What Does God Really Want from Me?

Micah 6:8 (NLT)

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.”

Not a Trick Question

Micah 6:8 is often quoted like a slogan. But when we slow down, it reads like an answer to a deeper question: What does God actually want from me?

The chapter begins with God confronting His people through the prophet. Israel has turned worship into performance. They ask, in verses 6–7: Should we bring burnt offerings? Thousands of rams? Rivers of oil? Should we even sacrifice our firstborn?

It’s sarcastic. Desperate. Exhausted. They’re trying to trade external sacrifice for internal change.

And God answers—not with punishment, but with clarity:

“He has told you what is good…”

This isn’t hidden. It’s not complicated. It’s not something only pastors or scholars understand. It’s a return to what has always mattered to God.

A Closer Look at the Language

Let’s break down the Hebrew words used here. The original text gives us more than just poetic phrasing—it gives us theology in motion.

1. “To do what is right”

Hebrew: mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט)
This word is often translated as justice. But not just fairness in the abstract—restorative justice. It’s about defending the vulnerable, correcting systems, and ensuring equity in community.

God isn’t asking us to avoid wrongdoing. He’s asking us to actively make things right.

2. “To love mercy”

Hebrew: chesed (חֶסֶד)
This isn’t soft kindness—it’s covenant loyalty. It’s the fierce, faithful love that God has for His people. When we love mercy, we aren’t just being nice—we’re reflecting God’s unwavering commitment to compassion, even when it's inconvenient or costly.

3. “To walk humbly”

Hebrew: hatznea lekhet (הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת)
This phrase literally means to walk carefully or modestly. It's about living with awareness—not just of God, but of yourself, your power, and your posture toward others. It’s the opposite of prideful religion or public performance.

Humility here isn’t about self-erasure. It’s about shared presence. You and God—side by side, not competing for control.

This Isn’t About Performance. It’s About Alignment.

Micah 6:8 is not a checklist. It is a rhythm of relationship.
God is not asking for offerings we can’t afford. He is inviting us to reflect who He is.

It’s not about bringing the largest sacrifice.
It’s not about saying all the right things.
It’s not about distancing ourselves from “sinners.”

It is about doing what is just.
It is about loving with mercy that endures.
It is about walking humbly, with the awareness that God walks with us—not behind us, not above us, but beside us.

You can be fully active in religious life and still miss the heart of God.
Or you can be overlooked by others and still fully embody what He requires.

A Word for the Overwhelmed and Underqualified

You don’t need to be wealthy, seminary-trained, healed, or famous to do what God requires. You just need to stay in step with what’s already been revealed.

God is not hiding the assignment.
He’s reminding us.

A Prayer for Alignment

God of justice, mercy, and humility—thank You for not making this complicated. Help us walk in what we already know is good. Give us courage to act justly, hearts to love fiercely, and the grace to walk with You in honesty. Strip away performance. Build conviction.
Amen.