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?

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?

Keep God’s Word

This morning I have found myself reflecting on the past few weeks and my study of the word “heart”. I have realized that when it comes to the heart, it is to be filled with the Word of God. When God’s Word is fully consuming the heart, that is when we are able to listen to Him, obey Him, and trust Him. When we are focused on the Word of God, our lives will be easier to manage and our outcomes will be great and in line with what God has in store for us.

“¹¹I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.”

— Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

Sin is a part of our lives, yet the psalmist here recognizes that with the Word of God in our heart, we have a chance to avoid sin. No, we will not fully avoid sin, but, as noted in the verse above, we “might” avoid it and what I believe to be referenced is conscious sin. We will still sin, yes, but we would be able to avoid intentional sin.

“⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

¹⁰With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!”

— Psalm 119:9-10 (ESV)

When we are in keeping with God’s Word, we are able to stay more pure than we would otherwise. We will be focused on doing the work of the LORD and less likely to be distracted by the other work in this world.

“¹⁶I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

¹⁷Deal bountifully with your servant,

that I may live and keep your word.”

— Psalm 119:16-17 (ESV)

What are those things that we stick to, it is those things that are held deep in our heart. Whether it is the diet and lifestyle to maintain a healthy existence, or a routine for learning and growing, or staying in line with God’s plan for our lives, we keep those things that have been imprinted in our heart and we love them dearly. I know that loving the LORD will produce grand results in my life and therefore it is in my interest to keep His Word on my heart. Living according to God’s Word and keeping it will drive me to a positive relationship with Him and as a result, a life filled with constant movement to Him and avoidance of sin.

What do you keep on your heart? Are you solely focused on this life? What if you were to focus on the LORD and keep His Word on your heart to drive you in this world?