What Does Your Heart Desire?
Answered prayer is the interchange of love between the Father and His child. ―
To Love and Be Loved
God created an intimate desire in our hearts to want to love and be loved. We crave the sense of oneness found in true love.
True love existed at the beginning of time, when Adam and Eve walked intimately in the Garden of Eden with God, and they were one.
Since the fall, God has created ways for the creation to be one with the Creator again. He gave the Hebrew people these words to be said at least two times a day:
Shema Israel, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad. Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)
At sunset and sunrise, the Hebrew people said these words to consistently remember their Creator God, listen for His all-knowing voice, and walk in His ways.
God knows, in Him is where oneness is found.
Walking consistently creates intimacy. Intimacy creates oneness with God. 
Hear & Respond
Shema in Hebrew, means to both hear and respond or take action. It is as if God is constantly whispering to us, remember who I am. I created you and know you intimately. You can find rest in Me. His words are gentle reminders of His Holy presence and sovreignity.
Why, if we hear His gentle reminders, do we not respond to Him?
Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5 (NASB)
So many times, we read His words and understand his promises, yet we fail to respond to them with our actions. We go our own way because the way we can see, or the way of the world, is more enticing.
Yet, when we need God, we hope He hears us and answers us when we pray.
We ask God to listen, “Hear, LORD, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me.” Psalm 27:7 (NASB)
To shema means to hear and carry out the words of one who knows better than you, or the self-existent one, YHWH.
And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ Exodus 3:14 (NASB)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:3 (NASB)
Unconditional Love
God’s unconditional love or ahavah is familial and loyal. While this love can be felt in a group, God’s love is specifically for you, not because of anything you have done, but because of who you are.
The LORD did not make you His beloved nor choose you because you were greater in number than any of the peoples, since you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NASB)
God’s eternal love exists even if you don’t feel it or see it or understand it, and He chose you to experience it! 
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NASB)
When we intimately know His love, we can’t help but show His love by treating those around us with love.
Loved people, love people.
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NASB)
With All of Your Heart
And the affections of our hearts discern His wisdom to separate the lies from the truth for our lives.
God’s love creates desires in our heart.
Our choices are motivated by our desires.
What is the object of your desire?
Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6 (NASB)
God wants to carry the issues you are holding onto for you. The Psalmist David prayed for a pure and clean heart and he set an example for us to follow.
Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NASB)
David would have grown up saying the Shema in his home.
Jesus would have grown up saying the Shema in his Jewish home.
This is what Jesus was referring to when he said to LOVE God with all of your HEART. and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus knew where true oneness was found.
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
When God’s word is ingrained on hearts it is displayed in actions, and walking with Him daily in prayer, worship, reading, and listening, is where consistency is found. Consistency produces intimacy. Isn’t that what every heart longs for?
Intimacy with God comes from spending time with Him and becoming One with Him by knowing Him as we are known.
In our ever-changing world, our inconsistent hearts long for a sense of consistency.
Our hearts long for something constant, instead of something that is always changing.
Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God. Psalm 42:5 (NASB)
The opposite of intimacy is division or brokenness.
And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)
God meets us in the valley when we face tribulations. His strength brings perseverance which produces character and hope in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The love of God is found in our hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit brings us out of brokenness and into oneness with the lover of our soul.
If you are feeling broken right now, two things:
- Accept Jesus as your personal Lord & Savior.
- Confess the sin you carry – cast it to the cross.
Will you let Him love you today? May He be the desire of your soul.
Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, LORD, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, and remembering You, is the desire of our souls. Isaiah 26:8 (NASB)
Basking in His Light
Please subscribe
to receive devotionals and ministry updates directly in your inbox!
