What does God desire from me?

God’s Desire for the Individual: A Comprehensive Overview

1. Knowing the Creator Personally

God, who brings all things into existence, desires a personal relationship with each person. This relational theme appears throughout Scripture. In Micah 6:8, we read: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” This verse highlights not only God’s moral requirements but also His intent that human beings walk in fellowship with Him.

Jesus affirmed God’s desire for relationship when He said, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The biblical narrative consistently underscores that knowing the Creator is not merely an intellectual exercise but a profound, life-giving connection.

2. Embracing Faith in Jesus Christ

God’s plan for humanity’s redemption centers on Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Faith is more than mental agreement—it is trust and surrender. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,” states John 3:16, “that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Belief in Christ’s resurrection represents the cornerstone of Christian hope. Examined historically, the resurrection emerges with robust evidential support, as shown by early written testimonies (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15) and the rapid growth of the Christian community. Regardless of one’s background, placing trust in Christ’s victorious resurrection responds to God’s primary desire: to redeem and restore people to Himself.

3. Turning from Sin and Embracing Holiness

Scripture portrays God as absolutely holy (Isaiah 6:3), and He calls individuals to reflect that holiness: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). This call is not an unattainable demand but a transformative work of God’s Spirit within the believer.

Turning away from sin—repentance—is an intentional change of heart and mind. In Romans 12:1, believers are encouraged to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” This act involves realigning priorities, desires, and choices with His purity.

4. Expressing Love through Obedience

Genuine devotion to God naturally expresses itself in obedience. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). God’s commands, revealed throughout Scripture, are not arbitrary rules but loving directives meant for human flourishing and spiritual growth.

Obedience includes loving others (John 13:34–35), pursuing peace (Romans 12:18), and reflecting God’s compassion in our daily lives. It involves practical care for those in need, forgiveness where wronged, and kindness toward all. These actions mirror the heart of Christ, demonstrating a life yielded to God’s will.

5. Worshiping in Spirit and Truth

Worship is God-focused reverence that occupies the pages of Scripture. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him” (John 4:23). Worship goes beyond singing; it is a lifestyle dedicated to honoring Him.

This posture of worship sets the stage for spiritual transformation. In Revelation 4:11, the heavenly host declares, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” God desires that individuals recognize His greatness and respond in wholehearted adoration.

6. Growing in Character and Maturity

God’s design for human life includes an ongoing process of growth and maturation. Paul notes in Galatians 5 the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These traits indicate a transformation only possible through God’s power.

Prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with believers shape spiritual maturity. According to Hebrews 10:24–25, “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together…but let us encourage one another.” God desires mutual encouragement among His people, fostering an environment of growth and godliness.

7. Living with an Eternal Perspective

Scripture repeatedly calls believers to live in light of eternity. Jesus taught, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). God desires that individuals focus on eternal realities more than temporary needs.

Aligning one’s worldview with eternal truths changes priorities, influences decisions, and instills hope. Second Corinthians 4:18 reminds readers, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

8. Serving God and Others

True service emerges from a heart transformed by God’s love. In James 2:17, “Faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.” God desires believers to invest in caring for others, practicing hospitality, and fostering generosity.

Scripture highlights a wide range of methods for service, from actively showing compassion to proclaiming truth to those yet unreached. Such service includes stewarding one’s resources—time, talents, and finances—to advance good works and expand the knowledge of God’s kingdom on earth.

9. Sharing the Good News

Recipients of God’s grace are entrusted with the Great Commission—“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). God desires hearts willing to share the gospel message of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, His triumphant resurrection, and His invitation to eternal life.

Whether through personal conversations, acts of service, or public preaching, proclaiming the good news is integral to God’s plan. It aligns with His heart for humanity, expressed in 2 Peter 3:9: “He does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.”

10. Trusting Scripture as the Final Authority

All commandments, guidance, and promises come together in the written Word. Throughout history, archaeological findings (including the Dead Sea Scrolls) and manuscript evidence have underscored the integrity of the biblical text. Such evidence supports the unity and reliability of Scripture as it points back to God’s revealed truth.

In 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” Embracing Scripture as authoritative aligns with God’s desire for hearts attentive to His instruction.

Conclusion

God desires hearts attuned to Him—renewed through faith in Jesus Christ, walking in obedience and holiness, worshiping in awe, serving others with love, and proclaiming His truth to the world. This divine desire encompasses every aspect of life, offering an eternal horizon of hope and a clear invitation to meaningful purpose.

In answering the question, “What does God desire from me?” Scripture reveals the gracious summons to know Him intimately, trust in the redeeming work of Christ, pursue holiness by the Spirit’s power, and live in a way that displays His glory.