Are you after GOD’S HEART? by Diane Solver

Malachi 1:6-14 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?' 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”



In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites specific instructions on what to offer. They should offer the best of their flocks and the best of their grains and fruits. He gave laws to follow. They should not offer blind, lame, or sick animal with blemish. They should offer what the Lord wants them to offer. But nowadays, many are serving Daddy God in their own ways. Many are giving their offerings to God according to what they want. Many are giving polluted offerings. Daddy God has standards. And His standards are higher than our standards. We honor the Lord when we do what He wants. We honor Him when we obey Him.



Most of us are self-seeking. We want things and so we pray for it. But how many have asked the Lord for what He wants? Many pray for a large ministry not because they want to glorify the Lord but because they enjoy being in the ministry. Many want to please themselves and get self satisfaction through serving. But have we ever asked God for what He wants? Have we ever asked Him if He approves what we are doing in the ministry? Did we ask Him if what we are doing in our lives are pleasing to Him?

Jeremiah 7:24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

Psalms 81:12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.

Those who do not ask counsel from the Lord are the ones who often compromise or disobey. They don’t have the fear of the Lord. They do what they want to do. If we continue to do what we want to do and if we refuse to ask counsel from the Lord, He will eventually gave us over to our stubborn hearts.

Psalms 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Isaiah 28:29 “This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”

Ask the Lord what He wants. Many do not ask the Lord because they fear that the Lord might ask them to do difficult things that they do not want. Many people pretend to be deaf and they just do what they think is more easy and more comfortable. Yes, His way is difficult. It is narrow. But it is the only way to life. If we take counsel from the Lord and allow Him to guide us, we will not be lost because He’ll teach us the right way. We must know what pleases the Lord. We must ask Him what He wants. We must know what He likes and what He dislikes. We must know Him personally. We must know His ways. We must walk with Him. We must obey Him at all cost. We must be one with Him for we are His bride. We must be people after His own heart, people who knows His heart. Are you after His heart?



ALL GLORY TO GOD

-Daddy’s girl