Life’s Greatest Pursuit: A Modern Guide for a Meaningful Life

By Dwayne Moore

As we dig deeper into what it means to live a life that truly matters, today we’re tackling one of the biggest questions of our time: What’s really worth pursuing? In a world that’s constantly selling us the next big thing to chase after, it’s easy to get caught up in pursuits that look meaningful on the surface but leave us feeling empty inside.

Whether you’re a worship woman leading your church’s praise team, a church leader investing in worship discipleship, or someone simply seeking to understand what whole-life worship looks like, this conversation is for all of us. Because at the end of the day, we’re all searching for something that will give our lives true purpose and meaning.

The Modern Chase: What Are We Really Running After?

Let’s be honest about the world we’re living in. When you scroll through social media or catch up with friends, what are most people talking about? Usually it’s money, career success, social media followers, or the next big achievement. Our culture has convinced us that these things are worthy of our total dedication and energy.

Then there are those who’ve swung to the opposite extreme, the people who think the answer is complete separation from the world, focusing only on personal purity and isolation. Others spend their lives like treasure hunters, convinced that if they just find the right secret knowledge or hidden wisdom, everything will finally make sense.

And don’t get us started on the vague spirituality that’s everywhere these days, people talking generally about “the universe” and “spiritual energy” without any real foundation or truth to anchor their beliefs.

Here’s the thing: as passionate as people get about these pursuits, none of them actually qualify as life’s greatest pursuit. They’re just our attempts to find meaning and purpose apart from the One who created us in the first place. The Bible calls it “chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:4), and honestly, that’s exactly what it feels like when you’ve been there.

The Beautiful Truth: You’ve Already Been Found

Here’s where everything changes, and it’s the most beautiful truth you’ll ever hear: Life’s greatest pursuit isn’t about finding something or someone, it starts with being found.

Jesus said it perfectly in John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” Before the earth and heavens were even made, God had a plan and purpose for us. Romans 8:29 tells us that “from the distant past, his eternal love reached into the future, and he chose those who would be conformed to the image of his Son.”

Let me paint you a picture that might help this sink in. Do you remember ever getting separated from your parents when you were little? I’ll never forget the first time it happened to me. I was four years old in this massive mall (which felt absolutely enormous at that age!). I wandered around completely lost, with no clue where to go or what to do. All I knew was that I desperately wanted my mom and dad.

The beautiful part of the story? They found me. Notice I didn’t say I found them. I was completely helpless and desperate on my own. No matter how hard I tried to find them, I simply couldn’t do it alone.

That’s exactly how it is with us and God. We were completely unable to find Him or reach up to Him, so He came down to us and met us right where we were. Hallelujah!

Your Turn: Time to Return the Favor

But here’s where our part comes in. Once God initiates that relationship, once He “finds” us and we become His children, it’s time for us to invest the rest of our lives seeking after Him. We get to spend our days getting to know Him more and more intimately as He continues to reveal Himself to us.

This isn’t just some nice religious idea. This is the foundation of lifestyle prayer and whole-life worship that transforms everything about how we live, lead, and serve others.

What the Bible Says About Seeking God

Let’s look at what Scripture actually teaches us about this pursuit. In Jeremiah 29, the prophet wrote a letter to the exiled priests and elders in Babylon. These were God’s chosen people, He had already initiated the relationship with them. They already belonged to Him.

Take a moment to read Jeremiah 29:10-14. Notice what God expected the Israelites to do in verse 13. What was their responsibility to Him in order to “find” Him?

Now flip to Proverbs 2:1-6. Where does wisdom come from, and what should we be willing to do to have it? What will we ultimately find, and how do we get it?

The answer is clear: God wants us to know Him. Whatever the cost, we’re called to seek Him with our whole heart. Think about it this way: if you knew there was incredible treasure buried in your backyard, you’d spare no expense and work your fingers to the bone to dig it up, right?

With that same passion and intensity, we should search for the treasure our awesome God has made available to us. And here’s the promise: as we seek Him, He will make Himself known!

The Darts Game That Changed Everything

Let me share an analogy that completely shifted how I think about life and success. Most people know how to play darts: you pick up a dart and try to hit the bull’s-eye. Seems simple enough, but like most things, it takes real skill and knowledge to be good at it.

Here’s a trick question: What should be the primary goal for a dart player? Think carefully before you answer. Should it be to win?

If your goal is to become a champion dart thrower, the answer might surprise you. Winning shouldn’t be your first consideration. Obviously winning is important! But just wanting to win isn’t enough to actually make it happen. I’ve played darts plenty of times, really wanting to win each time, but I can count on one hand how often that actually happened.

While winning is certainly the objective, it shouldn’t be the most important focus for the player. What dart throwers need to develop above all else is knowledge and skill. Before you can play well, you first need to know the rules and strategies. The more you understand about the game: especially about the board itself: the better your chances of winning.

Here’s where it gets really interesting: The bull’s-eye isn’t even the best target if you want to win! Professional players aim for the triple 20s to get the highest scores. The triple 20 is in that thin middle section, roughly halfway between the outer wire and the center circle. Hit it with all three darts and you get 180 points: the highest possible score. Can you see why knowledge of the game is so crucial?

Applying This to Life’s Greatest Pursuit

The same principle applies to this “game” called life. If we really want to win at life, there’s something: or rather, someone: we must know first. Deep knowledge and understanding of our Lord is absolutely necessary to be truly successful.

And this knowledge has to get into our hearts, not just our heads. Divine knowledge: knowledge that comes from God and isn’t just about God: actually changes how we live and behave. As church leaders and those involved in ministry of worship, we understand that our godly vision must be rooted in truly knowing Him.

This is why Paul said, “I want to know him inside and out. I want to experience the power of his resurrection. I want to find myself deeper in the path of the Liberating King, joined in his suffering, shaped by his death” (Philippians 3:10).

Making It Personal: Your Daily Response

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Knowledge without application is just information. Whole-life worship means taking what we’re learning and letting it transform every area of our lives.

Reflection Challenge: Write out Romans 12:2 and think about how Paul’s counsel points us toward a deeper knowledge of God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As long as we’re on this earth, we have both the incredible privilege and the tremendous need to get to know the one and only God more and more. This is the heart of what we do at Next Level Worship: helping worship leaders, praise teams, and church leaders understand that our worship discipleship starts with this fundamental pursuit.

Your Daily Meditation

Take time to carefully read Romans 11:33-36. There’s an old hymn that captures this beautifully: “Living He loved me; dying He saved me; Buried He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever: One day He’s coming: O glorious day!”

Spend some time dwelling on that glorious day. Imagine Jesus breaking through the clouds to take His children home. Then pray. Let Jesus know you’ll be watching for Him as you go through your day.

Living This Out in Community

Whether you’re a woman worshiping God in your personal lifestyle prayer time, leading worship missions, serving in vacation bible school, or participating in bible study with others, remember that this pursuit is both deeply personal and beautifully communal.

At Next Level Worship, we’ve seen how worship leaders and lead pastors alike are transformed when they make knowing God their greatest pursuit. It changes everything about how we approach pure praise, how we develop others, and how we see our calling in ministry.

Journal Prompts for This Week:

• What have I been pursuing that might be “chasing after the wind”?
• How can I make knowing God more central to my daily routine?
• What would change in my worship leadership if I truly lived this out?
• How can I help others in my ministry understand this pursuit?

The truth is, as long as we’re here on earth, we get to keep discovering more about who God is. That’s why the Servant’s Creed begins with these powerful words: “I yearn to know my Lord above all fortune and all fame.”

Make those words your prayer today. Let them become the foundation of your whole-life worship. Because when knowing God becomes our greatest pursuit, everything else falls into its proper place.