How can I express my affection for God?

Psalm 63:1O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 130:6I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

Psalm 143:6I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

Our longing for God is evidence of our affection for him.

Psalm 84:2I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

Psalm 95:1Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Luke 12:8-9“I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.”

Hebrews 13:15Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

Our words are evidence of our affection for God, both in what we say and what we don’t say.

Psalm 119:40, 131I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness . . . I pant with expectation, longing for your commands.

Isaiah 26:8Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.

John 14:15“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

1 John 2:3We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.

Obedience to God and his Word is evidence of our affection for him. Just talking about God’s Word, without living it out, is worthless (James 1:22-25). If we truly know, love, and trust God, we will obey him, both because we know he desires what is best and because we desire to honor him.