Heart Not Just Hand | Navigating through seeking God HEART that eventually will equal His HAND
- Dasia
- Oct 24, 2023
- 8 min read
Tearing down prosperity gospel, God owes us nothing because Jesus DID everything:
What does seeking the heart of God look like? How does God's hand play a part in our walk with Him? Is prosperity gospel false teaching? What does our prayer life center around? Who is God to us? How do we spend our everyday lives with God is it with reverence and intimacy or with begging and entitlement? Here on this blog we will be breaking down any walls that hinder our relationship with God and building a strong foundation by seeking His heart not just His hand.
We live in a society where it’s all about receiving and what we can get or benefit out of someone, a job, school etc. Imagine if you were in a relationship with someone whether that be friend, family or partner and this person only talked to you to receive something from you whether that be money, sex, drugs, advice, etc. How would you feel? used? unworthy? insignificant? Right?. It doesn’t feel so good to be only talked to when someone wants something from you. Thankful God isn’t like us, we trip over things like this a lot more than God probably does sense he’s sovereign but Jesus is God, he was God in the flesh during his lifespan here on earth and guess what?! He experienced the same thing we did. He experienced being used by people when it benefited them. Some people only wanted healing; they only saw him as a prophet; they didn’t see Him as the Messiah. God wants us to seek His heart, not just His hand. Notice how I didn’t disqualify His hand, why because we need His hand too. We sometimes need a blessing, healing, protection and that’s what His hand does but His heart does something to your heart. Throughout the Bible we see that God is concerned with our heart posture over our outward appearance.
If you have been following this ministry for a while then you know I wrote a poem dedicated to God being a refiner. It was about David. If you haven’t read the poem you can click this link here to read. We all know David was a man after God’s own heart. He wrote so many psalms. David sought God’s heart because He knew it would also change his heart. See when we seek God, we find ourselves because that can only be achieved by the creator, he’s the one that holds the keys. Being a woman or man of God after God’s own heart is when you are committed to God’s ways and demonstrate the fruits of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Seeking God’s heart requires humbleness and meekness. This is not to say you can’t seek His hand. God loves giving His children gifts. We see that throughout the Bible and the testimonies of His children now. However, seeking only His hand or more of His hand is more of a transactional relationship. When you seek His heart your heart begins to change because of Him you learn more about who He is instead what He can do for you. You begin to see His word through His lens instead of through your pain and selfish nature. I’ve said this before but reading the Bible out of context and commentary is dangerous.
1 Samuel 13:14 KJV
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
Intimacy with God requires you to have a heart devoted to him. When we are so focused on God’s hand we miss that deep connection that we could have with God. Many people who proclaim Jesus today don’t even know what a relationship is with God. A relationship with God means pleasing Him above all else, fulfilling your God-given purpose, being Christ-like and completely surrendering your life to Him not just your Sundays. God created us with a heart so we can have a loving relationship with Him, our heart is at the center of our relationship with God. Without the heart we wouldn't be able sense love or love in return. In fact, the human body has a physical heart inside of each of us that delivers oxygen to the blood all over the body. In order, to stay alive a person needs to be healthy, hearts must be pumping blood with oxygen. Without oxygen the cells would die or if the blood doesn’t circulate a person could die. Think about it in this way God is the oxygen to our blood. Without Him we can truly do nothing. We wouldn't be able to love, receive love, have purpose, joy etc. It all starts with seeking His heart above all else. People may claim they don’t believe in God or maybe even hate him and if they take a look at those people's lives.. Do they have joy? are they fulfilled? Nope. We need God whether we want to come to terms with or not. The Bible says every knee shall bow. (Philippians 2:10-11)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God
The above verse promises us that if we are pure in heart we will see God and there’s another verse in the Old Testament that backs this up as well. In Jeremiah 29:13 it states “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart”. God is interested in your heart posture, not your performance. We should be interested in God’s heart and again not His performance. A relationship never thrives off performance, it thrives off love and commitment.
Love only comes from God. The only way you can truly love yourself and others and God included is through Him. The only way you can do that is through intimacy with God. God’s word is living and powerful than a two-edged sword. Are you a doer of His word? Or a hearer?
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets
The prosperity gospel teaches us a fast-growing theologically conservative frequently associated with Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, and charismatic Christianity that emphasizes believers' abilities to transcend poverty and/or illness through devotion and positive confession. I know you may be thinking what I am thinking. Prosperity gospel almost sounds similar to the new age manifestation. If you don't know what that is it’s basically speaking something into existence over and over until it happens which is an abomination before God. It is witchcraft. It’s playing God. Now back to the prosperity gospel we see this a lot pushed in society, culture, etc. There's a branch of Christianity that promises a direct path to the good life. It is called by many names, but most often it is nicknamed the “prosperity gospel” for its bold central claim that God will give you your heart's desires: money in the bank, a healthy body, a thriving family, and boundless happiness. Joel Osteen in fact is a prosperity gospel preacher he preaches about God giving us money and blessings. This false gospel leads others astray from seeking God’s heart instead they seek His hand. This then creates entitlement as if God owes you something. This is very dangerous. Prosperity preachers take scriptures and twist them out of context for example this scripture: Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Yes we should delight ourselves in God. It's what I’ve been talking about this entire blog. However, that verse wasn’t used for a get rich quick scheme the correct context of that verse is this: As we seek God’s heart, His desires for our lives will become our desire. Why would God give us our wicked desires when He knows our flesh opposes the spirit and it can lead us to harm?. This verse is saying to seek God and allow Him to change your wicked desires to His Pure and holy desires for your life.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not able to do whatever you want.
Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” The devil can give half truths and half truths are still a lie. He did this when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The true gospel preaches a life changing transformation and its biblical but the counterfeit prosperity gospel preaches power,money, destroys lives and it’s unbiblical. The next time you go to church ask yourself what are they preaching? Is it what Jesus preached? Or is it what their flesh preaches? Is it the true gospel? Is it a counterfeit gospel? Use your God-given discernment. In the Scripture, find the biblical Gospel, and see it clearly defined. Remember, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Nevertheless, the prosperity gospel takes Scripture out of context in order to say something that God never said. You may hear preachers give a come to Jesus prayer and they leave out repentance instead they say something like “God can meet you where you are“ which is nothing wrong with that sentence but when a preacher or leader is leaving out the most important part of salvation which is Jesus blood being shed that’s a red flag. Make sure you read the biblical text entirely and in context. Next ask good questions while reading. Questions such as: What do these words mean? What is God saying? What is God’s character in this? ? How does this passage relate with everything else in the Bible? How does this text apply to us today? Be still in God's presence asking the Holy Spirit for the biblical text before jumping to application. A self-centered perspective is a dangerous way to read the Bible and that is what the counterfeit prosperity gospel preaches.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
God loves His children and he offers us so much as we truly seek Him not just physical blessings but spiritual blessings. (Matthew 6:33). For me I pray prayers like the Lord give me wisdom and the Lord grants me that and that is more than money could ever buy. Would God give you that new car? Yes he can do that but if that's all you're seeking Him for then your heart posture isn't in the right place. Spiritual blessings are just as significant and fulfilling as physical blessings. In fact, God doesn't owe us anything. What Jesus did is enough: God grants us spiritual blessings , our daily bread, and provision. However, your daily bread isn't that Marc Jacobs bag, your daily bread is food, shelter, and work. If God has given you either of these then you're blessed.
Proverbs 3:13-18 New Living Translation (NLT) - For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.
Gifts Jesus Gives Us:
Justified by Faith
Peace with God
Access to the Father
Hope
Suffering and tribulation
Love
Salvation
Holy Spirit
Forgiveness
Purpose
Life
Mercy
Joy
Authority
Spiritual gifts
Future glory
Prayer
Wisdom
Heaven
Freedom
No condemnation
Future rewards
Bible
Provision
Protection
Guidance
Future inheritance
Godliness
Ministry
Restoration
All spiritual blessings
Lastly, what If God never gives you that spouse, new job, new car, would Jesus still be enough? If your answer is no, that is okay, this means you must seek Him with your heart and remove those idols that you fantasize about. Trust me we all want nice things and to be happy but God promises us joy which isn't by happenstance and God does give us things. Take a look at the story of Job for more biblical proof on my statement. We all have gifts. Are you using your spiritual gifts? Are you content? Or are you wanting more? How can you seek God's heart today?
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