A Devoted Heart Is What God is After

A Heart After God: True Devotion Beyond the Motions When God looks at us, He isn’t impressed by outward appearances, religious routines, or acts of piety performed for show. He’s after something deeper: our hearts. The prophet Samuel learned this truth when he was sent to anoint David as king. God told him, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NASB). True devotion to God is more than showing up at church, reading a daily Scripture, or repeating prayers out of habit. While these practices are important, they must flow from a heart that is fully surrendered and devoted to God. Otherwise, we risk becoming what Jesus called "whitewashed tombs," outwardly clean but inwardly full of decay: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27, NASB). What Does God Seek in Our Devotion? God desires a heart that: Hungers for Him: David, often called a man after God’s own heart, expressed his longing for God with these words: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God” (Psalm 42:1, NASB). Our devotion must stem from a deep thirst for God’s presence. Seeks Holiness: A sanctified heart is one purified by the Spirit and committed to walking in God’s ways. This work of sanctification begins with God. Paul reminds us, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NASB). Loves Wholeheartedly: Jesus emphasized this when He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, NASB). Partial love is insufficient; God wants all of us. How Does God Create a Sanctified Heart? The Refining Process: Sanctification often involves trials and refining. Just as gold is purified in the fire, our hearts are purified through difficulties. God promises, “I will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them” (Zechariah 13:9, NASB). Through His Word: Scripture transforms and renews our hearts. Jesus prayed for His followers, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NASB). Daily time in God’s Word isn’t just a ritual; it’s the means by which He reshapes us into His image. The Work of the Holy Spirit: True transformation happens when we yield to the Spirit’s work. Paul writes, “But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB). Guarding Against Empty Devotion It’s easy to fall into the trap of religious motions without true devotion. To guard against this, we must: Examine Our Motives: Why do we pray, serve, or worship? Is it out of love for God or obligation? Repent of Hypocrisy: When we recognize areas of spiritual complacency or pretense, we must confess and turn back to God. Pursue Intimacy with God: Devotion is not a checklist; it’s a relationship. Spend time with God as you would with someone you love deeply. A Heart Devoted to God God isn’t impressed by our works if they lack heart. What He desires is a heart fully surrendered to Him, sanctified by His Spirit, and devoted to His glory. Let David’s prayer be our own: “Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, NASB). May we strive for more than outward devotion, allowing God to transform us from the inside out so that our lives reflect His glory and our hearts beat solely for Him.