God only wants your heart!
This phrase has been disseminated mainly among evangelicals and especially by those who are most negligent in relation to God's true will. It categorically states that God's only will is to possess your heart.
I think there is a considerable portion that doesn't even believe so much in this phrase but uses it as an excuse to live according to their own will and also as a form of self-help.
Imagine me doing everything I want and simply saying: "- What matters is what I feel for God, after all, God loves me and wants to see me happy. I am wrong, but God loves me anyway, after all I love Him too!"
It would be easy, wouldn't it? I wouldn't need any effort, just say that I love God, do good deeds, and that's it... I'll go live in heaven!
I'm sorry to inform you, but it's not quite like that!
It is true that the Lord God wants our heart!
"Give me, my son, your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways". Proverbs 23:26
But we must not forget that God does not want only our heart, but also that we observe His ways. Many say they love, but to truly love, there must be works (action). Whoever truly loves surrenders their heart completely. We understand this statement very well when it is related to our conjugal life, don't we? But we pretend to misunderstand when it refers to love for God.
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me;..." John 14:21
To love God is not simply to do what I like, but to do what God wants me to do, it is to deny yourself. That is where the difference lies between externalized and materialized words.
He does not wish to visit your heart only when it is anguished, what He really wants is to be part of it, to make permanent dwelling. There should not be two dominant feelings in your heart, one that pleases and one that displeases. Your heart must be entirely surrendered to His will, and thus you will have the desire to please Him and live for Him.
"And may your heart be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments as you do today." 1 Kings 8:61
The importance of loving God and doing His will involves a promise.
"You are my friends if you do what I command you." John 15:14
Do not be deceived by your heart, for you will answer for everything you allow it to decide, trust in the sovereign will of your creator and let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can understand it?
I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:9,10
Therefore, seek to walk in Spirit, proving your love for God with your intellect, feelings and actions. Here is the materialization of your words.
"And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ".
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Counsel:
And when in your heart you think: "It's better to stay out of church than to act like many who are there", say: In reality the best thing is to stop making excuses and look only to Christ Jesus. If there are many who have not yet changed their stance, what does God have to do with this? Each one will give account of their own soul.
"Why should any living human complain when punished for their sins?" Lamentations 3:39
"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord;" Hebrews 12:14
R. A. C. S.