How can I know the heart of God?

Answer

The heart refers to the central part of a person. It is the essence of a person, and understanding someone’s heart means knowing their innermost character, feelings, or inclinations (see Proverbs 4:23 and 16:1). God’s heart represents who He is, His desires, will, and purposes. Through studying the Bible, following Jesus, and engaging in prayer, individuals can grasp the heart of God.

The Word of God unveils His heart. To comprehend God’s heart, one must delve into His Word, as it is His self-revelation and message to all. Just as people read autobiographies of celebrities to uncover their true selves, or historians study journals and letters to grasp the lives and motivations of historical figures, God has provided His Word for us to know Him. By immersing oneself in the Bible, one can understand God’s heart, as Scripture is inspired by Him “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). From Genesis to Revelation, the entire Bible portrays God and reveals His nature. Mere factual knowledge about God from reading the Bible will not lead one closer to His heart (see John 5:39). Instead, studying Scripture should evoke worship and love for Him.

Studying Jesus unveils God’s heart. Anyone who has encountered Jesus has encountered the Father “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:9). No one canTo truly understand the heart of God, one must know and trust in Jesus for salvation. Jesus Christ revealed the Father, as “He is the image of the invisible God” «Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: », (Colossians 1:15, ESV). Since Jesus and the Father are one, Christ visually represents the heart of God, the essence of who He is «I and my Father are one. », (John 10:30). Jesus died for the sins of the world and was resurrected to bring life to those who believe in Him, vividly presenting the love, judgment, and mercy of God «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16). In Christ, we see God as the Savior of mankind who desires all to come to know Him and experience the salvation He offers «The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. », (2 Peter 3:9).

Prayer reveals the heart of God. Spending time with the Lord in prayer helps in understanding His heart. Just as a child must spend time with his father to know him personally, we must also spend time with God in prayer to deepen our knowledge of Him. The first part of James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Spending time alone with God in prayer will foster a deeper relationship and create greater intimacy between us and God, aligning our desires more closely with His.

Seeking to understand the heart of God is a profound pursuit, as knowing Him will transform a person’s entire life. The more

A person learns and understands more about the Lord, the more he or she will yearn for Him and proclaim with the psalmist, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God” «As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God.», (Psalm 42:1, NLT).