“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13
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More than one professional athlete has proclaimed, “I have given my heart and soul to this game!” Yet, when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, we expect God to accept our good intentions. Make no mistake about it, the Lord will judge outcomes, not intentions. You may have heard it said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The Bible puts it this way: “A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2).
Many people say, “The Lord knows my heart.” Yes, He does! In fact, God warns us in His Word, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The world says, “Follow your heart.” But when it comes to doing the right thing, we must lead our hearts. Solomon coaches us to, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT).
God doesn’t want your money, your time or even your sacrifices. He wants your heart, your broken heart, because of your sinful ways. King David learned this and wrote in Psalm 51:17, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Just like the game you love and “give your heart and soul to,” the Lord expects the same commitment. “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” (Jeremiah 29:12–13).
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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