From the Heart

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

God is after your heart, not your head and hands.

God wants you to love him first and foremost, and out of your love for him, your heart be transformed and your actions be changed. He’s not looking at us and saying, ‘OK, I’ve saved you, now what are you going to do for me?’

Instead, he’s watching us to see how salvation has transformed us from the inside out, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Not an overnight transformation, but I slow pressing, stain, beating our way out of the cocoon to beauty.

Gods not waiting to see what we do for him, but how we truly love him and show our love for him through our natural actions and reactions to the world around us. When what we do is forced, you can see that it is in our own power, but when what we do is from his love, there is a peace and joy in the doing of it.

The Glory of God will shine through us when what we do is from the heart.

How do we know his heart and how does our love for Him grow? By knowing Him more. And how do we know Him more? We build a relationship with Him, a personal relationship, that takes US seeking Him and speaking to Him. Just like getting to know a person we have to learn about them and we can learn more about God by READING the Word of God. It’s personal and it’s transformational. Then our hearts will be changed, then we will grow closer to Him.

So what does God want from each of us? Micah 6:8 in The Message explains it so sweetly:

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously — take God seriously.”

Love God with all your Heart, and let Love shine forth through the actions of your Head and Hands, your Words and Actions.