Daily verse 🙏
What Does God Want?
“What is God’s will for my life?”
“What is my purpose and calling?”
“What can I do to please God?”
In the New Testament, Jesus provides the answer to those questions by telling His followers to love God and love people. In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah—empowered by the Holy Spirit—summarized God’s will for Israel by saying:
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 ESV
These words were penned during a time when God’s people were trying to please Him with sacrifices, offerings, and going through religious motions—while living lives of deception, violence, and pride. But as the prophet Hosea writes, “I [God] desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 NIV )
God is after our heart motives, not our outward religious activity or begrudging obedience.
Let’s break down what God desires of us:
- DO JUSTICE. Doing justice requires faith and actions working together: helping the hurting, defending the weak, dealing fairly with the people we encounter, and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. In other words, to do justice, we must love others as we love ourselves.
- LOVE KINDNESS. The mercy of God is an extreme kindness. And because we’ve been shown undeserved kindness by Him, we can show undeserved kindness to others. God desires these things more than endless “I’m sorry” speeches. God is kind to the grateful and the wicked (Luke 6:35), so we should be too.
- WALK HUMBLY. Be teachable. Be moldable. Remember: You’re not God. You have limitations. You need a Creator and Savior. You’re only here because God spoke you into existence. So confidently embrace who you are, and who you are not, because it’s when we live fully surrendered to God that He does incredible things through us.
Seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly—that is what God wants from us. So in a world that’s saturated with injustice, hatred, and arrogance, let’s be people marked by these three things.
Reflecting on Micah 6:8 in my personal walk of faith has truly reshaped how I view my relationship with God and others. Initially, I thought pleasing God was mostly about religious activities like attending services or following strict rituals, but this verse helped me realize that God’s heart is focused on deeper, relational qualities. Doing justice isn't just about big actions; it's about everyday choices—standing up for fairness, helping those in need, and treating people with dignity. I started volunteering at my local community center and found that small acts, like listening to someone’s struggles or advocating for fairness, embody doing justice in a tangible way. Loving kindness has grown for me from a concept to a lifestyle. When I remember God’s mercy toward us, despite our imperfections, it inspires me to extend kindness, even to those who may not seem to deserve it. Whether it’s offering patience to someone who’s difficult or small gestures of generosity, kindness has become a daily practice. Walking humbly has been the hardest but most rewarding. It’s about admitting I don’t have all the answers and being open to learning and growth. This humility has allowed me to accept help, admit faults, and deepen my trust in God’s plan rather than my own ego. In a world often focused on appearances and accomplishments, Micah’s reminder calls us back to what truly matters: sincere faith expressed through justice, kindness, and humility. Embracing these values not only honors God but also transforms communities and relationships around us. This insight has encouraged me to seek these qualities daily, knowing that God values the heart behind our actions more than the actions themselves.