A Heart for God

His heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father David. I Kings 15:3 (New American Standard Bible)

David’s heart for God was incredible! It was referenced time and time again as new kings took the throne over Israel and Jerusalem. It was the basis for God saying he was a man after His own heart. It brought about the promise of God to future generations. It was the birth place of the book of Psalms so many people have found comfort in. It is what lead him in victory over Goliath, gave him songs of praise in the wilderness, the will to go on when pursued by his enemies, the joy to exult God in his life, and the ability to rule God’s people.

Many of us look at David’s heart for God and we desire his passion! Can you imagine being able to voice such heartfelt worship as he did?! To see God as your entire source for life? To cry out to Him with tears of joy as well as despair? To fully enjoy God and revel in His joy for you? Do you realize if these statements are the deep desires of your heart, then you have a heart for God just like David had a heart for God?

We often have a mistaken idea of what a life looks like when one has a heart for God. We think it somehow becomes a life that is pain free, problem free, and sin free. How far from the truth! Look at David’s life! He knew the pain of rejection, the fear of being pursued by enemies, the experiences of war, the regret of sin. He knew victories as well as defeats. He knew honor as well as looks of disgust. He received words of praise as well as words that wounded. Yes, he sat on a throne. But it followed years of running and hiding in the wilderness. He knew what it was like to sense God’s nearness and yet to be gripped with the fear of abandonment. The bottom line was not that David had an easy, comfortable, ‘heaven on earth’ life. He had a heart for God. In the midst of pain and suffering, facing the consequences of his own sinful choices as well as the sinful choices of others, loss, heartache, victory, and joy, he chose to praise, love, and honor God. David had a freedom to acknowledge the truth about God and the truth about himself. While his wrong actions displeased God and brought about painful consequences, God still acknowledged David’s heart for Him . His propensity toward sin did not cancel out His passion for God.

I rejoice that the same is true for me! Even though I still fail, still make wrong choices, still look to wrong sources to get needs met, and still battle wrong attitudes, my heart for God is not ignored, doubted, or dismissed by my Father. As a result I have victories, I hear His voice, I drink in His encouragement, and I walk knowing He delights in me. Once again, He has touched the heart that desires Him.

Father, like a parent who is touched by an imperfect gift given by their child, You joy in a heart that is devoted to You. I know You see the desire, passion, and hunger I have for you. Please increase it! Amen.

Delight My Heart - Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHmqqKpLu00&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

The Searcher of My Heart

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:9, 10 (New King James Version)

Today’s passage gives the basis behind David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23, 24 where he wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Because we can so easily be deceived by our own hearts, it is imperative that we ask God to do the searching, testing, evaluating, and exposing of that which motivates and drives us. Even the best of actions and wisest of decisions can fall victim to wrong agendas and faulty reasoning. Depending on the needs and longings of our heart, even the aspects of service and the carrying out of God’s kingdom work can become distorted and off base.

I am acutely aware of my ever present need for approval and acceptance. The best thing about that aspect of my life is that it continually reminds me of how much I need God and how much I need to direct my needs toward Him. The answer is not to stop doing the things I am doing until the right motives are in place. The answer is to continually ask God to purify my motives as they are exposed and brought out in the light.

Something as necessary as simply asking another individual to pray for me can be affected by the deceitfulness of my heart. This morning I am questioning the motives of my own prayer requests. The needs are real but the desire for attention is just as real. It can cloud and color any form of asking for help, whether that help is in the form of prayer, counsel, or even friendship. Like Paul, when he battled his flesh, I am torn between my actions and the motives that drive those actions. Ever questioning. Ever wondering.

This is the point whereby I need to discern between truth and the workings of the enemy. Doubt, shame, hiding, denying, withdrawal, and fear are his calling cards. He would want nothing more than to see me stop everything and hibernate spiritually and emotionally until I deem myself strong enough to continue on. Yet God’s Word encourages me to serve Him and seek the prayer support of others. As long as I am aware that things in me need to be brought to Him for correction I can proceed at fully living the Christian life. Now more than ever I need to be in constant communication with the One who can truly search me.

Father, may faith (not fear) be the deciding factor for all aspects of my life. I desire to know the truth about what lies below the surface of my actions. Yours is the only heart I can truly trust. Amen.

Potter's Hand - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSKe-gSXjAs&videos=IIKyyugBipo&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

The Heart of the Matter

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 (New King James Version)

God answers Jeremiah’s question for me in Isaiah 66:18 when He says, “I know their works and their thoughts.” My mental imaginations, thoughts, schemes, and purposes are an open book before God. He clearly sees every aspect of my inclinations and determinations. Therefore, it is imperative that I go to Him for self revelation. Otherwise I will live in a state of deception and denial. While there are times I am relieved that God knows when my motives are pure behind my words and actions, there are other times I have to poise myself to allow Him to reveal to me when that is not the case.

This morning I am aware of the numerous wrong motives that often drive me to do the things I do. Part of that list includes pride, fear, confusion, doubt, and an endless desire to have needs met and appetites satisfied. God always requires truth in the inward parts and I am humbled when I stand before the mirror of His Word and see the reflections of what I often want to hide from Him, myself, and others. When this searching is done with a teachable spirit and an awareness of His unfailing love it abounds with repentance, forgiveness, growth, and joy. But if the enemy of my soul is allowed to be a part of it there is shame, condemnation, and self loathing. I have no trouble distinguishing the difference between the two.

For me, this journey has been strewn with victory as well as defeat. There are times I walk in truth and times I embrace lies. There are times I run to God alone and times I crawl into the security of people. I don’t always do it right and don’t always get it right. In spite of it all and by the sheer grace of God I see progress. I close with a portion of the song FALLING FORWARD written by David Hamilton and Tony Wood.

There are moments on this journey if you ask me how I feel,
It seems I’m moving backwards or at least just standing still.
When I’m frozen in my failure, there’s a whisper,
“Don’’t forget!
Your Redeemer somehow uses even what you most regret.”
Step by Step, day by day, I’m completely undone by the miracle of grace,
And I’m amazed, so amazed.
Even when I fall I’m falling forward.

Father, in my weakness I have Your strength and in my seeking You are found. This heart of mine that You know so well is held in the palm of Your hand. I rest in that this morning. Amen.

Suspicions of the Heart

Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley. 2 Kings 2:16 (New American Standard Bible)

Fifty prophets witnessed some remarkable events. They saw Elijah and Elisha cross the Jordan River on dry ground. They saw Elijah depart for Heaven in a chariot of fire. They saw Elisha cross back over the Jordan River on dry land. They proclaimed the truth that Elijah’s spirit now rested on Elisha. After all that, I am amazed that their suspicions of God surface. They not only entertain thoughts of God tossing Elijah’s body into a mountain or valley grave, but they actually voice the suspicions. They want to search for the body they are sure God has dumped. I’ll give them this much, they are not guilty of hiding their true feelings and thoughts.

This is no new experience for God. Ever since the Garden of Eden man has continually raised a suspicious eye brow to God and questioned His character, motives, power, love, and heart. When life gets messy and uncomfortable the nagging accusations against God begin to rear their ugly heads. I have to admit to many times in my own life when the spirit of suspicion desires to instill in me lies about my heavenly Father. Times when deep down inside my heart are the statements too dark to voice. Statements like, “God doesn’t care. He doesn’t see what is happening to me. He isn’t involved in my life. I am of no concern to Him. He enjoys seeing me struggle. I am just one of many to Him. He has more important things to tend to.” The list could go on and on. All lies but all desirous to see me stay in a position of fear, discouragement, and shame.

It is a horrible way to live the Christian life. For years I did not know God was the One I needed to take those thoughts to. The very One who could defeat the thoughts was the One I stood suspicious of. The enemy of my soul loved the fact that I remained in a prison cell from which God longed to release me. How He aches for each of His children to know the truth about Him. He longs to help us replace the lies and distortions with truth from His Word and His Spirit. While the wrong thoughts have abounded, He is still in the business of causing blind eyes to see!

Father, I acknowledge my suspicions so that You can extract them from my mind and implant me with the truth about Yourself. This is a process we must journey together. I place my heart in Your hands where I know it will be well cared for. Amen.

Speaking From the Heart

For his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Luke 6:45 NASB

For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 NIV

For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45 KJV

Our heart (the seat of our emotions, feelings, and motives) can be filled, overflowing, and abundant with many things. Luke reminds me this morning that the contents of my heart will be revealed in the things I say and the way I say them. If I listen long enough to the speech of another individual I can begin to detect what is in their heart. I am not talking about sporadic conversation here and there but rather the theme of their words over a long period of time. Our words are like an ex-ray machine that expose the condition of our heart. The things I fill my mind with, the values I treasure in my heart, and those things I hold dearest in life are the very things I will spend the most time talking about.

So often, we as Christians have no trouble identifying bad language, cursing, and swearing as indications of a heart problem. But God wants us to realize negative talk, gossip, lying, bragging, people bashing, and even words filled with worry, despair, and disbelief reveal what’s in a heart as well. Whereas a heart full of praise, gratitude, respect, and godliness will also be seen in what comes out of our mouth.

David knew the connection of his heart and mouth so well that he prayed that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart would be acceptable to God. He also asked God to set a watch over his mouth to guard what was being said.

So how does a person fill their heart with the right things? By guarding the things they see, hear, read, and think about. For the heart is filled up with the things we feed upon, spend the most time doing, and what we are passionate about. Change what you are taking in and it will begin to have an effect on what is being “treasured up” in your heart. And if you are like me, you will find there are certain areas you struggle to master because you are so drawn to them. In that case, it is imperative that we ask God to change the appetite of our heart.

Father, may You show me any area that needs to change in my heart as well as in my conversations. May I not legitimize, excuse, or hold tightly anything You disclose to me that needs to be discarded. Amen.

It's All in the Heart

He feeds on ashes, a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand? Isaiah 44:20

The Bible speaks of various kinds of hearts. I looked up "heart" in my Strong's Concordance and was amazed at the list I found just from the first five books of the Bible. Some were admirable hearts and others were in need of transformation. Allow me to share my findings.

I saw a hardened heart, an evil heart, a grieved heart, an honest heart, an innocent heart, a failed heart, a glad heart, a willing heart, a stirred heart, a wise heart, a hateful heart, a sorrowful heart, a selfish heart, a discouraged heart, an obstinate heart, a departing heart, a lifted up heart, an upright heart, a servant's heart, a deceived heart, a wicked heart, a hot heart, a fainting heart, an astonished heart, a joyful heart, a glad heart, a fearful heart, a perceptive heart, a blessed heart, a circumcised heart, a loving heart, and a turned away heart. I now have a better understanding of various heart conditions. Considering the heart is "ones innermost character, feelings, and inclinations " it is easy to see the importance of having a right heart.

Our words, actions, and attitudes are a result of what is going on in our heart. They are fruit from the "trees" of our heart. No wonder we are encouraged to watch over our heart with all diligence, because from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:24). I recently heard a speaker talk about the necessity of reaching the heart of our children. For them or us, that is the only way true change will come about.

In today's verse the deceived heart has three characteristics. It turns a person away from God, cannot deliver him, and keeps him holding on to lies. This type of heart can be found in anyone. So I must ask myself how as a Christian I can be deceived. Unless I know the truths about God and His Word I am a walking target for deception. And the frustrating part about deception is that many times we don't know we are embracing it.

I must continually ask God to search my heat and reveal to me where I am living with deception or any other negative condition.

Father, may my heart be an open book to You. May I long to know the truth about the condition of my heart as much as You long to show me. Amen.