The Sacrifice God Desires
What does God want from you?
Verse of the Day
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
Today’s Devotional
Does God want us to be broken? Is that what this verse is saying?
Well, yes. And also no. But mostly yes.
If you’ve ever had a teenager in your home, you have likely experienced the exact opposite of the humble heart posture described in today’s verse. They know everything. They don’t need your help, but they will certainly take your money and anything else you will provide. They think everything you say is stupid and doesn’t apply to them. They think there is no possible way you could understand them.
Are we guilty of treating God the same way? Do we live our life and make decisions as though we already know what needs to be done? Do we, by our actions, tell God that we don’t need His help. Do we want the blessings of God without the devotion and obedience? Do we tell God, by our lack of time in His Word, that the Bible is an ancient text that doesn’t apply to us today?
Yes. That’s exactly what we do. We probably don’t do this intentionally, but the heart posture we are creating by our actions is the same.
So what does God want from us? He wants our hearts. And there is a posture of the heart that God desires for us to have. A humble heart is one He can and will transform. A heart that is desperately aware of its need for Him, that is a broken spirit and a repentant heart. Look at the verses:
“The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” (Isaiah 57:15)
“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer : ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”” (Luke 18:9-14)
“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)
A broken spirit and a repentant heart is willing to be changed. God wants us to get to that place so that He can rebuild us in His image, to love Him fully, and to serve others passionately. Then He can renew us from the inside out.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How can you tell and show God that you are desperately aware of your need for Him?
Do any of these fit you? Do you live your life and make decisions as though you already know what needs to be done? Do you, by your actions, tell God that you don’t need His help. Do you want the blessings of God without the devotion and obedience? Do you tell God, by your lack of time in His Word, that the Bible is an ancient text that doesn’t apply to you today? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, what is your response?
Write a prayer asking God to help you to have the kind of heart posture that He desires and invite Him to renew you from the inside out.
For more teaching on a different perspective on repentance, watch this clip:
What is the Purpose of Repentance?