"What is God looking for?"

Day 1: A Heart That Is After His

Introduction:

When we talk about worship, it's important to understand that it is our gift to God. It is not something that is for us or any other thing, it is ONLY for God. Jesus confirms this in Luke 4:8 when He says "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."

So, being that worship is for God and not for us, we need to make an effort to really understand what God desires from us when worshiping. Another way to look at it would be if you were bringing someone a gift. If you were thoughtful, you would consider what this person would want, and then give them something according to their interests. So it is with worship.

Verses:

2nd Chronicles 16:9a "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

Acts 13:22 "And when He had removed him (Saul), He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found Davidthe son of Jesse,a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’"

Explanation:

When choosing the second king of Israel, God chose David, the only man whom God testified as being "after His heart," which is to say, David had a heart that is conformed to God's and had a desire to know God. When God looks at the heart of a leader or a worshiper, He is looking for one that can be conformed to His and is looking for someone who wants to know who God is personally, rather than just knowing "about" God.

How does this happen?

• By spending time with God. David wrote psalms about the Lord long before He was anointed as king. He played his harp for God and developed skill and insight into God's heart. You can't truly know someone unless you learn who they are through spending time with them.
• By allowing God to do what He wishes with your heart. God said of David that he would "do all My will." God trusted David to obey, and this is the same as saying He trusted David to love Him and carry out his commandments.

David had given his heart to the Lord to be conformed, and the Lord had entrusted David with His own heart.

Activation:

This week, spend time with God in prayer and worship, and ask Him to conform your heart to His. David asked the Lord to "create in [him] a clean heart" (Psalm 51:10). I believe God honors that prayer. Praying that with your whole heart will give God access to your heart. Pray it daily and see how God changes your character to conform to His Will.

Pray this with me:

Jesus I give You my whole heart. The good parts, and the bad parts, the parts I'm aware need work, and the parts that I'm not aware. Take all of it, clean it, conform it, and transform it. I desire to have a heart that is shaped and molded after Your own heart. Your will be done in my life and in my heart. In Jesus' name, amen!