“What do I believe?” Maybe we never speak the words aloud, but at some point in each of our lives, we think through what we have been taught to see if we genuinely believe it. Those beliefs guide our lives, determine our actions, and bring about change in our hearts. Belief in God changes our hearts and lead to a heart of worship.

The children of Israel struggled to have a heart of worship. Did they worship? Yes. They went to the temple, offering worship to God through sacrifices, fasting, and prayer. They seemed delighted to learn, yet their worship came from duty and not from their hearts. They performed acts of belief in God, but their actions came from what they had been taught, not because in their hearts they sought God.

As the children of Israel realized God was ignoring their acts of worship, they came to Him in disappointment wanting to know why God took no notice of their acts. You see, they forgot that God sees the heart. As they went through the motions of worship, they were not drawn closer to God, because their hearts were not in it. God wanted action behind their acts, and those actions come from a heart of worship and belief in God. In Isaiah 58, God offers examples of action coming from a heart of worship. He encourages them to:

• Share your bread with the hungry (v. 7)
• Bring the homeless poor into your house (v. 7)
• When you see the naked, to cover him (v. 7)
• Pour yourself out for the hungry (v. 10)
• Satisfy the desire of the afflicted (v. 10)

The results:

• Your light breaks forth like the dawn (v. 8)
• Your healing shall spring up speedily (v. 8)
• Your righteousness shall go before you (v. 8)
• The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard (v. 8)
• You shall call, and the Lord will answer (v. 9)
• Your light will shine out from darkness (v. 10 NLT)
• The darkness around you will be as bright as noon (v. 10 NLT)
• The Lord will guide you continually (v. 11)
• The Lord will satisfy your desire in scorched places (v. 11)
• The Lord will make your bones strong (v. 11)
• You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring (v. 11 NLT)

When true worship draws you to God, transformed hearts will lead to acts of love for others. Those acts of love are like the dawning light of the morning that brightens as the day unfolds. As you call upon God, He will answer, will guide, and will restore strength. Though your walk may be a desert, you will take your journey with joy as in a well-watered garden or continuing spring. In coming to God with a heart of worship, you will find delight in knowing the Lord.

So, where is your heart? Does your belief in God lead you to worship, drawing you closer to Him? As you worship, are you growing in your delight of Him and your love for others? God is not looking for acts of worship, rather worship leading to actions that bring glory to Him and love to others. The heart seeking God will find Him, will find joy and satisfaction even in the darkest night, and will come out in light showing His love to others.