What Does Having a Heart for God mean?

What Does It Mean to Have a Heart for God –
Pastor Calvin Cook
September 18, 2025

In the midst of the last couple of weeks I have really been trying to be compassionate through some very tense situations to guard my words. Though attention has been drawn to the Charlie Kirk assassination, the 911 remembrance, school shootings, wars, and so much more. While at the same time many have dealt with their own crisis, the loss of a loved one, catastrophic sickness, desolation, and many other things that cause great concern and anxiousness. While trying to juggle all of these situations as a Spiritual leader and share the hope and love of God, keeping stability and a sense of calmness has been a challenge. But in all of these situations, while at the same time trying to process my own thoughts and deal with my own messes and crisis, I have to the best of my human ability tried to keep a heart and understanding for God.

The personal response that I have had has not been in anger or retaliation but often pausing to ask the question – “what does it mean to have a heart for God?” In trying to live out my own relationship and yet trying to keep calm amid the troubled waters we all find ourselves on. During this time, I have been so confused as to why some have pushed backed and criticized, while others have shared words of affirmation and thanks. All of this has pushed me deeper into resolution of where personally I must be. After all, though I want to be sympathetic and meet people where they are, ultimately the one I need to focus on pleasing is God. My desire is to search deeper and experience more of God. Because, at the end of the day that is really will be what will get me through.

The life of King David who many often compare their life, struggles, and redemption to, really speaks into the chaos of our everyday life – David’s life was far from perfect. He stumbled, ran from God, sinned, and fell short. And yet God described him as “a man after my own heart.” Let’s take a look at this verse which appears in Acts 13:22 in the midst of an explanation of Paul about the workings of God through history:
“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22)

But why? Not because David never failed, but because he always returned to God. He sought God’s presence more than anything else. In Psalm 27:4 we see David praying these words – “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

The Psalm goes onto share promises and hope of a brighter and better life once we come to this place. Once we come to this place, and I confess I’m not there yet, we will begin to see what is important in this move of God in this present generation and all we are experiencing. It will help us to realize that God is keeping and guarding our soul, and concerned more and focused more on that, even while the world around us is crumbling. But remember my earlier comment – relationship takes at least two. In this instance it is between each of us and God.

Having a heart for God is certainly not about being religious it is about relationship. It is a hunger to know Him personally, to walk with Him daily, to surrender not just our actions but our attention and our affection.

When people are pushing back against that kind of pursuit or of finding God, I think of David dancing before the Lord with all of his might : “David wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15). Some mocked David, and despised him for it, (continue reading 2 Sam 6) but David didn’t hold back his worship. His heart was set on God, not the opinions of others. This is the place I am striving to be, what about you?

So for me, having a heart for God means this. I will not settle for surface-level religion. I will press on in my own relationship with Him. I will keep searching, keep drawing near, keep seeking forgiveness for my sins, keep focusing on Him, keep being present in worship, keep preaching, keep leading, keep praying, keep reading scriptures, keep listening for the move of the Holy Spirit, keep visioning.

But most importantly, I keep my heart, mind, and soul focused on Him. Being willing to forsake everything else. I am asking for a heart for myself, for you, for the church, that beats in rhythm with God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – that we don’t have to doubt or even ask what it is to have a heart for God.