Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity…,’

DAILY READING – James 5; Jeremiah 29-30; Psalm 133

Under the earth’s surface lie oil treasures worth billions of dollars. Over the years, drilling companies  have had to go further and further down in order to locate  earth’s remaining oil. Advances in technology means oil and gas companies can now drill down to previously impossible depths. And today these companies are drilling deeper than ever before into the earth to extract oil. In 1949 the average depth of an oil well drilled was 3,635 ft. but by 2008 the  average depth  was 6,000 ft.

In 2012 Exxon, one of the world’s largest oil company, broke world record by completing the drilling of the world’s deepest well in Russia, which goes over 40,000 ft. (12 km) into the ground. This world’s deepest oil well, known as Z-44 Chayvo, is the equivalent of 15 times the height of the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. However, deep drilling requires  a lot of money and energy, not to mention hazards for both the environment and workers. Rigs vary in price according to, among other things, the depth to which they are designed to drill; and in the case of offshore rigs, the depth of water in which they are designed to operate.  The average cost for offshore rigs can be as much as 15 times greater than the average cost for land rigs. And the cost can range between $200 million to $1 billion. The deeper the depth, the more expensive.  But despite the great cost of drilling and the astronomical challenges, due to the benefit to be gained, oil companies keep pressing deeper. For instance, the world’s deepest oil well, the Z-44 Chayvo wells, are expected to produce a total of 2.3 billion barrels of oil. This would translate into an astronomical amount economically. With such great wealth at stake oil companies certainly seem not to mind whatever challenges may be faced in digging to locate oil, because the reward is well worth it.

Likewise, spiritual treasures are in the depth and there is a cost to finding them. Great treasures are stored in the depths of God’s Word, but they are only accessible to those who are willing to pay the price to access them.

Jesus said to Peter in Luke 5::4, “launch out into the deep and let down your net for a draught”. It is only when you launch out into the deep that you can get a net breaking catch. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, God has freely given all things to us in Christ Jesus, but it takes the depth of revelation by the Spirit for us to have access. The treasures are available, the issue is ability to pay the required price to access them. Jesus said in Mathew 13:44, that the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hid in a field; which when a man had found, he hid it, then went and sold all that he hath, and bought that field.

When you find God’s tangible presence, you have found life’s greatest treasures.  His Presence brings miracles, signs and wonders. But God’s presence is not found on the surface, it is in the depth. God said in Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity,’

When we find God, He destroys every captivity of sickness, poverty, etc from around us. Indeed, He diligently rewards those that seek and find Him. But the question is, are we willing to search with all our heart? Are we desperate enough? Are we willing to give all it takes to experience God’s Presence that makes all the difference?  It is a spiritual law that only the hungry gets filled. Let us therefore make a fresh commitment to pay whatever price it takes to encounter God’s tangible Presence. Let us seek God like never before. When we find Him, there shall be a reward and our expectations shall not be cut off.

And one way we can experience God’s Presence today is in praise and worship.  God inhabits the praises of His people. As we sincerely bless God today from the depths of our hearts, He will make His Presence known to us. And in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forever more.

PRAYER: Father please grant me the grace to dig into the depth of Your Word where  Your Spiritual treasures are found. As I seek You with all my heart may Your tangible Presence be made known to me in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE :

The treasures of God are never on the shallow end, but are always buried in the depth of God’s Word. It takes a personal discovery to get there. – WORDBITE 222.