My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Psalm 27:8
Does your heart talk to God? Actually, that’s a rhetorical question. The answer is Yes. Our hearts absolutely respond to God and He absolutely speaks to our hearts. In my opinion, that’s the only thing He ever really speaks to; but we, in our limited thinking, so often apply His words, His voice, His promptings, to our physical state only.
I’ve heard the statement that we “Seek God’s Heart, not His Hand.” I’m pretty sure that I know what it means – that I should be more concerned with who God is instead of what He does for me. I should seek to be in the presence of God, rather than seeking to be in the midst of God’s “presents”. Psalm 27:4 says:
The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
David got it. He sought to be in the Lord’s presence and to delight in the perfection of who He is more than anything else! If you continue to read the following verses, you see that being in God’s presence is enough, and along with that comes a multitude of rewards of safety, elevation, and goodness.
As I was reading through Exodus, I realize that Moses also got it – maybe even more than David. Check out the following exchange between Moses and God …
“Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.‘ And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people ….”
One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you.”
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place … For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” (Ex. 33:1-3, 12-16)
Wow. When I read this, I know for certain – Moses got it. Moses understood that the Promised Land meant nothing without God’s presence with them. He understood that the goodness and blessings that we receive are sometimes the promises that God made to our ancestors coming to fruition (He keeps His covenant for 1000 generations) ; it doesn’t always mean that we are currently in alignment with God’s will. The Israelites had begun worshipping false idols and God was so upset that he threatened to destroy them altogether; I’d say they probably weren’t in God’s good graces at the time.
However, after pleading and interceding for them, God agrees to give them the Land of Promise (according to His word) and tells them that although He would not travel among them, He would send them an angel to lead and protect them. This seems like a pretty good deal – SWEET!! The Lord would show mercy, the Israelites would inherit a land flowing with milk and honey, Moses would have the guidance and protection of a heavenly angel. Can it get any better than that??? Apparently, Moses felt like it could.
Moses wanted more than God’s protection. He wanted more than God’s promise. He was after God’s Presence.
Moses had experienced an intimate connection with The Father, so he knew that without God’s presence the things that he would acquire were only temporary pleasures. Moses got it – he was after more than God’s hand, he wanted God’s heart and he fought and pleaded with God to have it. He was willing to stay exactly where he was and not move into the Promised Land if it meant that He could spend time with God. How beautiful! God had spoken to Moses’ heart, and Moses’ heart spoke back.
This makes me wonder how many of us don’t get it. I wonder, how many of us are so consumed with the gifts that God gives, gifts that may or may not be an indicator of God’s favor and approval, that we stop seeking God’s presence? I wonder, how many of us are so caught up with responding to God with our hands and our works, that we never truly respond to Him with our heart? And I wonder, how many of us settle for the satisfaction of being “good enough” instead of fighting for the glory of being set apart? God’s presence alone will set His people apart from all other people on the earth.
Is your heart responding to God’s request?
If so, what is it saying?
It is truly my desire to seek after The Father’s heart and not just His hand. I want to go wherever He leads me, but I only want to be there as long as He is there with me. Right now, I strongly feel that the Lord has called me to Gainesville – to work with Adventures in Missions as Program Lead of The Fellowship.
Accepting this position was a heart’s reply for me. The work doesn’t appear as glamorous or ‘missions focused’ as The World Race, but I definitely feel that this is the place that God’s heart has called me to during this season. Not to mention, the opportunity to disciple followers of Christ and build God’s Kingdom wherever I go is DEFINITELY missions focused. Because of that, I am full of faith that He will provide the means necessary to sustain me here.
I pray that as you have been following my journey and as you read my words, you also hear my heart in all of this. I pray that if the Lord is calling you to be a part of this (part of my life and the lives of the Fellows whom I am honored to serve), that your heart would also respond with a resounding YES!
Part of my responsibilities as Fellowship Program Leader includes support raising for Adventures In Missions and I am in need of monthly supporters. I am asking for partners to join me in my mission by committing to give $50, $75, $100, or $150 a month. If you would like to give more, that would be AWESOME; if you would like to give a one time donation rather than committing to give monthly, that would be great as well!!
Please click on one of the links below if your heart is committed to saying yes!
Thanks for Reading!!
