the heart of God

I have prayed for God to let me know His heart and there have been two times where He showed me just a glimpse of it and it was very intense each time.

One time I when I was at a ministry meeting we were all taking turns praying.  When it reached my turn, I couldn't even speak.  I was overwhelmed by all of the pain in the world.  I felt as if God had revealed to me all of the sorrow and suffering and I couldn't bear it.  I just started sobbing and eventually found enough breath to sputter out a clumsy, but heartfelt prayer.  I've never at any other time experienced anything like that.

Another time while in church, I just stopped singing and listened instead to everyone else.  It was a church where people were very open in their worship.  One lady used sign language, with big gestures, to accompany her singing.  People swayed, raised their hands, knelt at their seats, cried, etc.  Some sang very off key, but so full of praise that it didn't matter.  Suddenly I felt God's heart of joy and love for all of these broken, wounded, healed, redeemed people pouring their worship out to Him.  I can't even remember it without tears, it was such a powerful experience.  

How God loves our worship.  How He adores us.  We are His precious children and no matter how imperfectly we do what we do, He treasures it. 

And He knows our pain.  If we knew even one millionth of a percent of the suffering in this world, we would die under it.  But God knows it.  He sees it.  And Jesus died under it for us.