Hunted By God Part I: Preparation
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor John’s sermon from September 7, 2025
Let’s Break it Down
God is the ultimate hunter, relentlessly pursuing our hearts with meticulous preparation and strategic positioning. Just as hunters invest significant effort in their pursuit, God orchestrates people and circumstances in our lives to draw us closer to Him.
Key Takeaways
God pursues us with intentional preparation, positioning people and circumstances in our lives to draw us to Him.
It's God's goodness, not His judgment, that leads us to repentance and surrender.
God often pursues us most effectively when we're at the end of our rope and have nowhere else to turn.
God never stops pursuing us because He loves us too much to let us go.
Our appropriate response to God's pursuit is gratitude and surrender of our hearts to Him.
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5 Day Devotional
Day 1:The Divine Hunter
Devotional: Have you ever felt pursued? Not in a threatening way, but with a sense that something—or someone—was consistently drawing you toward a specific direction? This is exactly how God works in our lives. He is the divine hunter, pursuing us with intention and purpose. God doesn't chase us to control or harm us. Rather, He pursues us because He desires relationship. Like a skilled hunter who prepares meticulously—clearing paths, setting up blinds, and positioning strategically—God orchestrates circumstances and places people in our lives to guide us toward Him. Think about your own journey. Can you identify the people God has strategically positioned in your path? Perhaps a friend who invited you to church, a coworker who demonstrated Christ's love, or even a stranger whose kindness reflected God's goodness. These aren't random encounters but divine appointments. God's pursuit is personal and purposeful. He knows exactly what will draw your heart to Him. Sometimes it's through blessing, other times through challenge. But always, His motivation is love—a love so powerful that He gave His only Son to make relationship with you possible.
Bible Verse
"Like a lion you hunt me and then display your awesome power over me." - Job 10:16
Reflection Question
Looking back at your life, can you identify three specific moments or people that God may have used to pursue your heart?
Quote "Isn't it amazing that both Job and Jeremiah felt as if God was hunting them like a fierce lion? Jeremiah said, you set me up as a target for your bow, for your, for your arrow. Isn't that wild that these men believed that they were being hunted by God."
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your relentless pursuit of my heart. Help me recognize Your hand in my life and respond with gratitude rather than resistance. Open my eyes to see the ways You've been drawing me closer to You. Amen.
Day 2:When We're at the End of Our Rope
Devotional: God often finds us most receptive when we're at our lowest points. When our own pursuits have left us empty, when our strength is depleted, and when we've reached the end of our rope—these are the moments when His pursuit becomes most evident. Why is this? Perhaps because it's only when our hands are empty that we're truly ready to receive what God offers. When we've exhausted our own resources, we finally recognize our need for something—Someone—greater than ourselves. These breaking points aren't coincidental. They're often part of God's strategic pursuit of our hearts. The trials and tribulations we face aren't random hardships but divine opportunities that push us toward Him, making us question and ultimately discover His presence. If you're currently at the end of your rope, take heart. This may be the very moment God has been waiting for—not because He delights in your struggle, but because He knows this is when you'll be most open to His love and grace. Your lowest point might just be the beginning of your greatest spiritual breakthrough.
Bible Verse
"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" - Romans 2:4
Reflection Question
In what ways have difficult circumstances in your life ultimately drawn you closer to God?
Quote "I believe God hunts us best, and we are at the end of our ropes. And I tell you what, I was at the end of mine. By the time my sister invites me to go to church, I was despairing of life itself."
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in my moments of weakness and desperation, help me to see Your pursuing love. Thank You for not abandoning me when I'm at my lowest but instead drawing especially near. Give me the courage to respond to Your pursuit even in my brokenness. Amen.
Day 3:Divine Coincidences
Devotional: Have you ever experienced a moment so perfectly timed, so unexpectedly meaningful, that you couldn't help but wonder if something greater was at work? We often call these coincidences, but perhaps they're better understood as divine appointments—strategic moments in God's pursuit of our hearts. God is the master orchestrator, moving people in and out of our lives with purpose. That new neighbor who happens to be a Christian, the coworker who mentions their faith at just the right moment, the book that falls open to exactly the page you needed to read—these aren't random occurrences but carefully placed breadcrumbs leading you toward Him. Recognizing God's hand in these moments requires spiritual awareness. It means looking beyond the surface of our daily experiences to discern the deeper currents of divine activity. When we begin to see life through this lens, even ordinary encounters take on extraordinary significance. The next time something seems too perfectly aligned to be mere chance, pause and consider: Could this be God pursuing you? Could this be His goodness leading you toward a deeper relationship with Him?
Bible Verse
"Your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." - Ephesians 6:15
Reflection Question
What recent "coincidences" in your life might actually be God orchestrating circumstances to draw you closer to Him?
Quote "How many coincidences need to happen before you realize, okay, that can't be a coincidence? You think everything's a coincidence. You don't think the God of this universe can orchestrate things, can remove people, can move people in and out of your heart and life that will push you closer to him?"
Prayer
God, open my eyes to see Your hand working in the details of my life. Help me recognize the divine appointments You've arranged and respond with an open heart. Thank You for Your persistent pursuit of me through both extraordinary and ordinary moments. Amen.
Day 4:The Joy of Response
Devotional: What happens when we finally recognize God's pursuit and respond to His call? Something beautiful unfolds—not just in our lives, but in God's heart as well. Our response brings Him tremendous joy. Imagine pursuing someone you love deeply, arranging everything to demonstrate your love, and then finally receiving their recognition and reciprocation. That moment of connection is precious. This is how God feels when we turn toward Him after His patient, persistent pursuit. Our response doesn't need to be dramatic or perfect. Sometimes it's as simple as a whispered prayer of surrender, a moment of genuine gratitude, or a decision to trust Him with an area of our lives we've been controlling. What matters is the heart behind it—a willingness to acknowledge His goodness and respond to His love. Gratitude plays a crucial role in this response. When we recognize God's pursuit as an expression of His goodness rather than an intrusion on our independence, our hearts naturally overflow with thankfulness. This gratitude becomes the foundation of authentic relationship with Him.
Bible Verse
"He has made me his target; his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my bile on the ground." - Lamentations 3:12
Reflection Question
What is one specific way you can respond to God's pursuit today with gratitude rather than resistance?
Quote "I want him to dog my tracks. I want him to pursue me. And then those moments, man, they. They've got to be just so wonderful to God when we respond back."
Prayer
Loving Father, thank You for pursuing me with such dedication and love. Forgive me for the times I've resisted Your call. Today, I choose to respond with gratitude and surrender. Help me to recognize Your goodness and to bring You joy through my willing response. Amen.
Day 5:Experiencing His Presence
Devotional: The ultimate purpose of God's pursuit is not merely to change our behavior or secure our intellectual agreement with certain truths. His deepest desire is for us to experience His presence—to know Him personally and intimately. This experience of God's presence transforms us in ways that nothing else can. It melts our resistance, heals our wounds, and fills the emptiness we've tried to satisfy with lesser things. In His presence, we discover who we truly are and who He created us to be. God's pursuit leads to this sacred space of communion. All the orchestrated circumstances, the positioned people, the divine coincidences—they all point toward this moment of connection where we experience His love firsthand. The beautiful truth is that this presence isn't reserved for a select few or limited to certain settings. It's available to all who respond to His pursuit with open hearts. Whether in a church service, a quiet moment alone, or in the midst of daily activities, God's presence awaits those who recognize His pursuit and welcome His nearness. As you continue responding to God's pursuit, may you discover the incomparable joy of experiencing His presence—not as a distant concept, but as a living reality.
Bible Verse
"Like a lion you hunt me and then display your awesome power over me." - Job 10:16
Reflection Question
When have you most tangibly experienced God's presence, and how did that experience change your perspective on His pursuit of you?
Quote "He melted me with the reality of the fact that he loved me, that he made his presence known to me."
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for pursuing me not just to change me but to be with me. Draw me into Your presence today. Help me recognize and respond to Your invitation for deeper communion. May I experience the transforming power of Your presence in every area of my life. Amen.