Cultivating A Heart For God

In 1 Samuel 7:1-17 we see Samuel cultivating a heart for God when he exhorts the nation of Israel to put away their foreign gods and to direct their heart to the Lord and serve Him only. Cultivating a heart for God is like tilling the soil for the seed, the see being a longing for God. Tilling the soil is repentance. In this passage the tools for growth are fasting, persistent prayer, complete sacrifice, and waiting on God's mercy. Cultivating a heart for God also involves remembering God's works, living in God's peace, and continuous cultivation.