really seek God’s face? How do we actually enter into God’s presence? It is through prayer, praise, and worship that we can enter into God’s presence. And the true worship of God requires a redeemed heart that desires God alone—one that

continues to build itself up in the knowledge of God. As Christians, this should be a part of our daily walk—to humbly and trustingly seek His face in our prayers and in our times in His Word. And we won’t be able to hold back the praise we offer up as we become increasingly aware of how awesome and powerful and gracious and merciful God is!

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!” (Psalm 63:1–3, NLT).

Seeking God’s face means desiring to know His character and wanting His presence more than any other thing He can give us. Remember, it is an important element to receiving the promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14.