For 40 years, God sustained Israel in the wilderness — clothes that never wore out, manna from heaven, water from the rock. But when they reached the promised land, life changed. No longer could they rely on the Nile or their own strength — they had to depend on Him for the rain. Deuteronomy 11 reminds us: God leads us into places where our survival depends on His presence. He’s not just teaching us faith; He’s awakening our appetite for Him.God is in pursuit of you — shaping you, calling you, preparing you. The question today is: Are you in pursuit of Him? Bishop D. G. Hargrove urges us to be self-reflective and honest in whether we are pursuing God.
Some messages meet you where you are. This one calls you to move.
In “In Pursuit,” Bishop D. G. Hargrove preached from Deuteronomy 11:11-17 and reminded our North Cities family that we’re not drifting through life—we’re being pursued by God, and we’re called to live in pursuit of Him.
That matters for everyday life in Garland, TX, and for our neighbors across Rowlett, Wylie, Murphy, Plano, and Richardson—because the Lord isn’t just trying to improve our week. He’s trying to lead us into a new season of purpose, provision, and obedience across Dallas County, Collin County, and Rockwall County.
God Is in Pursuit of You
Bishop began with a simple, powerful reminder: God is looking for you.
No matter how long you’ve been away. No matter what you’ve done—or what you’ve seen. No matter how far you feel from the Lord today—God is not confused about your address. He’s not intimidated by your story. He is in pursuit.
That’s the gospel thread from start to finish:
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God loved the world enough to come near (Emmanuel, “God with us”).
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God stepped into flesh to redeem and restore.
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God didn’t wait for perfect people—He came for broken ones.
And for anyone who feels unqualified, distant, or “too far gone,” this message draws a clear line in the sand:
God’s pursuit is greater than your past.
Transition Seasons Require Fresh Dependence
Deuteronomy 11 is Moses speaking to Israel in a major transition. They’re leaving a wilderness season where God provided daily—manna, water from a rock, clothes that didn’t wear out—and they’re heading into a different kind of land:
“A land of hills and valleys… that drinks water from the rain of heaven.” (Deuteronomy 11:11)
In other words: You’re about to live in a place where you can’t rely on the old systems.
Bishop applied that to real life: sometimes God moves you from “easy provision” to “faith provision.” From what’s familiar to what’s stretching. From what you can control to what you have to pray through.
If you’re in a transition right now—new job pressure, family changes, financial uncertainty, spiritual rebuilding—this was a word for you:
God doesn’t just lead you into change—He teaches you to depend on Him in it.
Hills and Valleys Are Not Proof God Left You
The promised land wasn’t flat. It had hills and valleys.
Bishop said it plainly: God’s place for you won’t always be smooth terrain. There will be climbing seasons. There will be valley seasons. And yes—sometimes walking downhill is harder than walking up.
But hills and valleys don’t mean you missed God. Often, they mean you’re exactly where He’s growing you.
The land is still good. The God is still faithful. The rain still comes.
Our Pursuit Starts With Humility and Hunger
If God is pursuing us, then our response is to pursue Him—not casually, not occasionally, but intentionally.
Bishop gave several practical spiritual markers of a life “in pursuit”:
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Humble yourself before God (James 4:6)
God resists pride but gives grace to the humble. -
Hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)
You can’t satisfy spiritual hunger with worldly noise. There are seasons when you have to shut down distractions to turn up desire. -
Hide the Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11)
The Word doesn’t just inform you—it steadies you. It calms your mind, strengthens your soul, and anchors your direction. -
Honor God with your actions (1 Peter 1:15–16)
Pursuit isn’t just what we say we believe—it’s how we live Monday through Saturday.
And one of the clearest calls in the message was this: Our actions must match our pursuit.
Not perfection—pursuit. Not performance—obedience. Not image—holiness.
God Has a Place for You and a Mission for You
Bishop made it personal: God doesn’t only have a “plan” in general—He has a place for you.
A role. A calling. A responsibility in the Kingdom. That might look like teaching a Bible study for the first time. Serving when you’ve been sitting. Praying when you’ve been passive. Showing up when you’ve been staying home.
He even tied it to outreach and the upcoming tent revival, reminding the church that God is still saving, still filling, still calling—right here in our community.
If you’ve been telling yourself:
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“I don’t know enough.”
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“I’ve never done that.”
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“I’m not confident.”
Hear this clearly:
God doesn’t call the already-ready. He calls the willing.
God’s Provision Is Connected to Our Obedience
Deuteronomy 11 doesn’t only describe the land. It describes the condition:
“If you earnestly obey… then I will give you the rain…” (Deuteronomy 11:13–14)
Bishop emphasized a principle many of us need right now in Garland and the surrounding cities: God is a Provider, and He knows how to send rain in the right season.
That includes:
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spiritual rain (renewal, joy, strength)
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relational rain (healing, restoration, peace)
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practical rain (jobs, resources, needs met)
And the altar call landed with faith: God wants to provide for families. God wants to provide for households. God wants to provide for needs in this room.
A Word for Garland and the Surrounding Cities
North Cities, we aren’t just attending church—we’re being formed into a pursuing people.
For Garland, Rowlett, Wylie, Murphy, Plano, and Richardson, and throughout Dallas County, Collin County, and Rockwall County, the Lord is still:
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pursuing prodigals
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calling believers into purpose
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sending rain to thirsty places
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building faith in transition seasons
And He’s asking us to respond with the same posture:
In pursuit. In pursuit. In pursuit.
