5 Ways to Find God

Alabaster was a soft stone imported from Egypt into Palestine. Alabaster jars were popular for storing perfume and ointments. However, the jars were of little value. It was the substance hidden inside that was precious. The perfume she brought to Jesus was her most prized possession. It was expensive but necessary in her line of work. She paid for the perfume with the money she earned as a prostitute. This sinful woman could have put a small amount of perfume on the feet of Jesus, and it would have been a great financial sacrifice. But she brought it all, and she gave it all. She came in total abandon.

"Abandon" literally means "without hindrance and total relinquishment."

This woman ignored the ugly whispers and judgmental stares. Why? I believe she was tired - tired of the emptiness and sin - tired of being used - tired of feeling unwanted and unloved. She was desperate. I know that feeling. I was tired of running the race for the wrong audience. Joy was a distant memory. But God loved me enough to close the door, shut off the lights, and say, "That's enough, child." And for the first time in my life, I abandoned myself to God alone.

Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said," 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'"

"Heart" literally means "thought and emotion."

"Soul" literally means "life or whole person."

"Mind" literally means "understanding."

When we come to Him in total abandonment, we will find God.

Luke 7:38 "As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

Forgiveness is our greatest need and God's highest work. Notice that this broken woman stood behind Jesus, unable to face Him. Every sinful act of her past shattered her heart, and she wept. Then, as tears of repentance and joy spilled down her face, she fell at the feet of Jesus. I think it was the first real prayer of her life.

She let her hair down and began to dry the feet of Jesus. The social custom of the day demanded that women keep their hair bound up. To let it down would be considered a brazen act, even grounds for divorce. She didn't care! Notice that Jesus didn't move away from her. He didn't rebuke her or try to stop her. Instead, Jesus received her humble act as an acceptable gift of a broken heart. He looked past her sin and saw her broken heart crying for forgiveness.

Luke 7:48 "Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'"

The verb "forgiven" tense indicates that this forgiveness of sin was completed in the past, continues through the present, and keeps working in the future. Therefore, the forgiveness of God is complete and eternal.

Luke 7:50 "Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you.'"

We all have faith. We go to a doctor we've never met. The doctor writes a prescription we can't read. The pharmacist gives us a bottle of pills about which we know nothing. And we take them - all in faith. Faith is accepting God's gift of grace and making it our own. Jesus accepted the sinful woman's gifts because they were evidence of her faith.

James 2:14 "Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone."

James is telling us that genuine faith will always produce good works. We are not saved by faith plus works. We are saved by faith that leads to good works.

When Danna was in Kindergarten, she had a very creative science teacher. I picked a very excited Danna up from school one day. She thrust her hand in front of my face and said, "You are not going to believe what I have, Mom!" All I saw was a wadded-up tissue holding several mismatched and broken seeds.

"What are you going to do with those seeds?" Danna responded, "I'm going to plant them, and they're going to grow." Right! When we got home, Danna grabbed a Dixie cup and filled it with dirt from our front flower bed – the bed where nothing would grow – the bed I had filled with rocks. Danna then headed for the kitchen, informing me that the seeds needed water. Placing the cup under the faucet, Danna turned it on full blast. Seeds and dirt spilled out of the cup. Danna then headed to the screened-in porch so her seeds could get sun. Really? She walked by me with a "don't even say a word" glare.

I forgot about the seeds until one day when I was preparing dinner. Standing at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes, I glanced up and saw her cup - filled with green sprouts! Potatoes and the peeler flew everywhere as I raced to Danna's room to give her the good news. "Danna, your seeds are growing!" She smiled and calmly said, "I know, Mom. I prayed for them, so I knew they would grow." And there you have it! The definition of faith from the lips of a child. He will fill our lives with joy when we come to Jesus in faith. Today, come with a seeking heart, an honest heart, a broken heart, and a submitted heart.

Shh! Listen! Can you hear Him calling your name?

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/zamrznutitonovi

Mary Southerland is also the Co-founder of Girlfriends in God, a conference and devotion ministry for women. Mary’s books include, Hope in the Midst of Depression, Sandpaper People, Escaping the Stress Trap, Experiencing God’s Power in Your Ministry, 10-Day Trust Adventure, You Make Me So Angry, How to Study the Bible, Fit for Life, Joy for the Journey, and Life Is So Daily. Mary relishes her ministry as a wife, a mother to their two children, Jered and Danna, and Mimi to her six grandchildren – Jaydan, Lelia, Justus, Hudson, Mo, and Nori.