Category: Heart

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God Sees Our Hearts

Dear Sister,

Are you burdened this day with the disparity between what life looks like and what you hoped it would look like? Are you frustrated with the results of your labors, despite the love and effort you have put into each act of service? Are you saddened by a relationship gone sour, due to no fault of your own, or a relationship that never bloomed, despite your many prayers and good desires?

God sees you. He saw Hagar as she was fleeing her mistress Sarah, prepared to die in the desert. “She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me! ‘Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!’ “ Genesis 16: 13 (MSG)

God sees your heart, and He is honored by every pure desire and motive that lies within. Resist the urge to give up on the priorities, relationships, and dreams He has given you. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Life is a lot like farming – I know that from first-hand experience. Growing up as a farm girl in southern Ohio, I not only watched my father and grandfather labor over their fields and cattle, but I also got dirty, planted seeds, and weeded many rows of corn and beans, waiting for the crops to come. Some years, there would be a drought, and the crop would not be very healthy, or the bugs would eat up the young plants before they could grow, or an unexpected frost would kill new blossoms on our fruit trees. Being a large family, we depended on this food, but more importantly, we depended on God. He was always faithful to supply our needs and bless the real fruit of our labors, even if in a small way.

Sister, please remember that while we are called to be faithful, we are not ultimately responsible for the end result of our actions, prayers, and good desires. We are not in control. Not at all! Just like a faithful farmer, we are called to labor for the Gospel to be furthered in our own hearts, in our families, and in our communities. God will produce the fruit at the right time.

My father had a saying he liked to share with us when we were sweating in the garden every July… “You know kids, these beans are going to taste great in January!” Often when we least expect it, in the middle of the dark winter, the ‘crops’ that we have labored over, and set aside for the colder months, will bear fruit that is oh-so-sweet.

He sees you, He delights in you, and He will bring the harvest at the proper time. Be faithful to the garden He has planted you in. You don’t know how He might use your faithfulness for His glory.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

Seen by God…your sister,

Ruth

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Broken Hearts

My Dearest Sister,

When I was growing up, my parents were pretty cautious about what we watched on television. Most of the time we ended up watching reruns of older shows because they tended to be more family friendly. One of the programs we watched regularly was Happy Days. If you are familiar with the show, then you no doubt are familiar with the lovable character of Fonzie. You know that episode where he can’t even say the words “I was wrong”, as if they are physically going to hurt him? Yeah, that’s totally me (my poor husband can attest to this). I guess pride is just part of our human nature and with that comes the desire to be right, but that desire has so stubbornly manifested itself in me that admitting when I have been wrong is a real struggle sometimes; it can be so difficult that the words feel almost painful to say. Because of this, I don’t like to admit when I am at fault very often. As you can imagine, this can get me into trouble sometimes (again, my poor husband can attest to this).

You know who didn’t struggle to admit he was wrong? King David. If anyone could be more predisposed to issues of pride, it would be the shepherd boy who took down a giant with a single stone, became king over an entire nation, conquered thousands of men in battle, and would eventually become the forefather of the Savior of the world. Yet as great as all of his accomplishments were, David still recognized that his heart was deeply rooted in sin and he was desperately in need of forgiveness. Psalm 51 in particular outlines his prayer of repentance after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah.

The first thing David does is acknowledge the source of his bad behavior, his own sinful heart. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. And in sin my mother conceived me,” he says (v. 5). David knew that he was born into sin the same way he was born into his family. It’s hard to imagine that my sweet baby boy who is sleeping peacefully in the other room shares this same inherent state of iniquity. He seems so pure right now, so incapable of anything evil. However, I know the day will quickly come when that veil of innocence will be lifted, revealing the same sinful nature we all possess.

But there is good news: thanks to Jesus’ death on the cross, this nature no longer controls us who belong to Christ. We have been set free from sin and are no longer slaves to it (Romans 6:22-23). However, that doesn’t mean that our sin nature just goes away completely. Sometimes it comes creeping back up on us and pounces when we least expect it. David was hand-picked by God to lead His people and yet he still struggled with sinful thoughts and actions. However, he knew that when he had sinned against the Lord that there was only one appropriate response: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). He was desperately in need of forgiveness and God was the only One who could wash his heart clean again.

You see, what God desires from us more than anything else is a heart that is right before Him. That’s the whole reason He sent His Son to this earth in the first place, so that our sins could be forgiven and our hearts could be washed clean! David was more than willing to admit to his sins because he knew that conviction (identification) of sin is the first step to a heart that is right with God. “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. These, O God, You will not despise” (v.16-17). David was a mighty man who did many great things in his lifetime, but his greatest strength was something many would consider a weakness: a humble, broken heart. He knew that he was born a sinner in need of forgiveness and he didn’t let his pride get in the way of admitting that. Being right with God was more important to him than being right.

Sister, if you are anything like me then you know how hard it can be to admit to wrongdoing, especially when our human nature dictates that being right is more important. However, before our hearts can be made clean, they must first be broken. I can’t begin to tell you how convicting writing this letter was for me. It has caused me to look on my prideful heart with shame and sorrow. But do you know what? That conviction is the first step to having a heart that is right before God. We can’t shy away from that brokenness, sister; we must embrace it as King David did, knowing it only draws us closer to the One who makes all things – including our filthy, sinful hearts – new once more.

In His Love,
~ Lauren

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What’s In Your Heart?

Dear Sister,

Tis the season of hearts, love, and longing. My own heart-attitude came to mind as I journaled this to the Lord today: “Establish an attitude of humility in Your servant. Perhaps there is where I need to start. Too often the top…leader…teacher…mother instead of the humble bond slave. I want to be Your bond slave, Lord, for I know You are gentle and merciful, all-wise and patient.”

As I wrote this, the reluctance I had prior—a need not to be trampled on, to be overwhelmed by others’ demands, to not be boundariless—dissolved because I realized I wasn’t called to become a servant chained to other flawed people and their desires, but a servant to the Lord—He will guide me as He sees fit and that is right, acceptable, and good because I know His character, I can trust in His heart. He will stretch me and allow circumstances and others to try me, but for my good. Though I may serve others, I am to always be His handmaiden—serving where He directs.

This heart is a precious, valuable tool—each of us only have one—it is well we should guard it! I cringe to remember how often I have thrust it out ahead of me in situations and with people, blindly ‘feeling’ along—hoping that will land me where my desires will be fulfilled. I love the verse, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Prov. 4:23. A friend pointed this out during the time I was dating as a reminder to be cautious with the relationships I allowed in my life, and quite correctly; however the verse should not just be applied to dating relationships, but to all things that can affect the heart—for good or ill.

Proverbs is often called the book of Wisdom, and I believe it may also be called the book of the Heart as that is where we should cultivate wisdom: “For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” Prov. 2:10.

Although our hearts should grow with God’s wisdom, at the same time they are still tainted with sin—it will be a constant battle on this earth keeping our hearts moving on God’s path and not straying toward sinful desires. Therefore, our hearts must trust in God and not our own ‘wisdom.’ “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” Prov. 3:5. We should know the nonsense of “follow your heart” and “do what feels right” is pure folly. “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. “ Prov. 21:2; and, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Prov. 28:26. Ingesting God’s Word, following His principles, having a relationship with Him (not a fleeting, shallow, pray only during emergencies-type of relationship, but a continual, daily, enduring relationship) results in the true cultivation of and right direction for our hearts.

This Valentine’s Day, consider allowing our Lord to woo your heart. He loves you with an everlasting love and He battled to the death for you. Let Jesus be your ultimate love—setting His seal on your heart.

Running with you,
Rebecca

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Eternity In Our Hearts

Dear sister,

This week I started reading Ecclesiastes. It is an odd book. The theme that Solomon seems to be driving home is that everything is meaningless. It doesn’t sound like a particularly biblical message, does it?

Ecclesiastes is about a man who had everything the world had to offer. Solomon even says, “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure” (2: 9, 10). He had fame, honor, great riches, and every pleasure known to man. Yet, he says, “All is vanity.”

Today we see the heart of man pursuing satisfaction in similar things—fame, fortune, sex and every pleasure imaginable—there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). But Solomon confirms from experience that even all of this does not satisfy the longings of the human heart. Moreover, Solomon seems to be asking, “What is the point of my toil? Why am I working so hard?” He acknowledges that earthly rewards are temporary and our desires are never fully met.

Maybe you’re asking the same question. You think, “I wake up; I go to work; I come home; I eat, drink and sleep; and the next day I do it all over again.” Perhaps you, like me, are looking for meaning in the mundane and purpose in the repetitive. We enjoy the fruits of our labor but not without sometimes making them our idols. We experience pleasure but it never lasts. So what is the point?

The funny thing about the apparent vanity of life is that this is how God made it. Yes, the world we live in is broken and not how God created it to be, but he did establish seven days that would repeat every week, and he established morning and night, a cycle earth would complete daily. He intended for man to work six out of those seven days every week. We are to honor the Sabbath weekly, etc.

So how does Solomon answer our question? In chapter 3 Solomon says, “He [God] has put eternity into man’s heart” (v. 11). We weren’t created for the temporary and fleeting. Our hearts were made for eternity, to live in perfect communion with God. Consequently, the things we experience on earth will never satisfy our hearts. We are longing for something much greater than this world will ever be able to offer. So let us seek to honor God by living for eternity in the every day.

Yearning with you,

Kayla

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Paper, Stone, and Flesh

Dearest sister,

My 2-year-old daughter just learned how much she enjoys cutting with scissors. She cuts tiny pieces that transform our Okinawan home to a snow-covered lair. Since this month is February, I hope to help her learn to cut out hearts, a seemingly easy thing to do. This way our Valentines can be filled with pink, red, and white hearts instead of snow capped tables. I have to be honest with you, this month’s theme is the heart and I would rather simply make paper hearts than look at my own.
What is the heart? The heart is the central core and drive of our lives intellectually (it involves the mind), affectionately (it shapes the soul), and totally (it provides the energy for living. The Bible is pretty consistent with what should control our heart. God the Father declares to Moses in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 that His people are to love the Lord their God with all their heart and teach this to their children each day. Jesus commands this again in the New Testament in Matthew 22:37. Easy, right? Just love the Lord with all our hearts and we will be so affected by this that we then love our neighbors with this love. Yet, even though I know the answer, I can’t do it! Why? Jeremiah 17:9-10 declares that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” My heart, all of it, is diseased from the get go. Not only that, but it deceives me…and then the Lord gives me what I deserve from this diseased heart. How many times as women are we told to go with our heart or how we feel rather than loving the Lord and our neighbor? This can be dangerous advice when our heart is sick.

But how can my diseased heart be healed? Deuteronomy 30:6 says, “and the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Look at who starts this process? God. And here: “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart (Jer 24:7 I). And one more: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ez 36:26). This news makes my affectionate heart swell! God covenants to give us a new heart out of His grace and mercy! How? Jesus! God does this through the work of Jesus for me and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in me. He illumines my mind through the truth of the gospel, frees my enslaved will from its bondage to sin, cleanses my affections by His grace, and motivates me inwardly to live for Him by rewriting His law into my heart so that I begin to love what He loves. The Bible calls this being “born from above.” How amazing is that! It is good news. But even as a believer my heart is still prone to wander.

This is the hardest part for me. Positionally, I have a pure heart, I am sinless because of Christ. My sins are forgiven! Yet practically I still sin because I live in a fallen world and am not yet in my glorified body. So scripture says I must guard my heart. Guard it from things that easily draw me astray. That can be different for you and me as our sin snares vary. We also need to keep our hearts healthy by reading and memorizing the Word, going to church, and fellowshipping with believers. And pray. Pray that the Lord will keep your heart pure and from the evil one. Oh sweet sister, I fall away so easily. I forget to guard my heart and feed it a good diet. I want my own desires and not the Lord’s. Then conviction comes when I read the word and see that I have taken my new heart for granted. Yet this conviction is what drives me to the cross yet again. To be reminded that positionally my heart is righteous, pure, and like Christ’s. Not because I deserve it, but because of what Christ has done. I am humbled and weep at what I have settled for rather than the new heart I have. How about you?

So yes, we will cut paper hearts and scatter them around, but I pray that I will remember to look at my own heart as well and bow down and beg the Lord to guard it.

Faithfully, Your sister in Christ,

Colleen