Do you ever wonder how to find God? The beautiful thing is that God is everywhere. He is without, as your Heavenly Father. He is also within, as light in your heart. Here's how to find God by going to your heart.
The relationship between our heart and thoughts
In our modern world, we equate thoughts with our mind, or perhaps with our brains. But "heart" in the Proverbs verse refers to the very soul of man, to that which gives life. Our hearts beat and keep us alive.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." And in Matthew 9:4, "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?"
The heart is also what defines us. Our desires reside in our hearts. Through Jesus, our hearts can be changed so that we "no more desire to do evil" (Mosiah 5:2)
Ultimately, it is the state of our heart that determines our standing with God. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt 5:8).
A new heart brings new thoughts and actions
There are fascinating stories from science about people who receive heart transplants, and their personality desires change.
This article says, "A person who hated classical music developed a passion for the genre. After receiving a musician's heart, the recipient later died holding a violin case. In another case, a 45-year-old man remarked how since receiving the heart of a 17-year-old boy. He loves to put on headphones and listen to loud music, something he had never done before the transplant."
Apparently our hearts hold more than we think!
A simple summary of Christian doctrine
11:00am, Tuesday. I'm at my desk studying the scriptures. As I finish reading the First Epistle General of John, I'm told to go write.
Before I share what God shared, let’s have a quick overview of the Epistle. Most often, what we receive is related to what we’ve been reading or studying in the scriptures. So what did John have to say?
John’s epistle is only 5 chapters. He's speaking to believers who are facing encroaching beliefs from many that deny that Jesus came in the flesh. (This strikes me very much like today's world!)
The overarching theme of John's words is the reality of Jesus as Savior and Redeemer. We are to believe, confess our sins, and keep the commandments. God is light and love, and we are to love others. We receive eternal life through Jesus.
Fast forward to yesterday. Sitting at my desk writing this post, I said a prayer asking for help. Before I finish praying, a male spirit appears at my side. He announces himself by clearing his throat, and gives this:
Jesus is the way, the light, the love, the source.
Anything and all else will lead you surely off course.
If eternity is your goal, and happiness will ensue,
Then follow the commandments, and watch your dreams come true.
I’d say that’s a perfect summary of the First Epistle of John! And of how to live our lives!
The message teaches us how to find happiness. It’s simple! Follow this, and watch your heart expand.
God's message to you: How to find God through your heart
God wants you to be happy. He wants all his children to be happy.
This happiness comes through suffering, for it is in suffering that man sees the error of this ways. And not of his ways only, but preeminently of his thinking.
Thoughts determine what sits in your heart. Thoughts followed by actions bring to pass the state of the heart. If you want a happy heart, a heart that resides in Me, you must combine thought and action in right way.
Think right thoughts, and act according to that which you desire. Maintain right thoughts throughout the action.
Is this difficult? Do I ask much of man? Perhaps there are many who think so. But it is only because they do not understand, and think to counsel Me.
I made man perfect. The things I require of him are the exact things he needs to progress along the path and to come into the way.
Do not be deceived by the easiness of other paths and other ways. There is only one true light that leads you back to your true source. I desire all to return to Me, to come unto Me, to find their heavenly home. The peace they can find surpasses anything you can even conceive of in your heart.
Please remind others to seek for Me in the good. Always do good, daily, hourly. Let no evil come into your heart. Let no evil lead you to self-sufficiency, thinking you can abide without Me.
Man was not made to abide of himself. He was made to be with Me, for I am in him.
Alas, many choose a different course, which makes Me sad. Help others to see, to return to Me. Remind them that this returning is the heart of repentance. It is simply to return your thoughts and actions to Me, over and over. Over and over. As the waves lap upon the shore, think of Me.
Do good. Be a bearer of good. Over and over. So it must be if you would be with Me. If it is not so, where I am, you cannot come.
Think and do good, over and over
I know, from my own experience, that it is difficult to "think right thoughts" over and over. Our minds want to wander. They often focus on things we don't want.
We must train our minds to think of what we want. We have to repetitively bring our thoughts back to things that are good.
Isn't this what we are taught in Philippians 4:8? "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Training our minds to think in this way brings peace. It brings the Spirit more fully into our hearts. We can find happiness and joy in our days when we learn to abide with God in thought and deed.
May you be blessed in your efforts to think of God today, over and over.
(Originally published 2024-12-04. Updated 2025-06-18)
