The Heart Follows

I have been focused on the heart and we are to follow the heart and what we have in our heart will be our focus. This is where the LORD resides within us and as such He is where all begins.

“²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 (ESV)

But see the above verse, and the focus on the treasures in our lives. I was reminded this morning that my treasure is where my heart is. There is such a cyclical relationship when it comes to the heart. We pour our heart into something and that becomes our treasure and our focus, yet our heart is the beginning of all and should be leading us forward. This is where I have to remember the treasure in my life and ensure that my heart is following those that are worth the following.

God and family and then everything else. This is the priority list we should have in our lives. These are the treasures we should hold dear. These are where our heart should be focused. This is where it all begins and ends for us. And yes, the order does matter.

“⁶For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

— Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

You see, God is to be our ultimate treasure. Remember that He provides all for us in this world and in heaven to come. He is everything to us from “Counselor” to “Father” to “Prince” to “God”. He provides all for us and therefor we hold Him as our ultimate treasure and our heart is devoted to Him.

And then there is our family. Lori is the most precious to me and I will do all that is needed to guard her as my treasure. And then our boys who, even as God’s children we were given authority over by God. All else, well it will come and go. My heart is focused on those and as my treasure, my heart is there with them.

So we come back to what is our focus. Is it from our heart we find treasure or treasure where our heart is? YES. It is both and one all in the same. We are to focus on those treasures and know that those treasure are our heart.

Where is your treasure and where is your heart? Are you looking to those things in this world? What if you were to focus on the real treasure and know that you heart is right there with you?

Blessed are…

This is the opening phrase to the beatitudes that Jesus leads with in His Sermon on the Mount. Each of the blessed are those who are the disadvantaged in some way. The blessed are not those who are perceived as the strong and socially seen as having arrived. The blessed are the poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted for righteousness.

“⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8 (ESV)

In my study of the word “heart” this is the verse that I was led to this morning. He I see the middle of the beatitudes and cast this one over all the others. I am not saying that this is the most important of the beatitudes, I am only saying that when it comes to the LORD, it is about what is in the heart that matters to Him and that is what should be driving the actions of His children. The LORD looks to the heart and, as you can see in the verse above, those “pure in heart…shall see God”. The blessed are those who are in need and who seek God. Whether poor or mourning or hungry or peacemaker, those who are seeking the LORD with their heart are those who are blessed.

Remembering all that glitters is not really gold. What is received in this world may look to be blessings, but we have to remember that the evil one deals in deception and will distort things. And being blessed is not what the world would consider. Look at the blessings bestowed on those who will be blessed, the kingdom of heaven, be comforted, inherit the earth, be satisfied, receive mercy, see God, and be called sons of God. Where the world would likely ask, what good is all that, the children of God see these as ultimate blessings.

For me I look daily at my heart. Where is my heart in relation to where I am and where I am going. I gave an impromptu “speech” at the engagement party of my son recently and where the focus was on their life together that is to come, it was about where we or they are when it comes to the heart that they and everyone else should look to that will mean the most as they travel the path together. I and the rest of society should not be concerned with what they have monetarily that would indicate their blessings, but that which is in there heart for the LORD and each other is what matters.

Blessed are those who have a heart for the LORD.

What is it that you have a heart for? Are you driven by the accumulation of things that you consider blessings? What if you focused on your heart for God and the blessings that come from that focus?

Renewed Heart From Our LORD

“¹⁶Therefore say, ‘Thus says the LORD God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’” – Ezekiel 11:16 (ESV)

The LORD is our sanctuary. Not some land or building, but the LORD Himself. In the passage above, Ezekiel is seeing the LORD God and how He had removed the people of Israel into exile, yet He was not away from them. The people, even as they were scattered all across the land, they were able to find solace in the LORD and His closeness to them as they were away. This is a statement to us as well. The LORD is with us wherever we may be. He is where we should dwell and find comfort there.

“¹⁹And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” – Ezekiel 11:19-20 (ESV)

And what do we get for remaining in the LORD, we receive a new heart, one of flesh renewed to keep the commands of the LORD. We will be comforted and feel the presence of the LORD with us and we will follow Him fully.

“²¹But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the LORD God.” – Ezekiel 11:21 (ESV)

But there are and will be those who are not finding sanctuary in the LORD Himself. There will be those who are looking for the physical safety net as opposed to relying on God. For those, they will keep their heart of stone and will ultimately be subject to the world and will not be renewed to follow and obey the LORD.

I don’t know about you, but I am looking always for the renewal of my heart. I sit here in the morning praying to the LORD for guidance and safety and comfort and direction and wisdom and discernment that I know only comes from Him. I work to find sanctuary in the LORD and know that if/when I truly do, I will find a renewed heart guiding me to follow and obey the LORD.

Where are you looking for renewal of your heart? Are you staying on the things of this world? What if you gave yourself to the LORD Himself for sanctuary, knowing that He will renew your heart?

With All Your Heart

I have been studying the word “heart” for the past couple of months and through my process, have a few weeks to go. In that time I have written a good amount on the subject of “with all your heart” and this morning is another installment, and really more focused on it.

I am currently reading in Jeremiah and have been led to the passage in chapter 29 titled “Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles” in my ESV Bible. Here Jeremiah is relaying the message of the LORD to the people that He will not abandon them and that he will raise them up again. But, as noted above, I am more focused on the one verse, 13, this morning.

“¹³You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

I was really struck this morning by this verse, and the phrase “with all your heart”. I was reminded that in all that we do with the LORD we are to do so with all our heart, and not just flippantly or ceremonially. I think the word seek and how it is deeper than just looking. Merriam-Webster Online says: “to go in search of”, and where the second part of that definition is: “look for”, the third part is: “to try to discover”. There is work involved, by more than the eyes.

“³⁶Then Jesus went with them to a place call Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.’” – Matthew 26: 36 (ESV)

When Jesus was facing His crucifixion, He did not pray to the Father where He was at the time. Jesus “went” to “go over there and pray”. He sought the Father, and did not just expect the LORD to come to Him. He went with all of Himself to the Father.

“³⁸The Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.” – John 11:37 (ESV)

Jesus did not just say for Lazarus to rise, as He had every capability to do, he went and sought out the tomb of His friend and was fully there from His heart and mind and body to bring him back to the living. Jesus did all things from His heart and not just to do them because He could. Jesus was all in with all his heart and we should be as well.

I will admit that I am not a very outwardly emotional person. But that does not mean that I am not committed and deeply moved at things. When I commit to something, I commit to it fully to ensure that it is completed and it is done well. I have to remember that commitment is one that should be coming from my heart and not just from my dedication to completing a task. I have to be there with all my heart as the greatest example to me, Jesus, was. We have to be all in “with all your heart”.

How do you approach things? Are you there to complete a task or are you part of the ceremony? What if you approached all things “with all your heart” as Jesus did and we are instructed?

Judged, It is About the Heart

“⁵Thus says the LORD:

‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man

and makes flesh his strength,

whose heart turns away from the LORD.’”

“⁷Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.”

“¹⁰I the LORD search the heart

and test the mind,

to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.”

— Jeremiah 17:5, 7, & 10 (ESV)

Whether we are blessed or cursed, it is the LORD who makes that judgment and it comes from His examination of our heart.

I believe that in this world, we want to be judged by the actions that others see. And where actions speak louder than words, it is the condition of the heart that the LORD is looking to. Where are the actions coming from that is judged by the LORD, not the actions results or the idea that the actions are even being done. The LORD is looking to the heart as to where we were and are as relates to those actions.

Action is needed, yes, and we should be taking action to impact the world that is in need. But, that action should be a result of the heart’s condition and not to make a splash for the world to see. Yes, the world may look at you to say you have done a great thing, and we should not discount the impact made on the world. It is the condition of the heart that the LORD is looking to, not the results of the actions you are taking. We may not solve all the problems of the world with our actions from the heart, but we will do the work God has for us to complete and on this we should looked to be judged by Him.

What are you being judged for? Are you looking to do actions that garner attention from the world in hopes that you are looked on favorably? What if you looked more inward at the heart and allowed your heart to drive your actions knowing that the LORD is judging you based on the condition of your heart?

Remorseful / Repentant Heart Will be Revived

I am a pretty cynical person and do not always believe what I am told or see. I know that it is an area of weakness for me and one that, as a Christian, have to get past. That cynicism keeps me from proceeding with love from time to time as I am cautious with giving in where there is a lack of trust. This is really a heart thing for me that I need to get past.

I know, what does this have to do with remorse and repentance. Well, it is about that directly in that I have instill in my heart one of remorse and repentance to place my trust in the LORD.

“¹⁵For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

‘I dwell in the high and holy place,

and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly,

and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”

— Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)

You see, the LORD is with us, even us who are cynical. He is waiting for our remorse and repentance to kick in to which He will revive us. The LORD is waiting on me to trust and depend on Him and all the work He is doing. All I need to do is just that, trust and depend on Him and He will reveal Himself to me and revive my heart to that place of warmth to Him and away from that cynicism.

God wants the relationship with me. Where I am in my 50s as far as age, I feel as though I have a long way to go in my maturity with Christ. I have so much to learn and every day I am working to understand and trust Him more. It is about doing the work that God has for me and seeking the why, but trusting that it is the work He has for me and it is just one tooth in the gear that leads to His glory. I have to get past the doubt and cynicism and trust Him. I have to give in to the love of the LORD and know that He has a bigger plan for me that I cannot see just yet. In short, God’s got me.

As I am able to demonstrate my contrite heart, the LORD fills it with the energy and love that only He gives. That energy and love revives me to move forward with strength and courage and love for not only Him and those around me, but for me and my relationship with Him.

How are you being revived? Are you looking for external forces revive you internally? What if you were to demonstrate your remorse and repentance and allow God to fill your heart with energy and love to revive that heart to one of trust in and love for Him?

The Heart Reveals

“²A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.”

— Ecclesiastes 10:2 (ESV)

“The ‘right hand’ is often associated with strength and blessing in the OT”. This is the commentary found in my ESV Bible related to the verse above. By contrast the “left” would be the opposite. The thing I see here is that there is a stark difference between a heart filled with wisdom and foolishness. And that difference is revealed for all to see.

I have written that you “Show Yourself From Your Heart” where we are the reflection of what is in our heart. That is reiterated here in Ecclesiastes. When we are filled with foolishness, we lean one way and when we are filled with wisdom, we lean the other. Those are revealed in our actions for all to see. They are revealed to all and are a reflection of who we really are.

Being wise is not about being “smart”. It is about doing things and making decisions based on logic and having a well thought out approach as opposed to quick emotional action. The end of the commentary for the verse above in my ESV Bible is this, “wisdom and foolishness invariably reveal themselves in one’s behavior”. Our leaning, right or left is revealed through our actions and not specifically through the words spoken.

It is from our heart where our wisdom or folly emanate. We fill our inner most part with that which we focus and that is reflected for all to see. It is revealed through our actions and therefor, the heart reveals who we truly are.

What does your heart reveal? Are you trying to show something only to find that others are not responding the way you would like? What if you were to fill your heart with the wisdom of the LORD as opposed to folly of the world and allow it to be revealed instead?

Show Yourself From Your Heart

We are generally reflective, what you see is what you get. The thing is, what people are seeing is coming from the heart.

“¹⁹As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.”

— Proverbs 27:19

It is important to have the LORD in your heart. Being that we are reflective the people are seeing the true us daily. Are we showing the LORD from our heart?

We cannot hide our true selves. Are we caring of others or are we putting others down? Are we giving or are we hording? Are we guiding others to prosper or are we guiding them so we can prosper? All of these questions are answered in what others see in us.

But, we have to be careful in looking at others in the simple moment in time. There is a man I know that what I saw in him in the first interaction was not a man with God in His heart. What I realized at that time was that I was seeing only a single interaction and did not know or recognize context. With my second interaction and ongoing, I found a man that truly reflected God daily, and he was always looking to build others up.

We are a reflection of what is in our heart and the people can see it. It is not up to us if everyone understands the context or full situation. As we see in situations reported in the media, there are snapshots of situations that do not tell the full story. These situations are like looking in the water that has been rippled by a stone. It is not until all the waters calm that we are able to see the true reflection.

This is a goes both ways thing. Whether God fills your heart or not, the true reflection will come through for all to see. Once the waters are still, and they will, we are seen for who we really are and I know for me, I want that to be one who is seen as one with God in his heart. This is achieved, first by filling your heart with God daily, moment by moment.

What are you reflecting? Are constantly rippling the water to distort the image that others see? What if you had God in your heart and know that you are reflecting Him for all to see?

Medicine in Our Heart

Yes, when I speak of medicine, I am speaking of medicine to heal not only our emotional sickness, but our physical sickness as well.

“²²A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

— Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)

I wonder if you have heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine”. I know that I have and it is true, when we laugh, our mind leaps to a more positive perspective and our body is boosted with endorphins that relieve pain and tension. I currently have some knee pain that I am getting looked at by physicians, and where I will have to have something repaired, I also know that when I am having a good time with things, the pain seems to not affect me as bitterly.

Now, imagine joy in your life that streams from your heart. That joy is not just there in the heart, but moves from your heart to your head and out to the world. Our mental and physical selves would deal with less stress related pain and suffering and we would find relief. Where do we get such joy but from the LORD and His Word.

The LORD does not only bring joy, but we find joy in Him and the worship of Him. Anxiety comes from the unknown and deception. With the LORD, there is no deception, and where we may not know where things are going in the short run, our finality is determined. The LORD is truth and in that truth I can rely. And God’s love for me brings me a confidence that can only be described as joy. And that joy is great medicine to that which is against me.

Medicine in our heart starts with the Word of God which turns to joy in our heart which streams to our mind and body to relieve pain. Joy in our heart is the medicine of our lives. Yes, doctors are still important for the healing in some instances to take place, but in reality, they are not needed as with the joy of the LORD, we have all the medicine we need. And, if it is in the will of God, He will heal us fully without the hands of the doctors. We have all we “need” with the LORD in our heart.

What medicine are you looking for to heal you? Are you looking to outside remedies? What if you were to look inward to the joy of the LORD in your heart and allow Him to be the medicine that heals?

Really Live with Desire In Your Heart

Yes, we will really live when we have desire in our heart. But here’s the catch, we have to desire that which is fulfilling.

“¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

“¹⁹A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.”

— Proverbs 13:12 & 19 (ESV)

God’s Word tells us that “a desire” is fulfilling to the point of bringing “life” and “sweet”ness. But what is that desire that we should be looking for. Well, it is Him. We are to fill our hearts with God and His Word and we will be blessed beyond belief. We will really be living when the LORD is at the center of all our movement.

How are you able to fall into despair when you are filled with the joy of the LORD? How are we to consciously sin when we are focused on doing the work that the LORD has for us? How can we not live life to the fullest when we are living for the glory of the LORD? The answer to all of these how questions is, we can’t.

I know that there will be moments of challenge in our lives and all will seem impossible to achieve, but that is where our desire to live the life that God has given us to live comes into play. I have to live the life that the LORD gives me and not the life that I want. I have to live according to the desire to be more and more like the LORD at every turn. I have to live from my heart outward and then I will really be living.

What are you leaning on to really live? Are you trying to find fulfillment outside your heart? What if you were to have God in your heart and live outward from Him and His direction?