Sometimes I think we make things far more complicated than they need to be. God has presented us with a gospel so simple that a child can understand it. Yet as adults we sometimes miss the most basic and essential ingredient to a healthy and vibrant walk as a Christian: a heart turned toward God.

Where is our heart inclined? Where does our heart run to? Jesus says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)

In other words, whatever has captured my attention, or is important to me is where my heart is. So if my heart is turned towards God, my thoughts follow, my attention follows, my desire to be with Him follows. That is where my treasure it. It is with God. In fact, God is then my treasure if my heart is turned toward Him. So I worship Him, adore Him, treasure Him, serve Him.

Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Setting our mind is another way of saying, “your heart is turned” or you are paying attention to the Lord. Unless we set ourselves to pay attention to the Lord, we will drift in whatever sea of events and problems we have, looking for treasure (setting our affection) in places where there is no lasting treasure. If we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ Jesus, shouldn’t we be seeking the treasure of our inheritance, setting our thoughts and heart on the Lord who is our total sufficiency in all things; the one who has given us exceeding great and precious promises and every thing that pertains to life and godliness?

Perhaps a better way of saying this is that we may need to “return” our heart to our first love if we have allowed other things to be more important. If our heart has been cluttered up with garbage and the baggage of this world, we can be renewed if we will seek God with a whole heart. He will be found of us. Our treasure of faith, hope and love will be refreshed in God’s presence. Our lives will move from the mundane, everyday humdrum of existence and survival to the fresh and vital life of those who are excited to live because they are alive unto God in their heart.

Renewal is a the result of a heart returning to treasure God.