from Extravagant Worship by Darlene (Repost)
…The only thing I want from you is your heart. God says, “I don’t need your talent. I don’t need your gift. I don’t want all the stuff that you can do. I just want you. I want your heart.” David was the runt of the litter, overlooked as the one nobody wanted, but God loved his heart. He said, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart;he will do everything I want him to do”(Acts ). God saw David’s heart and ready obedience, and He responded to David’s offering in a magnificent way—He made him king over His chosen people.
One morning I was lying on bed, when Chloe said, “Mummy, sit up, sit up;I want to make you a breakfast.” She was five at the time, so I know her meal would be unique! She knew I liked toast, but she’s not allowed to use the toaster, and we kept the bread in the freezer. So her “toast” was rock hard. I also drink herbal tea, but she’s not allowed to use the kettle, so she put a teabag in a cup with cold water. And I don’t know where it came from, but she added a squashed banana to my breakfast tray.
She was so proud herself when she put the tray on my lap. Words fail me.
“Do you love it, Mum?”
“Yep, I sure do!” I waited for her to leave, but she didn’t. “Thank You, Chloe, this is lovely.” She sat on my bed, looked at me with the cutest expression, and waited. Suddenly I knew that I had to eat the breakfast!
“Mmmmm, Chloe, it’s beautiful!” The look on her face was priceless. She didn’t bring me breakfast to win points with me. She was too young yet to know that there might be money attached. All she wanted to do was to bless me. She gave me her best with a pure heart.
You are not empty-handed, with nothing to bring to the table. God doesn’t want what you would like to be. He wants all that you are today. You can offer yourself to Him in worship; you can let that explosion of faith force you to praise His name and offer your attention to bless Him. Do you think giving your heart will bless God? Chloe blessed me. I still think about it! And you will bless God, because He looks past all the stuff of life and looks straight to the heart.
When I exalt the Lord, God is increased, and the “me” in my life is decreased! I know I need more of God and less of me. I need more of His wisdom and less of my great ideas. I need more of his presence and less of my talent. Isn’t that what we all need?
When we worship God, He is exalted, and our problems shrivel in His presence. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Remember that song? That is the truth. When He is exalted, everything about us—the good, the bad, and the ugly—is decreased as we focus on Him.
