Hosea 2:14-15, 19-20

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her I will give her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Anchor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt… “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.

Hosea 2:14-15, 19-20

God doesn’t primarily want your service; He wants your heart. Throughout Israel’s history, God repeatedly called His people back to intimacy, back to “the days of their youth” when they loved Him simply and completely. Perhaps you’ve been busy doing things for God while neglecting time with God. The Lord may be alluring you into a wilderness season—not to punish you, but to win your heart again. He wants to speak comfort to you, to remind you that you are the object of His affection. Your relationship with God isn’t transactional; it’s relational. Are you trying to earn God’s love through obedience, or resting in the reality that you’re already loved? Before you do another thing for Him, simply be with Him. Let Him love you.

Pastor Wade O’Neill