A Heart Postured Toward God
Introduction
As worship leaders, how effective we are is in direct connection to our heart.
But to break it down even more, as a believer I can tell if the Lord is sovereign in your life because of how you speak.
I’m not talking about “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
I’m talking about actual everyday speech.
It’s Not Cultural
Luke 6:45
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Key Point: If we listen closely to your words, we can discern the state of your heart.
But there is also the fruit. How you live.
Do you represent Christ in your everyday living? Is holiness a priority for you? Are we exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit?
How is the road rage?
Are you one of those ready to put down your salvation and pick it back up?
Have you been forgiving lately?
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
As worship leaders, the posture of our hearts matters.
And I believe that sometimes we believe our hearts are postured toward the Lord, but when we do some introspection, we realize that it may not be fully postured toward God.
We cannot be effective worship leaders, we cannot bring heaven to earth, we cannot create atmospheres for the Holy Spirit to fully move if our hearts are not completely postured toward God.
As the Deer Pants for the Water
Panting after water speaks of extreme thirst. It speaks of desperation. It speaks of constant pursuit.
For animals to get that desperate for water that they have to pant after it or chase after it means that they were a significant ways away from it.
For the animals to run straight to the water, it means then that they know only that water can satisfy.
And beloved, please know that only God can satisfy you.
You can try other things, but only God can satisfy you.
And don’t get me wrong. The other things can change things. We can wrap ourselves up in ministry, but only God can satisfy us.
A heart postured toward God is one chasing after Him.
To Chase or Pursue
Some definitions:
An earnest or frenzied seeking after something desired
To follow rapidly
To seek out
Suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain
A heart postured toward God is one constantly in desperate pursuit of:
1. Obedience
1 Samuel 15:22
“So Samuel said:
‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.’”
In 1 Samuel 15:
God gives Saul direct instructions. Attack the Amalekites and destroy everything. Man, woman, child, baby animals. Everything.
Saul won the battle and decided to keep the best to sacrifice to God.
Samuel warned Saul about his decision and Saul still disobeyed. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Because Saul rejected God’s command, God rejected Saul as King.
God is not impressed by what we offer Him. He requires complete obedience.
2 Samuel 6:1–7 — The account of Uzza and the ark.
2. Repentance
Psalm 51:10–13
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
Repentance matters.
An offended heart is not a repentant one.
David is known as a man after God's own heart not because he was sinless, but because he was quick to repent, did not make excuses, and accepted the consequences of his actions.
A repentant heart is open to correction.
3. Holiness
As a follower of Jesus, the goal is to make the Holy of Holies our dwelling place.
Psalm 24:3–4
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.”
1 Peter 1:15–17
“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.
A holy life is one consecrated to God. For Him and for His service.
Holiness is:
Being set apart
Living differently
Reflecting God’s nature
Practically:
Surrender — Romans 12:1–2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
A living sacrifice is able to get off the altar. Holiness requires we stay on it.
Remove sin — Colossians 3:5–10
We are called to put to death the things that belong to our old nature and to put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Christ.
Renew your mind — Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Walk it out daily — Ephesians 4:24
“…and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
You cannot be holy and dishonor God, yourself, or others.
Guard Your Heart
What are you feeding yourself daily?
Your input reflects your output.
“Holiness is not perfection—it is a life consistently aligned with God in heart, thought, and action.”
4. Available for Him and Him Alone
Idolatry!
Anything that has most of your time, energy, money and attention is an idol.
Isaiah 42:8
“I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.”
Idols are a heart matter.
Ezekiel 14:3
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?”
Our idols are a direct result of our lack of trust in God and our unbelief that He can satisfy us.
Exodus 32:1–3
When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered together to Aaron and asked him to make gods that would go before them.
Aaron instructed them to bring their gold, and from it he fashioned a molded calf.
Then they said:
“This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
Money, social media, marriage, children, a house, or whatever you give more attention to than you give to God cannot satisfy you.
5. His Face and Not His Hands
Seeking the face of God means pursuing His presence, character, and will rather than just His blessings.
God wants intimacy with us.
He wants us to get to know Him and Him us.
Koinonia
“Koinonia is not just being together—it’s being connected in spirit, sharing life, and growing in God together.”
What is Koinonia?
Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Koinonia means deep fellowship, shared life, and spiritual partnership.
Simple Explanation
“Koinonia is sharing life with God and with one another.”
1. Fellowship With God
1 John 1:3
“Our fellowship (koinonia) is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”
It’s not just being around God—it’s walking closely with Him.
2. Sharing in the Spirit
2 Corinthians 13:14
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
It’s a spiritual connection, not just social.
3. Participation, Not Just Presence
Philippians 1:5
“…your partnership (koinonia) in the gospel…”
It means:
We don’t just attend.
We participate and invest together.
The relationship is mutual.
How Do We Achieve Koinonia?
Spending time with God.
Reading Scripture to discover who He is
Prayer — communicating often with Him
Fellowship with others — seeing Him in others
Fasting — dulling the flesh so we can be more attuned to His Spirit
Conclusion
Our heart posture is important first as a worshipper, then as a worship leader.