Eighteen Months Kindle Edition by Leslie Jones McCloud (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

God’s Heart for Us: 10 Habits He Hates That Pull Us Away from His Love

 I ran across this video today and felt it worthy to share.

God desires genuine, open communication with us, reflecting a deep, honest relationship. He hates when we’re dishonest or stray from truth. His anger is like a parent’s righteous frustration stemming from love, like a parent becoming angry when we put ourselves in harm’s way.

God desires a deep, honest relationship with us, one rooted in trust, obedience, and open communication. Like a loving parent, His righteous indignation flares when we veer into self-destructive habits that separate us from His love. These habits go against our created nature, leading us toward harm and away from the abundant life He intends. Below are 10 things God hates—habits that, though often disguised as something benign or even virtuous, distance us from His heart. Let’s explore them with humility and a desire to align more closely with His will.

1. Pridefulness Masquerading as Wisdom

At the top of the list is pride, the deceptive habit that cloaks itself as wisdom. Pride whispers that we know better than God, that our plans trump His. It elevates self above the Creator, leading us to lean on our own understanding rather than trusting His divine guidance. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” God hates pride because it blinds us to His truth and sets us on a path toward ruin.

2. Fear That Looks Like Anxiety

Fear, often manifesting as anxiety, is another habit God despises. It’s not the healthy reverence for Him but a crippling distrust in His sovereignty. Anxiety convinces us that God isn’t in control, that we must fret and obsess over circumstances. Yet, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:34 to not worry about tomorrow, for God provides. Fear pulls us from resting in His peace and into a cycle of self-reliance.

3. Manipulation Disguised as Love

Manipulation, dressed up as love, is a subtle but dangerous habit. It uses others for personal gain while pretending to care. God hates this because it perverts His selfless, unconditional love. True love seeks the good of others without strings attached, as seen in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Manipulation, however, twists relationships into tools for control, betraying the heart of God’s design for connection.

4. Self-Condemnation Posing as Humility

Self-condemnation often hides behind the mask of humility, but it’s a corrupt form of godliness. This habit leads us to dwell on our failures, rejecting God’s grace and forgiveness. Romans 8:1 declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” God hates when we cling to shame instead of embracing His mercy, as it denies the transformative power of His love.

5. Ignoring God and Not Talking to Him

God longs for honest communication, but ignoring Him—failing to pray, listen, or seek His presence—creates a chasm. This habit reflects a heart that’s turned inward, shutting out the One who knows us best. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to approach God’s throne with confidence. When we neglect this relationship, we miss the intimacy and guidance He offers.

6. Loving Others Conditionally (Selfishness in Spiritual Clothing)

Conditional love, cloaked in spiritual language, is selfishness at its core. It’s loving others only when they meet our expectations or serve our purposes. God hates this because it contradicts His unconditional love, exemplified in John 3:16. True love reflects His heart—giving freely without demanding repayment.

7. Transactional Prayers (Treating God Like a Vending Machine)

Prayers offered as bargains—“I’ll be good if You give me this”—turn our relationship with God into a transaction. This habit reduces the Creator to a cosmic vending machine, ignoring His desire for authentic connection. God hates this because it replaces faith with a quid-pro-quo mindset, undermining the trust He calls us to in Matthew 7:7-11.

8. Jealousy That Divides

Jealousy, the green-eyed monster, breeds discontent and division. It covets what others have, ignoring God’s unique provision for us. James 3:16 warns that envy leads to disorder and evil. God hates jealousy because it distracts us from gratitude and fuels strife, pulling us away from His joy.

9. Pleasing Man Over God

Seeking human approval over God’s is a habit that prioritizes fleeting praise over eternal truth. Galatians 1:10 challenges us: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” God hates when we chase the fickle favor of people, as it leads us to compromise our faith and purpose.

10. Not Enjoying God as Our Ultimate Joy

Finally, God hates when we fail to find our deepest joy in Him. He is the source of all goodness, yet we often seek fulfillment in lesser things. Psalm 16:11 declares, “In your presence there is fullness of joy.” When we don’t delight in God, we miss the essence of our created purpose—to know and enjoy Him forever.

Turning Back to God’s Love

These 10 habits—pride, fear, manipulation, self-condemnation, ignoring God, conditional love, transactional prayers, jealousy, people-pleasing, and not enjoying God—pull us into self-destruction and away from His love. But there’s hope. God’s righteous indignation, like a parent’s, flows from His deep desire to see us thrive. By recognizing these habits and turning to Him in repentance, we can restore the connection He longs for. Let’s commit to honest communication, trusting His guidance, and embracing the love that never fails.


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