Having a HEART for GOD in 2022

It’s a New Year

With anew year often comes new hope or a desire to change

How many make New Years resolutions?

50% of people make them on average

Eat healthier, save money are the top, stronger relationships

Statistically - less than half keep any of them after 6 months

Anyone break theirs yet?

After the year we have had, most of us want new, a fresh start

The issue is we have no idea what this year has in store for us.

But as followers of Christ we do not have to know

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. - Oswald Chambers

Goals and resolutions about health, finances , and relationships are good

Out ward changes usually start with an inward focus

Most of our issues if not all are heart issues

We want things we desire things, but if the heart is off it is never enough.

Psalm 37:4 CSB

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

This does not mean everything I want

As we delight in the Lord - our heart s begin to want what His heart wants

This is why Jesus commanded

Matthew 22:37–39 CSB

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

How do we have a heart for God this new year?

That is what I want to dive into

Turn to Matthew 6

Let’s Pray

Having a heart for God is a daily exercise

I tis not a one an done

I want to use HEART as an acronym this morning

H - Hear from God

Matthew 6:33 CSB

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Hearing from God is discipline

We each will hear form Him in different ways, but the message will always be consistent with His word

God and His kingdom become priority

Other things are good but God is the hing that will last

Quiet the noise

E - Empty yourself from your agenda

Philippians 2:3–4 CSB

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

God, others, me - that needs to be the order

When we start hearing form God - our hearts will turn to God - our hearts will desire what God

God’s desire - that everyone will know

My plans and agendas are so small compared to His

A - Ask God for His will to be done in your life

Matthew 6:10–11 CSB

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.

Not His will for everyone else - His will for our life

What is His will -

Know Him - growing in faith, becoming more like Jesus

Make Him known - whatever it takes or cost

I warn you this is a dangerous prayer -

You may have to let go of things to take hold of what God has for you

Where the the rubber meets the road is....

R- Respond by being obedient to what He leads you to do

Philippians 3:13–14 CSB

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

It makes no sense to sing on Sunday if you are not going to obey the rest of the week

The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are at opposite sides of the same coin. - A. W. Tozer

If you don’t say yes you cannot call Him Lord

Yes to forgiving

Yes to serving

Yes to giving

Yes to going

It is yes or nothing

T - Thank God the He will reveal Himself, His purpose, and His ways to us

Jeremiah 29:13 CSB

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

If we sincerely look for Him - we will find

God is not playing hide and seek

He doesn’t just say take a guess

He makes Himself known - scripture, church, experiences

We just have to pay attention

Having a Heart for God in 2022

No one says this will be easy, but it is not hard also

Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be diligent in the present. - Alexander MacLaren

Are you more like Jesus today than you were a year ago

Are you closer to God than you were a year ago

If the answer is no -

Let’s not wast another year

Start today

Don’t make a resolution - make a commitment

Let’s pray