Down to the Heart of It
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Kids have a tendency to think that material items fix everything. Ice cream fixes sadness, a game fixes boredom, and a toy makes you happy.
Most everyone grows out of this stage and realizes that material things can’t actually buy you happiness, but even as adults, we often have no idea what we really need. We’re all just kids trying to find small solutions to big problems.
We don’t know what to ask for as we should, and sometimes the best we can do is to ask the Lord to intercede for us when we don’t know what to pray for. As we believe and trust that God will do a work in our lives as He did for Jabez, we can’t be so focused on something that we want to receive from God that we care more about the blessing than we do about Him. Regardless of whether or not what we want is material, it doesn’t matter. If we want the present more than the Giver, then it’s all for nothing.
When a child asks for a gift, it’s not much of a surprise because they don’t understand yet that materials can’t give your life meaning—they’re just things. But if a child were to ask their parents to speak a word of value and truth over their life, the entire perception is changed.
When we ask God to bless us, are we only asking so that we get what we want, or do we genuinely seek Him so that we are nearer to Him? What we ask from Him is often too small for what He has planned. We pray too small. We think too small. You could pray for a million dollars, but that would still be too small because money is nowhere near as valuable as we’d like to think. Our perception of value is different from God’s, and what He has is always better. It's always more.
When we pray for blessings, for change, for more out of our lives, let us pray with the intent to be near His heart—that it wouldn’t matter what He’s holding in His hands, only what’s in His heart.
Kids have a tendency to think that material items fix everything. Ice cream fixes sadness, a game fixes boredom, and a toy makes you happy.
Most everyone grows out of this stage and realizes that material things can’t actually buy you happiness, but even as adults, we often have no idea what we really need. We’re all just kids trying to find small solutions to big problems.
We don’t know what to ask for as we should, and sometimes the best we can do is to ask the Lord to intercede for us when we don’t know what to pray for. As we believe and trust that God will do a work in our lives as He did for Jabez, we can’t be so focused on something that we want to receive from God that we care more about the blessing than we do about Him. Regardless of whether or not what we want is material, it doesn’t matter. If we want the present more than the Giver, then it’s all for nothing.
When a child asks for a gift, it’s not much of a surprise because they don’t understand yet that materials can’t give your life meaning—they’re just things. But if a child were to ask their parents to speak a word of value and truth over their life, the entire perception is changed.
When we ask God to bless us, are we only asking so that we get what we want, or do we genuinely seek Him so that we are nearer to Him? What we ask from Him is often too small for what He has planned. We pray too small. We think too small. You could pray for a million dollars, but that would still be too small because money is nowhere near as valuable as we’d like to think. Our perception of value is different from God’s, and what He has is always better. It's always more.
When we pray for blessings, for change, for more out of our lives, let us pray with the intent to be near His heart—that it wouldn’t matter what He’s holding in His hands, only what’s in His heart.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
February
Freedom from LabelsFaithful Before the AppointmentLabels Don’t Define YouPut Off the ArmorRun Your Own RaceA Champion, Not a ContestantThe Story’s Not OverWhat Really MattersWinning the Battle WithinYou Are Positioned for a PurposeYour Worth Is SetYou Are EnoughTake Off the MaskOn Purpose, For a PurposeKnown. Loved. Enough.What Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Trying to Hide?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?What Are You Chasing?Stop Faking ItAre You Living in Fear?Stop Hiding Behind FearLive in God’s TruthOne OpportunityYour Identity Is in ChristYou’re His WorkmanshipYour Weakness Doesn’t Disqualify YouYou’re in God’s Providence
March
Stop Living the LiesGod Put You HereGod Didn’t Make a MistakeYou Belong HereTake Off the MaskBreaking Free from Imposter SyndromeWhat Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?Leading with HumilityLeading with WisdomStop Holding Yourself BackWho Are You Really?The Cost of Believing the LieT.H.I.N.K.Failure Is Not FinalThere is a Dream Inside of YouIt’s Time to Dream AgainThe Journey to Your DreamBe Careful Who You Share Your Dream WithWhen the Dream Leads to a PitThey Can’t Steal God’s FavorFaithful in the Small ThingsIntegrity When No One (and Everyone) is WatchingWhose Name Are You Building?God Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Has Not Forgotten YouA Renewed Mind Changes EverythingA Mind Set on the SpiritChange Starts from the Inside OutThe Power of BeliefA Renewed Mind Sees Differently
No Comments