Post #12: Simply Seek

July 21, 2026

Preparing for Surgery

The next phase of my treatment includes another CT scan followed by a debulking surgery. The point of both is to search for any cancer in me that needs to come out. I had the first CT scan before treatment began. Now, after three chemo treatments, this next scan will guide the surgeon to the places that need to be removed. Her job is to seek and destroy! I’ve been told that surgery is for the cancer we can see, and chemo is for the cancer we can’t see.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

In 1971 someone turned this verse into a simple “church camp” song. I say that because that is where I remember singing it.

 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

And all these things shall be added unto you.

Hallelu Halleleujah!

If you Goggle it today, it’s listed as a children’s song. That must be because the concept is so easy that a child can understand it: seek God first, and everything else will fall into place. If it’s so easy, why do we so often forget as adults?

Since my diagnosis, my life has been much simpler, mostly by necessity. I have needed my focus to be on getting well and all that entails. Normally, my life has not been simple at all. I have had a busy life, full of raising kids and working and volunteering. I’ve always kept an overloaded plate and liked it that way.

I once thought it was just how I was wired, but I’ve come to learn that is not necessarily the case after all. This lifestyle was by choice. In reality, too often that busy life was actually a cluttered life – not a full one.

“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6

Some of the items I regret having on my plate are those busy physical tasks and distractions I allow to get in the way of the things that really matter. House work over playing with the kids. Busy work over coffee with a friend. Scrolling over being present. Too often the busy-ness of the day kept me from ever even seeking Him at all.

There is other baggage on my plate – spiritually speaking – that I have needed to remove as well. Unforgiveness, jealously, anger, resentment, bitterness are all things that clutter our hearts at times. They take up space in our soul. They separate us from God. They are habits and mindsets that are old, that hinder us. They are not intended to be part of God’s new creation.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

The CT scan went fine. Unlike last time, I was not the least bit nervous. I met with my doctor today, and she said they look “reassuring,” which I guess for an oncologist sounds pretty good. She said the scans do not always reveal everything that actually needs to come out, so we will just see what’s going on next week when she opens me up.

Now it is her job to focus on the task at hand, removing the cancer she can see. Seek and destroy!

As for me, my job is to keep it simple, striving to keep my eyes on Jesus. With His help, I’m going to focus on intentionally getting rid of those things that hinder my life physically and spiritually. The reward is much greater than a cluttered plate. The rewards are the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). Now that’s what I call a Full Plate!

 “Since we live by  the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

PRAYER

Jesus, let us remember at the beginning of every day to put you first, to seek you always. May we run the race that you have set before us with our eyes fixed on you. Help us to identify those things in our lives that are not of you and to cast them off. Let us live lives of simplicity so that we can receive the peace and joy that can only come from knowing and walking with You daily. And may we share our full plates of all the goodness of God for Your Mighty Glory. We pray this in Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

A Song for Your Day: First Things First