A lot of people think of Christianity as behavior modification. You attend church regularly and start acting like other Christians. Looking at this from a man’s perspective, we feel if we learn the right information needed, we can “man up” and through our determination to get better we can change our behaviors and become more spiritual. That may work for a while, but it is not the long-term answer. It is too easy to slip back into our past behaviors. I am so glad I have a forgiving God who welcomes me back regardless of my behavior if I ask for forgiveness.
So many children attend church with their parents growing up, bond with other classmates in Sunday School, and get confirmed in the church. In many denominations, they hold confirmation classes for those who are around the age of 14. You learn more in depth information about the church and the beliefs of Christianity. Your confirmation is when you officially join the church, and you are confirming your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Too often, when you graduate from high school and move off on your own to college or your career, going to church is no longer a habit that you continue. It is not that you forget about God, but you are not acknowledging Him either on a regular basis. You get distracted by this newfound “freedom”. You can sleep in on Sunday morning since you were out late on Saturday night. Church would get in the way of that. Maybe you moved to a new town and just did not bother to find a church to attend.
Eventually, you graduate from college, get settled in your career, possibly get married and have children. Especially, the part about having kids gets you thinking about church again. You remember how your parents took you to church regularly and how it impacted your life. You decide that you want that for your kids as well. You start attending church again and make it an intentional habit. But does this bring you closer to God?
It becomes very frustrating to figure out that determination is not a strategy. You were determined to go to church and become a better Christian. To have a closer relationship with God. Christianity is heart transformation not behavior transformation. It all starts with the heart. We cannot take a “fake it until you make it” mentality. We see this in so many aspects of our lives. You must truly have something inside of you, a total belief, an ownership of the situation or plan, for it to be successful.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)
Your true faith is what resides in your heart. I am not saying that behavior is not important, just that it does not start there. Your behaviors will follow your heart. What is the best way to describe the faith that is in your heart? Be honest with yourself. What kind of relationship do you have with God? Think about what changed your heart and your faith. What was that moment in time, or did it slowly build over the years?
Developing a heart for God is not as difficult as it may sound. Instead of your behaviors directing your heart, let your heart direct your behavior. Going to church and fellowshipping with other Christians leads you to understanding what God wants from you and where He is directing you. Develop your heart for God involves concerning our heart with the concerns of God’s heart. We must develop those qualities that are worth having in our lives. We need to open our hearts to God so He can work within us. What is in your heart?
