"Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." Joel 2:12-13 God is asking the Israelites to return to Him. The reason for their great punishment -- famine, locusts, captivity -- was because they had turned away from Him (see Joel chpt. 1). They had ceased to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord. They had refused to worship God. Instead, they chose to do things their own way. How many times do we do that today? We choose not to worship God. Or, as in Joel 2:12-13, we worship Him with our outward appearance (by going to church, quoting Bible verses, saying "the words"), but refuse to give Him our heart. God wants more than just the actions. He wants actions coming from a right heart. In Rom