I can still hear dad’s words, “Boy you are getting too big for your britches.” As I think about it, dad was correcting something deeper than the stupid thing I had done…it was my heart. He saw his son developing an ungrateful & stubborn heart. I do not recall dad getting upset with the things I broke or lost. It was the attitude. I do remember the time I responded to him with “Why?” He answered with a 36 inch, doubled up his black leather belt that I understood and never forgot.

My dad loved me. My dad never tried to be my friend. Friends come & go. Friends are not responsible for shaping the future, but dads are. Today, his ways may appear harsh, but they worked. He knew gentle would not work in my heart. If I didn’t respond to “the look,” followed by “the warning,” the next thing I heard was the black belt popping through the belt loops of his pants. All because he saw what I didn’t. And he loved me so much he had to do what he had to do to protect me from myself.

Ya know, God is like this. The Old Testament is full of stories of God sending prophets after prophets (found in the books of 1 & 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jonah, Amos, Joel, Obadiah, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Habakkuk) to protect the people from the self-inflecting loss & pain. They chose self over God and paid the price. But God loved them. After 70 years of captivity, He made a way to return His people to His Promise Land.

At the heart of it all is the heart. God desires our heart. Jesus clearly told us, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37. Then God pointed out the imperfect David and said, “‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’” Acts 13:22. It begins with a desiring heart for Him.

What is God’s will? Listen to God’s Word He gave His prophet for the returning people to the Promise Land, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity (the bondage of our sinful life).” Jerimiah 29:11-14. His Word is still active & real today.

Did you hear it? The key to being in relationship with God is, “when you seek me with all your heart.” Isn’t it time you were in the security of His Loving Presence? He is waiting…