“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Psalm 105:4, NIV).

I’m sitting on a comfortable chair aboard ship with a coastal city and the mountains of Turkey in view. Today I visited ancient ruins that had housed Persians, Greeks, pagan Romans and Christian Romans for centuries before time swept them away. I am sitting here in wonder, enjoying life with my wife of 53 years, and I’m restless at the thought of it.

My entire life has been blessed by God to be missional. The early part of it was spent in preparation for the mission God had planned. And then came the intervening years God blessed as an adventure in service, moving me through various occupations and locations, some more focused on Him, others unfortunately on myself, grossly imperfect, but always with the understanding the thread of His mission ran through it all.

Now I am here on this vacation doing nothing but enjoying life with the one I most deeply love. And that makes me restless. Am I off mission as I soak in for me rather than pour out for Him? Thank God the Bible I chose to bring on this vacation has a book ribbon directing me this morning to Jeremiah 29. Verses 4-9 carry a beautiful message from God that speaks clearly, “Bloom where you are planted. This is my will for you” (paraphrase). Simply living life within God’s guidelines is good.

And yet, that is not the end of it. A mission thread runs through our lives as God’s people, whether we are soaking in the pleasure God gives us or we are pouring out the service He ordained. This never-failing, universal thread surfaces a bit further down the same chapter in Jeremiah.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’” (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV).

Wherever we find ourselves on this side of glory, whatever our circumstances, if we seek the Lord with our whole heart, His mission thread will weave its way to the surface and accomplish that which He has planned. For this day, the mountains of Turkey, my wife at my side and a heart that seeks His presence—clearly defines my mission for Him.

Dear Father,

In this moment and in each moment until I see your face, let me seek you with my whole heart and follow.

Amen