It’s Friday…Now It’s Our Turn

How would you answer the question, “What does God desire from us?” I pressed the pause button over the past couple of weeks and this question kept resurfacing. I couldn’t ignore it. And I rediscovered what He made clear from the very beginning of time and creation. He wants humble hearts that love Him, that take pleasure in submitting to Him, and that welcome His will for their lives. Seems like that ought to be simple enough, but we have a way of complicating things, especially when we want to justify a certain level of independence from our Creator. Then we develop shades of truth and shadows of sin, relating to God in complex terms He never desired or authorized. When that happens, we end up becoming masters of subtle rebellion.

But God’s desire hasn’t changed. He loves simplicity of devotion. He enjoys those who enjoy Him without compromising Him. He created us for the kind of intimacy that rejoices together, weeps together, works together, and loves implicitly. And since we don’t start out that way in life, there’s no way to develop that kind of relationship without moving from where we are.

“Return to The LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate.”  (Joel 2:13)

The good news is that God moved first. He did everything necessary for us to boldly approach His throne of grace and to enjoy His presence. Now It’s Our Turn. We repent – or “return,” as Joel says – by changing our minds about who He is and letting Him change our hearts to truly experience Him. The result of that turn is a God who is “abounding in love” and wild about showing us His mercies.

If we want to experience the God who is on our side, who will defend us, lavish His love on us, provide for us, and bathe us in His favor, try the simple approach He prescribes. Let’s turn toward Him, live in deep humility, believe His promises, and thank Him constantly for His mercies. As we do, we will begin to see – and enjoy – His presence more and more.

Here’s the truth, a repentant, humble heart is like a God-magnet. He enthusiastically attaches Himself to those who love Him as He created us to. When we do, He will surround us with His tenderness and pour out His favor on us. He never lets us down.

Have a simple weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who intimately seek to know what God desires and look for ways to submit to Him because they have learned that is where true satisfaction us found.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)