Love and Sing from From the Heart

I have studied the passage I was led to this morning, many times. I have even written about my study in the passage in my study of other words from the concordance in my bible. This morning I was brought here as I continue studying the word “heart”.

“¹⁹addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” – Ephesians 5:19-20 (ESV)

I was struck this morning reading Paul’s words to sing “to the Lord with your heart”. I am an emotional person even as I do not always display a lot of emotion to outsiders. When I am singing I have challenges with keeping my composure in that I am overcome with feelings that flow from my heart. I almost have to just look a singing as a task to complete and that I am reading words and the words have no meaning when I am singing publicly. This morning I ask myself why check myself to not let the emotion flow.

God’s Word tells us above to sing from the heart and allow the emotion to flow. In the same way, we are to love from the heart. We are to give everything to the LORD and let everyone know He is filling our heart. The world needs to know that the LORD is in our heart and that He guides our love. God is what fills us and where we sing from.

I commit this morning to expressing myself from the heart. As is my nature to be more even and less emotional to the public, it will be a struggle and subtle, but I will be praying for and working to act more from the heart for the world to see (even if the world is only those closest to me). I will sing and love from the heart to show them that it is filled with the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is it that drives your love and singing? Are you demonstrating based on those things that are on the surface and not really from your heart? What if you were let the LORD spill from your heart in your song and in your love for the world to see that your heart is filled with/by Him?

Defend the Heart over the Flesh

The LORD has armed us to defend. He has given us His Armor. We put it on daily. This morning in my continued study of the word “heart” I was brought to Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church and the passage titled in my bible “The Ministry of Reconciliation”. Where I have been in this passage before, again, the LORD points me to another realization.

“¹²We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.” – 2 Corinthians 5:12 (ESV)

When we are defending, we are to focus on the heart. You see, out there in the world there are many that make claims to be of Christ. They are outward (public) Christians and want everyone to know it. And where it is great to be so bold for Christ in the public square, it is in the heart where our true allegiance to Him is found.

I do not know the heart of others as it is not my place. Yet, it is my role to defend the heart for Christ and not just the outward declarations. I have to take people at their word and then utilize the Armor of God to defend Christ and my heart for Him. I have to be aware and on guard for those who are only boasting on the outside and may not have accepted Christ in the heart. Again, I do not know their heart, but I can and should still defend Christ who is in mine.

It is hard, I know. And there is a balance that must be struck. But, when we are defend the heart, we should be determined and steadfast. We are to defend with vigor. We are to stand firm in Christ and know that as we are doing work for Him, He is actively defending, guarding, and protecting us. Be bold for Christ who is in your heart and know that the LORD is with you every step of the way.

What are you defending? Is it the actions that we see on the outside? What if you were to look inward to your heart and defend Christ who has found a home there in you?

Judgment by the LORD to Disclose the Heart

As a Christian, I am not judged by the world. I am judged by the LORD. I was reminded of this in my bible study this morning in Paul’s 1^st letter to the Church at Corinth.

“⁴For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” – 1 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

You see, I am aware of my life and that which I have done, although, like Paul, I am not aware of anything that is against me at this time. I am sure that there are things that I done that are not in fullness of the example of Christ, yet those fall into that of the unknown to me. For those I pray daily for forgiveness and have the comfort that the LORD will grant that forgiveness to me. I answer to Him and Him alone for those sins, not the world.

“⁵Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” – 1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV)

But there is more to it. As I am judged by the LORD, His judgment discloses that which is in my heart. You see, when the time comes for the LORD to judge my actions and work for Him, He will show the world what is in my heart. I can only do that which I know to do in bringing honor and glory to the LORD. I know that I am failing daily in that work for I am a sinner and will continue to be until the day I am called home. But, the LORD knows what is in my heart and His judgment will bring that to the world to be on full display.

I am not overly concerned with what the world thinks of my actions. It is the LORD where my concern lives. I choose to do that which is in accord with His will as it is made known to me. Sometimes that will go against the world view and that is okay. I am judged by savior, and not by the world view. My heart will be disclosed to the world in my day of judgment and for that I am grateful.

Who do you consider the judge of your life and actions? Are you of the view that the world dictates your heart? What if you were to concern yourself with the only judge we should, the LORD, and allow Him to disclose to the world your heart?

The Mouth Reveals the Heart

This morning I am led to the 5^th verse in the Roman Road to salvation, Romans 10:9 for my continued study on the word “heart”. This verse is enlightening yet it is verse 10 that captured me this morning as to my learning for the day.

“⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” – Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

Yes, we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth. Here is how I was struck this morning. The mouth of the believer reveals our heart’s belief. It is something that cannot be forgotten or set aside. Our belief is not to be kept to ourselves. We are to declare our belief in the LORD for the world to know. We are to believe and declare.

Our heart is the vessel where the LORD resides in us. It is vital that we allow Him to take up residence in our heart. But those around us cannot see our heart and that He does indeed reside there. So we need a way to show the LORD to the world. The first way for that is to declare Him to the world by our mouth. We are to speak of the LORD. We are to sing of and to the LORD. We are to announce His presence in our lives and for all the world to see and take hold of Him, and that is done with our mouth.

I know what you may be thinking, but aren’t we to demonstrate the LORD to the world through our actions. The answer is yes, but look at how I indicated we declare the LORD to the world, “first” is with our mouth after we have believed with and in our hearts. Then we live our lives continuing to speak of the LORD and acting as He intends us to act to fulfill the work He has for us.

I am not great at either of these by some standards. I have work to do in being more and more like Christ would have me be. But one thing I do know is that those who are around me most do know that Jesus is LORD as I have declared my heart’s belief in Him with my mouth.

What is your process in declaring the LORD? Are you relying solely on your actions to speak for your beliefs? Where actions are important, what if you were to confess with your mouth that the LORD indeed resides in your heart?

Inward to Outward

We are to live a life with Christ beginning inward at the heart and stream outward in our actions.

“²⁹But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” “¹³For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ¹⁴For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.” – Romans 2:29 & 13-14 (ESV)

Paul speaks here of Jews and Gentiles. He shows that it is not just the actions or the heart that make one a follower of Christ. It is the combination of the two. Starting with the heart, we internalize the Spirit to give us the guide to our movements in the world. As a result of that guidance, we take action that demonstrates our following of the LORD.

Too often, I believe there is too much put on the actions of individuals as the demonstration of their Christianity. The Christian is to be compassionate and giving and loving. But I also see the world looking only at those actions as the indicator of the Christian, and when the Christian stands up in opposition of anything, they are seen as combative and unforgiving and frankly as mean awful people, when in truth, they are acting from the heart and guidance of the Spirit.

“⁷You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

‘⁸This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

⁹in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

— Matthew 15:7-9 (ESV)

Jesus says and I believe that this world view of Christians is shaping the heart and actions of new Christians, and this is not new. Where yes, we are to be compassionate and giving and loving, we are also to oppose those things that are not of Christ. That is the true heart of Christ. We are to live for Christ in all topics and not just on those that make us look good.

So here it is, we are to embrace the LORD in our heart and then, by the guidance provided by the Holy Spirit, we are demonstrate the LORD in our actions to the world. Those actions are to be in love, compassion, and giving, but also in full concert with the LORD and His will.

What is your view of your actions? Are you doing things for the world to see to make you look a certain way? What if you were to take action based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit on your heart to bring glory to God?

We Speak From the Heart

It is true, when we truly speak we speak from the heart. We have to remember that we are emotional creatures and as such, we speak with emotion. Even in calculated speaking, we end up speaking from the heart.

“³⁴You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” – Matthew 12:34-35 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking in the synagogue here and is being constantly challenged by the Pharisees and scribes. He points out that where there seems to be speaking from a place of reverence, the hypocrisy in the Pharisees and scribes it known. He is pointing out that where there is speech to the law and the good, the actions speak a different story. The true self is displayed whether good or evil, as that is what is found in the heart.

What does this mean for you and me? Well, I see this as the chance for us to get right in the heart that what comes from us will be that of good and not evil. We are to be speaking good and the way for that to manifest is for us to be filled with good to that good flows from us.

“³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:37 (ESV)

When it comes down to our judgment at the feet of Jesus, we will be judged as to the words we speak and the actions we take. We have to remember that people are listening and watching. When they hear, they take note and then the see if/when the actions match or not and from there they take things on for themselves based on that they witness. The Pharisees and scribes were known for saying one thing and doing another, and therefor were not as trustworthy as one might think. Would we be the same as them?

We are to fill our hearts with the good of the LORD and then allow that good to flow from us. We are to say and then do to ensure that those around us are witnessing the same goodness from both ends. When we do, we will be doing the work of the LORD and bringing about His glory to the world. We will be judged by that which flows from us, I am working to choose good from the heart, both in deeds and in speech.

What is coming from your heart? Are you saying one thing and then doing another? What if you were to fill your heart with the LORD and allow Him to flow from you, the goodness that He is?

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?