Tag: Mercy

Avoid Temptation with God’s Word on Your Heart

In my last couple of writings God’s Word on your heart is important to staying straight and keeping from sin. This morning that theme is reiterated and God’s Word on your heart is where we focus to avoid temptation.

“25Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her paths,

26for many a victim has she laid low,

and all her slain are a mighty throng.

27Her house is the way to Sheol,

going down to the chambers of death.”

— Proverbs 7:25-27 (ESV)

In the world there are a lot of things that will tempt us. These things are not of God or His Word. These are from the evil one and will do nothing but destroy us. She, the temptation, will tear us down and turn us from the LORD and His Word and plan for our lives.

“1My son, keep my words

and treasure up my commandments with you;

2keep my commandments and live;

keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

3bind them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

and call insight your intimate friend,

5to keep you from the forbidden woman,

from the adulteress with her smooth words.”

— Proverbs 7:1-5 (ESV)

But, we have the way to avoid temptation and that is with God’s Word on our heart. Notice in verse five above that the Word of God will, “keep you from” temptation.

I know that I need all the help I can get when it comes to temptation. I am a sinner and therefor am prone to sin at every turn. But, when I am focused on the Word of God, I am not thinking of sinning. I am able to stay on the straight path. I am able to avoid temptation. All because I am driven by the Word of the LORD and what He has in store for me.

The evil one is cunning and will use any and everything to draw us away from the LORD. He will lie to us, lavish us with power and authority, and provide riches all in the interest of turning us away from God. He will temp you with that which he knows will entice you to turn from God. And he will not quit until He has accomplished his goal of doing so.

It is up to us and our relationship with God to avoid the temptations of the evil one. We have to write the Word of God on our heart. We have to keep His Word and know that the LORD will protect us and provide for us and keep us moving to glory. In this the LORD wants us to use Him and His Word on our heart to avoid temptation.

What is your approach to temptation? Are you even aware of the temptations of the evil one? What if you focused on the Word of the LORD to stay on the straight path, keep from sin, and avoid temptation?

Keep from Sin with God’s Word on Your Heart

I was reminded this morning in my study, that we are able to keep from sin when we have God’s Word on our heart. The passage I was led to is titled in my ESV Bible, “Warnings Against Adultery”, but the lesson of course is much more.

“20My son, keep your father’s commandment,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

21Bind them on your heart always;

tie them around your neck.”

“24to preserve you from the evil woman,

from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.”

— Proverbs 7:20-21&24 (ESV)

We can see that we are to listen to the teachings of our mothers and fathers, of course including God. And we are to keep them on our heart always. The reason here is to keep us from the temptation of and falling into the traps of women who are not our wives. Yet, I am able to attribute verses 20 and 21 above to anything that would or is sinful. When we have the Word of the LORD on our hearts, we will focus on His word.

“22When you walk, they will lead you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

and when you awake, they will talk with you.

23For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,

and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,”

— Proverbs 7:22-23 (ESV)

And here is the how. When we are focused on the Word of the LORD, we are focused on Him as we go through our days, when we go to bed, and when we wake from sleep. There is no room for darkness and evil as the Light of the LORD shines on us continually. So, with the Word of the LORD on our heart, the room for sinning is minimized. We are looking for and to the LORD continually and therefor not distracted by sinful desires.

I pray daily for my forgiveness of sin. I pray that the LORD will forgive me for those sins that I have committed and those that I will commit. And, I also pray that He will keep me from sin. And then I have to take action based on my prayer. That action is to put down the distractions and dive into the Word of God. I do so by prayer, reading His Word, and other actions focused on Him to keep from wandering into the temptations of the world and the evil that is in it.

Now, I do not want to come off as “holier than thou”. I sin all day long and I am not always good at picking up God’s Word to avoid distractions. I am tempted and distracted by the world and the evil in it. And where there is no excuse for my action and sin, I confess my sins to the LORD and refocus on His Word and give it a go the following day. Remember, I and you are sinners always and forever. But we do have the LORD and His Word to guide us daily and can work to keep away from sin when we focus on Him and His Word that is on our heart.

How are you going about keeping from sin? Are you giving it your all based on simply being a good person? What if you were to focus on the LORD and His Word that is on your heart to keep you from sin?

Stay Straight with God’s Word on your Heart

I find it interesting that we see such polarizing views in the world today. There are the far left and far right that get so much attention and yet, their percentages in this world are small compared to those in the middle. This morning I am again in Proverbs as I continue my study of the word “heart” in God’s Word. I have studied and written on the importance of keeping God’s Word on our heart to keep in commune with Him. This morning I was again reminded of where this keeps me in the world.

“20My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

21Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart.”

“23Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.”

“26Ponder the path of your feet;

then all your ways will be sure.

27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.”

— Proverbs 4:20-21, 23, 26-27 (ESV)

All of this far left and far right leaning is contrary to the path the LORD has in store for us. We have been given the gift of His Word and should have placed it in/on our heart. His Word leads us in the path we are to take for His Glory. See in verse 27 above that we are to keep away from evil by staying from the left and right.

We are in need of more center/straight path action in the world today. I think of the political diagram of the man standing in one spot as middle moves further away from him one way or the other. With the LORD and His Word, we have the needed direction to stay straight as the man in the diagram. The left and the right will move continually to suit them, but with our following of the LORD and His directive Word on our heart, we will be able to stay the course and find the Glory that He has for us.

“13Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)

We have the gift of Jesus and God’s Word. We store Him and His Word in/on our heart. He leads us to Glory. The thing is that Glory is in the LORD and not in the world. Even as the left and the right are the small percentage, their way is on the easy path and through the wide gate. Glory is found in the middle on the straight and narrow path and through the small gate that the LORD reveals to us as we follow His Word. Stay straight with God’s Word.

What is the path you are following? Are you continuing to lean left or right and on that wide easy path? What if you were to follow the Word of the LORD in/on your heart that leads to Glory by way of the hard path and through the narrow gate?

It is all with God on our Heart

Yes, all that we have and strive to be starts with God on our heart.

“3Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.”

— Proverbs 3:3-8 (ESV)

A friend of mine once advised me to read one chapter of Proverbs daily and in a month (31 days) you will have read all of Proverbs (31 verses). The thing about Proverbs is, as noted in the introduction to the book in my ESV Bible, that it is “Practical wisdom for living”. This morning I see that wisdom playing out.

All of our growth and success in this world is based on our life with God on our heart. We are to write Him and all that He gives to us on our hearts and trust Him fully in our heart and for that we are rewarded with riches as He provides them. We are able to walk a path that leads somewhere and not a path where we are wandering. We will be healed from all that ails us in this world. In short, we are given all that we could ever truly want when it comes to finding where we belong and just what we need.

I should not be, but am amazed every day at all that I have accomplished in this world. Maybe not from a secular viewpoint, but from the viewpoint of contentment. I have health, a place to live, a wife and family that I love and that loves me, a church family that I know I can count on if/when things go awry, and most importantly a LORD that will provide all that I “NEED” to keep on keeping on in this world until my time here is done. And I attribute it all to my relationship with Him and having Him on my heart at all times.

Yes, there are still struggles, but those are largely identified by the world and not by God, as there is nothing that God cannot handle or provide for. I continue daily to wonder if I am on the right path and am I going to be successful, and then something is revealed that only God could have taken care of and provided for. I am a success. I am on the right path. I am healthy in His eyes. And, I owe it all to God and having Him in/on my heart daily.

What are you leaning on? Are you trying to do it all yourself? What if you were to place the LORD in/on your heart and allow Him to lead you from the inside out?

Invite in and Allow the LORD to Search Your Heart

Let’s face it, as sinners internally, we can be a very dark place. I know that over the past couple days, I have been in a dark place and needed the LORD’s message to me this morning. I know that He wants to commune with me and where I have prayed and spoken with Him, I am not sure that my heart was in it over the past couple days.

“23Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

24And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!”

— Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

But even as it has been dark, by my prayer, invitation to, and allowing the LORD in my heart, He finds the good and leads me out of the darkness.

It is easy to find yourself in darkness as this world is certainly filled with it. Yet, there is the way out and that is in the company of the LORD. He will be with us at all times and will provide all that we need, even if that need in the moment is just a little light.

“14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

You see, the light is in you and me. It is just hidden under a basket that may feel to heavy to move. But with the LORD in our lives, we allow Him to do the heavy lifting and exposing the light for us to lean on. We are to let our light shine for all to see, yet we may need God to help us lift that basket off so that it can shine for us and the world.

I know that even as I have been in this dark place the past couple of days, the LORD will dwell in me and lift the basket to reveal His light in my life. He never promised that it would be easy and that there would not be difficulty, but He does promise to provide for and care for us and that starts with His light shining in us. We only need to invite Him into our heart and allow him to expose it.

What are you facing that you need light? Are you searching for the light all on your own? What if you invited the LORD in and allowed Him to dwell inside you and expose the light that He put there for you?

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?

Keep the Promises of Your Heart

How often is it that we make promises and then go back on them for one reason or another. I see it all too often in society that promises are made with the mouth and yet, when it came right to it to fulfill those promises, the promise was only from the mouth and the promise that was on the heart, that was not brought forward for all to know was kept as opposed to the one that was stated to all.

“17I cried to him with my mouth,

and high praise was on my tongue.

18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.”

— Psalm 66:17-18 (ESV)

Here we see the psalmist speaking of just such those promises and the need to let known those promises that are of the heart. In verse 18 above the psalmist calls out that the promises to the LORD are indeed from the heart and they were called out aloud. If the promises of the heart were anything but those that were to the LORD, He would not have listened and been there to fulfill His promise in return.

“13I will come into your house with burnt offerings;

I will perform my vows to you,

14that which my lips uttered

and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.”

— Psalm 66:13-14 (ESV)

So as was mentioned in a previous post, it is that we should be sacrificing our heart to the LORD before all else and then we can bring additional offerings to Him. It all starts with out heart when it comes to the LORD. Then, as you can see in the above verses, we can bring the additional offerings to Him and He will accept them as also coming from our heart.

We do a lot of promising in this world and then we are pressured to go back on them. It is natural for us to make statements and promises to “save our own skin and face” with others. It is hard to keep those promises, especially when they put us in jeopardy. It is truly only those promises that come from the heart that we will find conviction to keep. And that is where we should remember to start.

Our promises should be coming from the heart to the LORD. We are to reach out to Him and give all of ourselves to Him starting with the heart and once we have, as noted before, He accepts that sacrifice and blesses us. Once we have given the promise to the LORD from our heart, we can then proceed to offer to Him the rest of our offerings as He has listened to and attended to us. Keep those promises of the heart more than anything.

What is your approach to promises? Are you intending to keep them until something gets in your way? What if you approached all promises from you heart, making keeping them easier to manage as they are your true promise as those you make to the LORD?

Sacrifice Your Heart

“17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

— Psalm 51:17 (ESV)

What is the sacrifice that the LORD cherishes the most, our heart. The LORD wants our heart before and in lieu of anything else. He wants us to give ourselves fully to Him. That is the hardest to give as it is the cherished thing we have of and for ourselves.

I have a lovely wife of 29 years in April of 2026, and all that time ago I gave her my heart and I love her dearly. But, there is another who had my heart first and in the priority ladder will always come first, the LORD. I could not devote myself to Lori if I had not given y heart to the LORD. He took me, in all my brokenness and renewed me. The LORD cleaned me up and made me presentable to Lori as the one who would devote to her and cherish her.

“10Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.”

— Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

God has made me right. He has cleaned me up. He has renewed me. All because I have sacrificed my heart to Him to do so.

How do you look at sacrifice? Are you trying to give the LORD physical things? What if you were to give Him your heart to clean, renew and make right?

Address the King

When we are praying, are we really addressing the LORD, or are we speaking in hopes that He hears us in what we are saying and wanting?

“1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme:

I address my verses to the king;

my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”

— Psalm 45:1 (ESV)

Here we see the psalmist announcing his address of the king. Now, the king here is likely a Davidic king, however isn’t it a statement that all of us Christians should be making to our LORD. I asked the question in the first paragraph to draw in our thinking and admit that I may not be addressing the LORD all the time myself.

Our prayer should be directed at the LORD, not just spoken aloud as a part of a ritual or process. We should be having conversations with God, not just our oration and He listening. I think that sometimes we use God as a sounding board to get out what we want to say and expect that He will solve it all as we just move on to the next. After all, the LORD is always with us and listening for us, right.

I have to remember that yes, the LORD is always with me and is listening for me. But, He is also looking to commune with me. He does not just want to sit back and let us vent to Him, although He does do that and we should feel comfortable doing so. He wants to have a relationship with us as our father.

“8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” — Genesis 3:8-9 (ESV)

Here we see the LORD walking through the garden looking to have a chat with Adam and Eve. He was not just looking to be around them, but to converse and commune with them. This is the relationship the LORD wants with you and me.

We should be addressing the LORD, not for Him to hear us, but for Him to converse with us.

How are you speaking to the LORD? Are you out there speaking at Him in hopes He hears you and takes action? What if you were to address Him and expect a conversation over petition and taking that opportunity to listen to Him as well?

Desires of the Heat

How many of us wish that all our desires come true, especially those that we desire deep in our hearts. I know that I do. There are a lot of things that I desire for to come true in my life. I desire for millions of dollars. I desire for the ability to travel the world with Lori, cause that is what she wants. I desire to be seen in the world as bigger than life and the envy of all I come in contact with. But are these really those things that are of my heart or are they of some other motivation.

“3Trust in the LORD, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

4Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

— Psalm 37:3-4 (ESV)

Well, as you can see in the above verse, the way to get that which we desire in our hearts is to delight in the LORD and trust in Him. I think that we are of the opinion that if we simply say those things, then He will make them come to pass. But in order to receive the desires of our heart, our heart has to be fully given to and filled with the LORD. We have to fully “trust” in Him. We have to fully “delight” in Him. We have to fully “befriend faithfulness” in Him. And then He will give us the desires of our heart which are rooted in the glory of the LORD.

“5Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him, and he will act.

6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.”

— Psalm 37:5-6 (ESV)

It is a commitment to the LORD, not just a statement to Him. I commit to Him and He commits to me. I give Him all of me and He gives me all of Him. Once those conditions have been met, the LORD will provide all that I desire as what I desire will be Him.

I know, in this world it is hard to get along without the physical things that society indicates we should have. But is it all about the physical things. I know many people that have joy abounding in their lives without all the “finer” things. They have their relationship with the LORD and He provides all that they need. When they have a desire for something, the LORD fills that desire with what He know will be used for His glory and the people know that all they have received is for the LORD and His glory.

The desires of the heart are provided by the LORD when we give ourselves to Him fully. When we are in need, the LORD will fill that need knowing that all glory will be given to Him.

What are your desires? Are you expecting that all desires are filled so that you can have it all? What if you were to give yourself to the LORD fully in your heart and allow Him to fill your heart and all the desires there that will be used to bring Him glory?