Knowing the heart of God begins with understanding who God is. The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), God is light (1 John 1:5), and God is spirit (John 4:24). God’s very nature and character is love, righteousness, holiness, and truth. Therefore, if we want to know God’s heart, we must look to who He has revealed Himself to be in Scripture.
One of the primary ways we can know God’s heart is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus perfectly revealed the Father during His time on earth (John 1:18). By observing Jesus’ life, teachings, and interactions with people, we see the very heart of God lived out in practical ways. Jesus demonstrated God’s compassion for the hurting and outcast. He showed God’s desire for relationship with humankind. And He displayed God’s heart for justice and righteousness. As we study the Gospels, we encounter the very heart of God through Christ.
The Bible also reveals God’s heart through His covenants and interactions with people throughout history. We see God’s faithfulness to His promises in His covenant with Abraham and Sarah. We observe God’s love and care for His people Israel in the Exodus story. God’s desire for relationship shines through in the giving of the Law and establishment of the tabernacle system. The Old Testament narratives provide glimpse after glimpse into the character and nature of God.
Furthermore, we understand God’s heart through the writings of the prophets. The prophets often conveyed God’s grief over the sin of His people, as well as His desire for them to return to Him (Hosea 11, Jeremiah 2-3). They powerfully communicated God’s heart for justice, righteousness, and care for the poor and needy (Isaiah 58, Amos 5). Through the prophets, we gain insight into God’s compassionate heart for wayward humanity.
The Psalms also provide a glimpse into God’s heart. The psalmists write of God’s lovingkindness, faithfulness, justice and salvation. They extol His goodness, majesty and holiness. The Psalms are saturated with insight into God’s character and nature as observed by those who walked closely with Him.
In addition to understanding God’s heart through Scripture, we also come to know His heart more intimately through relationship with Him. As we walk with Christ daily, reading His Word, communing with Him in prayer, and obeying His commands, our lives become aligned with the heart of God. We begin to see people and circumstances as He does. We become shaped by His thoughts and ways. His desires become our desires. Through an intimate walk with the Lord, we grow to know His heart more profoundly.
This is a lifelong process as we are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). We cannot expect to know the infinite heart of God fully in this life. But through the Word, the Spirit, and relationship with Christ, we can have confidence that God will reveal to us all we need to know of Him for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). As we diligently seek Him, God promises we will find Him and know Him more truly (Jeremiah 29:13).
In summary, we know the heart of God primarily through:
- Studying Jesus’ life and ministry in the Gospels
- Observing God’s interactions with people in the Old Testament
- Hearing God’s voice through the prophets and Psalms
- Cultivating personal intimacy with God through spiritual disciplines
As we devote ourselves to these disciplines, we will grow in understanding this great, loving, and holy God we serve. Our desire should be as Paul’s: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). There is always more of God’s infinite heart yet to be discovered. But He promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him and be richly rewarded (Hebrews 11:6).
Next, we must understand that knowing God’s heart requires humility on our part. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). As finite human beings, we cannot comprehend the depth of God’s wisdom and knowledge. We are dependent on God to reveal Himself to us through Christ and Scripture. This requires humility and teachability as we prayerfully study the Bible.
We also need childlike faith. Jesus said we must receive the kingdom of God like a child (Luke 18:17). Children have a simple, dependent faith that relies entirely on their father. We too must trust God to reveal what we need to know of Him, believing He will make His heart known to those who earnestly seek Him.
In addition, knowing God’s heart necessitates moral purity. The Psalms tell us that only those with clean hands and pure hearts will ascend to the hill of the Lord (Psalm 24:3-4). As we repent of sin and walk in holiness, we become more attuned to the heart of God. Unconfessed sin clouds our spiritual vision and dulls our perception of divine truth.
Furthermore, we must approach God with patient perseverance. It takes time in God’s Word and presence for divine wisdom to penetrate our human understanding. We may have to wrestle and wait for fresh illumination that renews our perspective. As we wait on the Lord, He renews our strength to comprehend His truth at greater depths (Isaiah 40:31).
God also encourages us to come to Him collectively for insight into His heart. As we fellowship with other believers, we gain perspective we would lack on our own. The body of Christ needs each member using their unique gifts to unveil more facets of our infinite God (1 Corinthians 12:4-27).
Therefore, with humility, faith, purity, patience, and Christian community, we position ourselves to gain insight into the beautiful heart of God. We must recognize we cannot know Him fully, but we can know Him truly. As we earnestly seek Him through every means He provides, God delights to reveal Himself to us.
There are also certain spiritual disciplines that can help us know God’s heart better. Regular Bible reading and study helps us encounter the truth of who God is through His written Word. As we meditate on Scripture, we begin thinking God’s thoughts after Him. The Scriptures illuminate the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Prayer is essential for knowing God’s heart. As we bring our needs, thoughts, and desires to God in prayer, He responds and reveals aspects of His nature and will we need. Through prayer we gain divine perspective we lack on our own.
Biblical fasting is also important. As we voluntarily deny ourselves food or other needs, we become more attentive to God’s voice and sensitive to His Spirit. Fasting prepares our hearts to receive fresh understanding of eternal truths.
Additionally, worship aids us in knowing God’s heart. When we worship God for who He is, our eyes are opened to see Him more clearly. As we focus on His majesty and glory, His character is impressed upon us anew.
Serving others also trains our hearts to be more receptive to divine truth. As we pour ourselves out in service to others, God pours Himself in to us. We gain new insights from seeing life through the lens of serving.
Finally, sharing our faith helps us know God better. As we tell others about Christ, we grow in our own knowledge of His love, mercy, and salvation. We gain revelation from putting our experiences with God into words.
Therefore, Bible reading, prayer, fasting, worship, service, and evangelism are key spiritual practices that will enhance our knowledge of the heart of God. They place us before God to be changed by encountering Him.
Furthermore, obedience is crucial for knowing God’s heart. Jesus told His disciples that those who have His commands and obey them are the ones who love Him. And that He and the Father would come to make Their home with those who love Him (John 14:21, 23). As we walk in loving obedience to Christ, we abide in Him and grow in our understanding of His ways.
We also must be willing to surrender all to God if we want to know His heart. Until He has all there is of us, our vision of Him will remain dimmed. As we daily die to ourselves and offer every aspect of our lives to Him, God opens the eyes of our heart to see Him more clearly (Ephesians 1:18).
Additionally, we gain insight into God’s heart through trials and suffering. Difficult times force us to rely solely on God, and He uses them to refine our faith and uproot wrong perspectives we have of Him. Our view of God often grows deeper in the furnace of affliction.
God also reveals His heart through relationships with other believers. We learn aspects of God’s nature from seeing Him at work in the lives of fellow Christians. Their experiences can illuminate divine truths previously unknown.
The indwelling Holy Spirit is also vital for knowing God’s heart. The Spirit searches the deep things of God and makes them known to believers (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). As we walk in step with the Spirit, He enlightens the eyes of our heart with wisdom and insight into the marvelous ways of God.
Moreover, as we cultivate these spiritual practices and postures, our love for God will grow. We cannot know someone without loving them. The more we draw near to God and experience His love, the more His heart will resonate through ours. Our affections for Him open us up to comprehend aspects of His heart unattainable by intellect alone.
In summary, we come to know the heart of God by:
- Pursuing spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, fasting, worship
- Walking in loving obedience to His commands
- Surrendering fully to Him as Lord
- Persevering through trials and suffering
- Fellowshipping intimately with other believers
- Following the lead of the indwelling Holy Spirit
- Cultivating love for God through relationship with Him
As we devote ourselves to these pursuits, God rewards our seeking by imparting greater understanding of His divine heart. Although we will never plumb the depths of our infinite Creator, we can know the depths of His love, mercy, justice, holiness, and faithfulness. We can understand His heart enough to declare as Paul did: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33). To know the heart of God is the highest purpose, joy, and privilege of our lives.
The Bible provides several examples of those who sought God’s heart and found favor with Him. Moses was known as a humble man, more so than anyone on earth (Numbers 12:3). God spoke with Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11) and revealed His glory to him (Exodus 34:5-7). God also called David, “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). Though David sinned greatly, he had a passion for knowing God’s heart that few rivals. God calls Abraham His “friend” (Isaiah 41:8) and Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Jesus said there was no one greater born of women than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11). John lived an extremely ascetic life in the wilderness and preached boldly to turn people’s hearts back to God. These examples show the blessings that come from wholeheartedly seeking the heart of God.
On the other hand, the Bible provides warnings about lacking knowledge of God’s heart. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy and faith, even while being meticulous about religious minutia (Matthew 23:23). Jesus also chastised churches in Revelation for losing their first love and called them to repent and return to lives characterized by seeking God’s heart above all else (Revelation 2:4-5). King Saul is an example of someone who lost God’s favor by repeatedly disobeying His clear commands, demonstrating his poor understanding of God’s ways (1 Samuel 15). The blessings of seeking and knowing God’s heart are great, but there are consequences for failing to pursue Him wholeheartedly.
How should knowledge of God’s heart impact how we live? First, it should lead us to worship. As we gain glimpses into God’s awesome holiness, love, and majesty through Scripture, we cannot help but respond in praise. Knowing God’s greatness inspires heartfelt worship.
Gaining insight into God’s heart should also humble us deeply. The more we understand of God, the more we recognize how little we truly comprehend. Such knowledge leads to humility and gratitude for His patient revelation.
In addition, knowing God’s heart motivates us to obedience. We obey God not out mere duty, but delight in who He is. Our affections for Him compel us to walk in His ways. Understanding both His justice and mercy compels our obedience.
Furthermore, we are motivated to share the good news of Christ with others. Since we have experienced God’s loving kindness, we long for others to know Him too. Revelation of His heart fuels our evangelism.
Knowing God’s heart also increases our trust in Him. We can face trials and uncertainties with confidence, knowing the One who holds our future is loving and perfectly wise. His track record in Scripture builds faith.
In addition, we become more dependent on God, less self-reliant. Recognizing the limits of our perspective drives us to seek His counsel daily. We rely on His Spirit to reveal what we cannot know on our own.
Moreover, gaining divine perspective increases our ability to love others sacrificially. We learn to forgive, have compassion, and extend mercy because we have glimpsed the heart of God.
Knowing the heart of God also enhances our prayer lives. We gain wisdom in how to pray according to God’s will as His desires become clearer. Our requests align with heavenly priorities.
Furthermore, we live with greater purpose and meaning. Understanding God’s ultimate purposes infuses daily life with eternal significance. We find joy in participating in His redemptive work.
Finally, when we know God’s motivations are pure and His ways are perfect, we find peace and contentment even amid upheaval. Internalizing His faithfulness calms our hearts.
Therefore, while we will never fully know the infinite God, seeking Him with all our hearts positions us to gain enough knowledge for a life of purposeful obedience, robust faith, selfless love, and profound peace. To know the heart of God is the secret to living well.
In summary, knowing the heart of God impacts how we live by:
- Inspiring worship and praise
- Humbling us deeply
- Motivating us to obedience
- Compelling us to share the gospel
- Increasing trust during trials
- Making us more dependent on God
- Enabling us to love others selflessly
- Guiding our prayer lives
- Infusing life with purpose and meaning
- Granting peace amid uncertainties
Seeking to understand the heart of God is a lifelong endeavor with incredible rewards. While God is so holy we cannot know Him fully, He promises we can truly know Him through Christ and Scripture. As we humbly and diligently seek Him through spiritual disciplines, obedience, surrender, trials, community, the Spirit, and cultivating love, God reveals Himself. Although the process is lifelong, the pursuit fills our lives with meaning, purpose and blessings beyond measure. We are invited into relationship with an infinite yet intimate God who longs for us to know the depths of His heart of love.