God, I Want More

Scriptures: Exodus 33:15, Psalms 27:8

“Give me, give me, give me, I want, I want, I need.” That’s one of my favorite movie lines of all time from the Bill Murray classic What About Bob?

And I love it because I resemble it. I have so many needs, wants, and desires in my life that my frequent cry is, “God, I want more!”

More love, a better job, closer friends, greater peace, deeper joy.

Imagine if, after praying that, God showed up and said, “It’s all yours; there’s just one catch.” This was Moses’ experience as he led God’s people. In a moment of divine frustration, God told Moses he could have all his promises—without his presence.

What would you have done?

I confess, I would have been tempted to take the promises and run. Why? Because, at times, I’m that desperate.

But Moses knew better. He knew that no earthly thing compares to walking closely with God.

Are you restless? Anxious? Longing for more?

Good for you, because that’s a heartfelt invitation from God for more of him.

Of course, those other things matter, and God cares about each of them. But a quick look at the world’s rich and famous shows that trying to fill our ocean of need with outside things will never satisfy like the one thing we were created for—a relationship with God.

Knowing this, Moses told God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15).

He didn’t say this because he was more spiritual or holy than you or me.

No, it was his raw, unadulterated need that made him desperate for God’s best—a relationship with God Himself!

Are you longing for more? That’s a wonderful thing because that longing points us to the One who is worth more than anything.

Prayer
“Lord, I hear my life urging me to seek your face. I am responding to you now, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’”

Tomorrow, we’ll explore why paraplegics can be happier than lottery winners—and what that means for us.

Scriptures: Psalms 73:28, Psalms 16:11

Who is happier—a lottery winner or a paraplegic? It seems like a no-brainer, right? The lottery winner, of course. Or is it?

Try this question: Who will be happier twelve months from now? The poster child of worldly success—the one we see on social media all the time:

• Strolling a beach in an exotic locale
• Cruising through town in a luxury car that costs more than a plane
• Showing off a sculpted, sweaty physique in a high-end gym

…or you, regardless of your measurable level of success?

This is the question behind all our discontent, longings, and desires: “What will bring me lasting joy, and how can I get it?”

In 1978, Northwestern University conducted fascinating research comparing lottery winners and those who had become partially paralyzed due to accidents. One year after their life-changing event, who was happier?

Surprisingly, they found that on a day-to-day basis, those who’d been paralyzed edged out the lottery winners on the happiness scale. It might sound crazy, but it’s true.

As a counselor and coach, I’ve spent my life helping people define and discover what they want most. And they’ve worked hard to achieve amazing things. But time and again, they find that while these things satisfy for a season, before long, they want more.

In Psalm 16, David compares the fleeting allure of temporary pleasures with the eternal goodness found in God alone and concludes with this truth: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 NIV).

Like the lottery winner who’s spent all his winnings and fools himself into thinking that he just needs a little bit more, the world’s definition of success always leaves us hungrier than when we began.

God Himself is the treasure our hearts really seek, and growing intimacy with him is the only thing that truly satisfies.

Prayer
“Lord, I thank you that your nearness is all I need. Help me to feel and embrace your close presence today.”

Join me here tomorrow as we unpack the puzzling question: If God is always near and all I need, why doesn’t it feel that way?

Scriptures: Matthew 28:20, Matthew 1:23

Ask a fish to describe water, and he’d likely look puzzled and say, “Water? What is that?”

Because water is so ever-present, so constant, it’s practically invisible to the fish that swims in it. Until, of course, the moment he bites onto an enticing lure, feels the tug, and suddenly finds himself flopping on dry land.

If the fisherman mercifully tosses him back, the fish would realize instantly what a gift water had been all along. It surrounded him, sustained him, filled his life with movement, freedom, and joy. Water wasn’t just something he lived in—it was everything.

Just like that fish who can’t see the water around him, we sometimes struggle to truly grasp the nearness and goodness of our God.

Thankfully, the Bible is filled with rich metaphors to help us understand. He is the Living Water, quenching our deepest thirst; the Bread of Life, nourishing our souls. He’s our loving Parent, our mighty King, and the Shepherd guiding our way.

Best of all, He is Emmanuel—God with us. Our constant companion, he’s always available, providing exactly what we need right when we need it.

No matter the circumstance or the need, he is there:

• When we don’t know what decision to make
• When a loved one lets us down
• When the bills are overdue
• When technology overwhelms

Sometimes I think we should pull up an extra chair at the table to remind ourselves he is really that close—ready to engage with us throughout each day.

Embracing this truth changes everything. Imagine . . .

• How effective every action could be when it flows from his wisdom
• How much lighter our disappointments might feel when wrapped in his love
• How stress would melt away as he shares our burdens
• How our confidence would grow as we walk with him moment by moment

The world encourages us to be independent, self-made, defining happiness our way and chasing it however we can.

But we have a better way. We have a God who is ever-present, always caring, and eager to meet our every need.

Prayer
Lord, thank you for always being with me, even when I forget. Help me notice you and turn to you throughout this day.

Thankfully, learning to be more aware of God’s presence is a habit we can all practice and enjoy. Tomorrow, we’ll explore three simple steps to noticing God throughout the day.

Scriptures: Daniel 6:10, Psalms 119:18

Have you ever noticed that as soon as you buy a red car, suddenly red cars are everywhere? Of course, they were always there; it’s just that we’ve adjusted our focus, so now we see them.

In the same way, God is always with us, moving in and around our lives. But often, we miss him in the ordinary and mundane.

Thankfully, as we shift our spiritual focus and ask God to “open our eyes,” we start seeing his fingerprints in places we hadn’t noticed before.

Daniel gives us a beautiful example of how building a practice of noticing God in daily life equips us for peace, resilience, and joy—even in the hardest times.

Three times a day, no matter what was happening around him, Daniel paused, turned his heart toward God, and prayed.

This wasn’t just a checkbox; it was a lifeline—a rhythm that kept his eyes open to God’s hand in every detail. Like the red car effect, because Daniel was paying attention to God, he saw him everywhere.

Then, when crises hit—whether it was the king’s command to worship a false god or facing the lions’ den—Daniel didn’t have to scramble for courage or hope. His daily practice of turning to God had already built a deep well he could draw from in difficult times.

This attentiveness trained him to notice God’s presence, especially when things got hard, preparing him for a life of peace, faith, and fulfillment, even in a world that often didn’t go his way.

Three simple steps, based in Scripture and neuroscience, help us begin noticing the God who is always there: “Please, Pause, and Praise.”

• Please – Start the day by asking, “God, please help me notice you today,” priming your mind to seek his presence, like setting a filter to focus on him.
• Pause – When something stirs your heart, pause and recognize God’s presence. This simple act strengthens new brain pathways, training you to see him more naturally.
• Praise – At the end of the day, thank God for all the ways he showed up. This gratitude reinforces the experience, creating a feedback loop that helps you notice him even more.

By adding this simple “Please, Pause, and Praise” practice each day, we can train ourselves to notice God throughout the day. Soon, we’ll find he’s closer than we ever realized—woven into each moment, waiting for us to see him.

Prayer
“Lord, help me practice seeing you through ‘Please, Pause, and Praise’ as I go through this busy day.”

Join me tomorrow as we learn how the “practice of God’s presence” has helped believers throughout the ages—and how it can help you and me.

Scriptures: 1 Timothy 4:7, John 10:10, James 4:8

If someone offered me a million dollars today to complete a marathon, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it.

Even if you upped the reward to two million or three, I wouldn’t have what it takes to get it done.

But if you gave me a year to train for that marathon, I guarantee you I’d cross the finish line.

That is the beauty of training over trying.

And the same is true in our walk with God. In 1 Timothy 4:7, Paul exhorts Timothy to “Train yourself in godliness.”

I love that Paul doesn’t say, try harder, wake up earlier, or pray longer. It’s about training—partnering with God as he works with us and in us, moment by moment, day by day.

Like you, I want more. I want more good things from God, but even more, I want a deeper walk with God.

Yet, all too often, I set lofty goals to be more present to him, then I dig in, try harder, and then get distracted before the week is done.

Thankfully, God’s invitation to ongoing life with him doesn’t depend on our heroic efforts.

He is already there. We are already loved. Like the “red car effect,” we simply need to notice him and keep training in “practicing his presence.”

“Practicing the Presence of God” is a phrase attributed to a humble, 17th-century monk named Brother Lawrence. Assigned to kitchen duty, he used his everyday work as an opportunity to turn chores into moments with God.

This practice brought him such contagious peace, contentment, and joy that his book, The Practice of the Presence of God, has been a cherished spiritual classic for over three centuries.

This was slow work. Steady. Consistent. A practice developed over 10 years. But it changed everything—for him and for those of us still learning from his life.

We were made for more. More peace, greater joy, and a deeper walk with God. Our longings and holy discontent invite us closer to him.

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. God is for us in this. He loves us. And he is here.

Let’s train in the practice of noticing and enjoying him.

Today’s Prayer
Lord, help me to train in practicing your presence throughout each moment of every day. Fill me with the love, joy, peace, and satisfaction that only you can bring.