What do You Seek?
The following is the first of three short reflections from Nate Tyler on key gospel truths for leaders, the people we serve, and the people we are reaching out to on our mission in the world. If you are a Crossway pastor or key leader and would like to contribute in this way, please contact our Network blog editor, Clark Richardson.
We all want change.
Most of us can point to something in our lives we wish were different—habits we want to break, fears we want to overcome, patterns we’re tired of repeating, or areas where we long to grow. But real transformation doesn’t begin with better planning or stronger willpower. It begins with seeking.
Psalm 105:4 gives us the pathway: “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.”
In this one verse, we find three invitations that lead to lasting change:
First: Seek Him
When we think about change, we usually start with ourselves. What do I need to fix? What goal
should I set? What system should I try? But Scripture shifts our focus. Instead of starting with self-improvement, it says: seek the Lord. Seeking Jesus begins with slowing down long enough to ask, “Where are You already at work?” God is always moving. The question is whether we are paying attention. This is discernment—learning to recognize where Jesus is active and choosing to join Him there.
Maybe He’s at work in your family, inviting you to be more present.
Maybe He’s at work in your neighborhood, calling you to love the people around you.
Maybe He’s at work in your struggle—using hardship to deepen your faith.
For me, I’ve seen God at work in my health. Through sickness and pain, I sense that He is shaping
something in me. I don’t fully understand it yet, but I know I don’t want to miss what He’s doing. Even in difficult seasons, God is present. Seeking Him means looking for Jesus in the middle of real life—not just in ideal circumstances.
Next: Seek His Strength
Psalm 105 doesn’t stop with seeking the Lord. It says: “Seek the Lord and his strength…” That forces us to ask an honest question: Are we trying to change through our strength—or His?
Many of us make decisions based on what we think we can sustain. We rely on discipline and
motivation. But willpower fades. And when pressure rises, we often fall back into old patterns.
That’s why the Psalmist calls us to seek His strength. Do we really believe that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us? Or are we not quite as free as we think?
There’s a scene in Captain Marvel where she realizes she’s been fighting with one hand tied behind her back. When she’s finally free, everything changes. That image connects spiritually: how often do we fight fear, temptation, or discouragement relying only on ourselves? Ephesians 3 echoes Psalm 105. Paul prays that believers would be “Strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (v.16) and trusting the One who is “able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (v.20).
God doesn’t simply want better effort from you—He wants to empower you. One practical way to seek His strength is by replacing lies with truth:
Lie → Truth → Declaration
When a lie surfaces… “I’ll never change.” “God is disappointed in me.” —name it. Replace it with Scripture. Then declare that truth in prayer. This is how we stop fighting with one hand tied behind our back and begin walking in His power.
Seek His Presence
Finally, Psalm 105 calls us to “seek his presence continually.” This is more than asking for help. It’s an invitation back to relationship—to daily communion with God. In His presence we find life, peace, clarity, and joy. Ephesians 3 shows us what this looks like:
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (v.17)
To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (v.19)
“That you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (v.19)
This isn’t dry religion or rule-keeping. Striving to fix ourselves through man-made effort always leaves us exhausted. Instead, Jesus invites us into closeness. Transformation happens in relationship. But seeking His presence is a fight. Distractions compete for our attention. Busyness crowds out prayer. Temptation pulls our eyes away from Him.
So how do we seek Him continually?
Psalm 105:5 gives us a clue: “Remember the wondrous works that he has done…
We slow down. We remember. We rehearse His faithfulness. We make space for prayer and worship. And we don’t do it alone. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We grow stronger when we seek Him with others—worshiping together, praying together, encouraging one another.
What are you seeking? Jesus changes us when we seek Him.
Seek Him – Believe and trust Him fully.
Seek His Power – Establish rhythms that connect you to His strength.
Seek His Presence – Make space to commune with Him daily and walk with His people.
Don’t settle for surface-level change. Seek the Lord. Seek His strength. Seek His presence. That’s where real transformation begins.