Lead by Seeking First: Giving God Your Full Attention

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Giving someone your attention is arguably the greatest gift I can give them. Why? Because my time is my life.

When I turn my face to someone and focus my eyes on them, it shows that I genuinely care and are interested in what they have to say.

I can do this with God—I can turn my face to him in prayer. Just look up! Show him that I'm checking in and ready to talk. Even though it’s a good way to pray, there's nothing in the Bible that says I have to close my eyes or bow my head. I can pray out loud and look up, it will give me a physical reminder that I’m focusing my attention on God.

Daniel did this when he needed God’s help and wisdom: “So I gave my attention to the Lord God, to seek Him by prayer” (Daniel 9:3 NASB).

God wants me to seek him—and the Bible is filled with promises for those who do:

“Seek me and live” (Amos 5:4 NIV). As I persistently seek God, I'll start learning how to really live.

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me” (Proverbs 8:17 NIV). If I'm having trouble finding God, make sure I'm seeking him with the right motives—wanting to know him and not just wanting to get something from him.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). I'm going to find God when I make spending time with him a priority—when I see it as critical to my daily life, not just something I might get around to in my spare time.

“God . . . rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). Would I like God to reward my business, finances, relationships, and my future? Then seek him.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need” (Luke 12:31 NLT). When I pursue God first, the stresses and worries of the world will lessen their hold on me.

So give God my attention. Turn my face to him, and show him that he has first place in my life.

In summary:

The greatest gift I can give anyone—including God—is my attention, because my time is my life. Just as turning my face and focusing on someone shows genuine care, I can turn my attention toward God in prayer, seeking him with sincerity and priority. The Bible promises that those who earnestly seek God will find him, experience true life, receive his rewards, and see their needs met. Seeking God with all my heart means making time with him essential, not optional. When I give God first place in my life, I discover his presence, wisdom, and provision in every area.

Bottom Line:

When I give God my full attention and seek Him with all my heart, He promises that I will find Him—and in doing so, He provides what I truly need.

Next wisest steps:

Build a short, intentional daily rhythm of seeking God first—each morning of prayer and Scripture before emails, business, or planning. This will keep my leadership and relationships grounded in God’s wisdom and presence.