Sunday Devotion: The Heart of God

A Heart. Everyone has one but that doesn't mean everyone knows how to use it.

We were given a heart for two main reasons. The first is the most obvious because we need blood to transfer throughout our body, so the heart pumps it around for us. Amen for that! The other reason is not a physical purpose. Rather, our hearts were created in such a way that there is also a spiritual, emotional side to it...and God wants in. I talk about this a lot in my book since it is about the purity of the heart. Our hearts need to be guided by the Lord. This is the other purpose of our hearts yet the most important...to love God with it all.

 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, 

and with all thy soul and with all thy might." Deut. 6:5

Recently, I was listening to one of our camp services online entitled "The Heart of God."
{You can listen to it for free here} 

The speaker asked the question "What is the heart of God?"  That made me think...what is the purpose behind all He does? Why does He do certain things? What drives Him? This scripture in Jeremiah leads us towards the right answer:

"And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart." Jeremiah 24:7

One word. Relationship! Jesus craves a real, intimate relationship with His creation. He wants your heart! The Lord's main purpose is to be known by us; we must read His Word, pray continually and seek God with everything we have. God yearns for that relationship with His children; you and I.

Today {and every day after} connect with Him. Talk to Him, listen to Him, vent to Him. He is waiting for our hearts to return to Him, to know Him. Just like our relationships down here, when we are connected with someone, we find out their name, their dreams, goals, get to know who they are, their personality etc. God is the same way!
Many people may think that they cannot know God this intimately or that He is somehow this invisible cloud far above our eyes that it is impossible to connect with Him. These are false ideas from the enemy! He is among us, doing great things, all for the purpose of relationship...so that we may seek Him and know Him.

Our God CAN be known AND understood, even to our little human minds. This is possible because of His purpose, to be known...our main purpose in this life is to know Him. Everything points towards that direction. So take some time to do just that! Get alone, even if it's just in the shower {us moms have to multitask this way :)} and speak to Him. Ask Him to reveal who He is to you and what He expects from a relationship with you. Read His Word, hide it in your hearts. Meditate on it, pray about it.

The heart of God is not a hard concept to see when you read the scriptures...it becomes clear that He wants that bond with us, that His love is endless, everlasting, true and pure. There truly is no greater love than the love of Jesus!

What is on your heart today? Would you like prayer?

I don't need to know all the details, for God knows them already...

I'd love to pray for you. Please leave your request in the comments.

Can I Really Handle This?

Answer: YES!!!

You can handle ALL things with God.

He is all powerful & all knowing.

He knows what you can handle & is there for you.

Claim this promise today, in Jesus Name!

Sunday Devotion: Power of Influence

          

"As females, we have more power than we know what to do with. If we can learn to lean on Jesus and allow Him to use that influence to enrich His kingdom, just think how many hearts we can reach!

In society today, we see the negative effects of a woman’s influence. Instead of using her body for God’s glory, she has exploited it to curve men’s attention to herself. Instead of using her words for pleasant admirations, she speaks foul language and uses conniving attitudes to fulfill material desires. This is not how the King wants His daughters to act.

“To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” (Proverbs 2:16-18).

In the Book of Proverbs, we are warned of the ways in which not to act. What is more, gentlemen are expected not to give in to such women. Not just to avoid giving in physically, but also emotionally. God cares about men’s emotional states just as much a woman’s. The Scripture is clear that young men must also work on guarding their hearts as well. Yes, ladies, men do have hearts!

“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:1-8).

Gentlemen, you are not exempt. You have a different kind of power of influence. While a woman more than likely uses her influence to manipulate others to do what she wants, you on the other hand are more bold and strong. The most attractive part of the power of influence for you is that first word, “power.”

A perfect example is Jacob using his power of influence to gain the birthright from his twin and older brother, Esau. Esau was only older by like two seconds, but here’s the deal: first-born sons in those days were supposed to get a special blessing from their father. This could include giving them all of the father’s possessions and livestock. It could mean land and also money. Basically, it was a very honorable blessing, one that Jacob managed to buy with one sorry bowl of soup.

Jacob was always jealous of his brother. Even as they were in the womb, they fought and their mother Rebekah was confused:

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them” (Genesis 25:22-26).

 

There came a point when they grew up and Jacob was preparing some stew or soup. Esau, a cunning hunter, came from the field and was faint. So, naturally, he asked his younger brother for some of the food:

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint” (Genesis 25:29-30).

Jacob seized the opportunity to use his power of influence on his brother!

“And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:31-34).

This “power of influence” is a powerful tool, and if the heart has wrong intentions, it can cause some deadly damage. With actions and words, a message is sent to the other person. Verbally and nonverbally, we are given power to influence our world. 

How will you use it?"

- Excerpt from Chapter 8  of my new book "The Palace Keepers: Protecting the Purity of the Heart", available here for Kindle/iPad/Tablet users or here in paperback