Jesus challenges us to have our heart in the right place with God and everyone else. It is all about our relationships. It isn’t the “big show” we make of saying things. Do we do the right God-things? Is our heart in it even if no one knows about what we do?
May my heart be in it every day!!
“These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it.” ~Jesus (Mark 7:6)
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My life starts with my heart. That is the center of everything. Nothing else matters so I need to be vigilant over it. I should guard it like I guard nothing else. Since everything flows from my heart, I need to be careful not speak out of both sides of my mouth. I should completely avoid careless banter that can hurt others and me. Little white lies hurt my integrity and I need to avoid them at all cost. Gossip hurts others and so it damages my heart.
So … I should keep my eyes straight ahead and completely ignore distractions which take me away from you, my Father. If I watch my step and focus on what you want, the road will be smooth. It will straighten out in front of me. If I focus on my relationship with you, looking only at you, I will leave evil in the dust.
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Many days, there is a whole lot of worrying going on. Fear can cripple. How many times does God come to us and say, “Fear not”? That is one of His great themes. Trust in Him. He is in control. He didn’t bring us this far to leave us now.
Here is the good news. Jesus has overcome everything. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. All is well. It is finished.
“But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
—– Jesus,John 16:33
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My part is to rejoice. God is so very good and He is always in this amazing mood. Jesus has a mission to bring Good News to me. Am I hearing bad news? It is a lie then. That is from my enemy Satan. So, I will rejoice at the good God is doing now.
I need to talk with my Father, ask Him for what I need, and be thankful in my conversations with Him. He knows what I need and will do more than I can imagine.
I don’t understand it, but as a result, His peace is mine. I can rest and relax. His peace is at attention in my heart. He is protecting me and the enemy can’t reach my heart.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-9
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What is the BIG THING my heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking a man after his own heart. How will I know what is in His heart? Have a relationship with Him. Know what makes Him tick. Seek to please Him at all costs.
May I be a man after God’s own heart!! May I do what He asks me to do.
“The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people …” 1 Samuel 13:13-14
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It is God’s goal for me to align my heart with my words in a way that is acceptable to God. I am to love Him and others with all my heart. Do my words reflect that? Does God’s love in my heart cause me to think amazing things and then act in a way that reflects His love?
Beyond what I have to say, is what I am thinking and meditating on acceptable to God?
May I align God’s love in my heart with what I say.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
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Some days things don’t look good. All I have to do is listen to the news to know that. Bad news at every turn. That is the way of the world.
God has a goal that has nothing to do with that. We don’t lose heart when we are listening to Him. It doesn’t matter what is going on around us. Trouble brings His mighty and awesome outcomes. We see a reality, in Him, that others don’t know exists. We have our gaze fixed on Him. Today’s trouble is no comparison to His love which goes on like Him, forever. There is no end to it. Like the “energizer bunny” but only real.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 TNIV Bible
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Some things just aren’t forced on us. We can have it or we can not. Peace comes from knowing His love and doing what He wants. We have to let that kind of peace happen. Jesus has peace to offer us like we have never known. His peace can rule over any other emotions that we have.
The phone is ringing. A text has arrived. The email arrives “You have peace from Jesus” we hear. A tweet shows up on Twitter. It is Jesus calling us to peace.
For this peace, I am very thankful.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
May I let His peace have precedence over any other emotion in my life.
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A Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
Dear Lord, please give me…
A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;
A work to do which has real value,
without which the world would be the poorer;
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;
An understanding heart;
A sense of humor;
Time for quiet, silent meditation;
A feeling of the presence of God;
The patience to wait for the coming of these things,
With the wisdom to recognize them when they come.
Amen.
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I think I am pretty clever some days. I think I can figure it all out. AND then I run into the wall with something and I realize I am not as clever as I like to think I am. My understanding is not what our LORD wants.
If the victory is to be His, I have to trust Him with all my heart. I have to emotionally connect with what He wants not what I understand. May I trust him from the bottom of my heart. May I do it now. What is He saying?
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! (Prov. 3:5 The Message Bible)
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Some days I just don’t get it. Am I being willfully stupid? Jesus knew the truth. It is not what goes in that causes contamination. It is what is in my heart. That is what counts.
What is in my heart will be demonstrated then in what I think, say and do. It works from the inside out.
May I have a heart after God. May nothing else matter.
Jesus said, ‘Are you being willfully stupid?’ …. Mark 7:14-23
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I don’t like wormy apples. No one does. It is just not right. The ultimate gross out for sure. I love fresh, juicy apples. So, I must begin with my heart. I want healthy fruit.
So what is in my heart? Do I long for what counts? Am I starting with what matters and working from there?
May I have healthy fruit that comes from a pure heart. May my true being spill forth from my heart.
You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own heart. It’s who you are in your heart, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds. Luke 6:43-45
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Now here is a good word. What should I do? Seek Jesus with my whole heart. David knew this at his core. He was a man after God’s own heart. He knew about the connection emotionally.
Interesting it is about the heart. My connection to God is not primarily about thinking. I am a thinker so this is a challenge for me. God is doing great things.
May I long for a connection with God that brings me supernatural courage. May my emotional connection to Him bring obedience.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. Psalm 119:10
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God is speaking. And He suggests that I be careful. I think I should pay attention to this. Israel didn’t, to their destruction on many occasions.
I have seen God do amazing things. I have seen them with my own eyes. He redeemed me. He healed me. The list goes on and on.
They are in my heart. Not only have I seen them but they are imbedded in more core. They define how I feel and who I am.
I must not forget them. It can happen. I should repeat them to Nick like the great stories we always share. This is much more important than his first joke that he told me.
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9
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Immortal Heat, O let thy greater flame
Attract the lesser to it: let those fires,
Which shall consume the world, first make it tame;
And kindle in our hearts such true desires,
As may consume our lusts, and make thee way.
Then shall our hearts pant thee.
—–George Herbert (1593 -1633)
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Whoo Hoo!! This is very good news. Since I have turned to Jesus, the Master, I am seeing Him face to face. Nothing is hidden. I see His absolute perfection. By His mighty hand, He made me to be a new creation in Jesus. I am free from the old agreement that He had so long ago. I am living in the new agreement He has with us.
May I see Him and His perfect plan today.
Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 2 Corinthians 3:15-16
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Not only has He healed my heart, He has set it free. That freedom leads me to run in the path of His desire for my life. His freedom leads to my commitment to do what He wants for me.
Freedom leading to willing obedience is His way. And I run in it!! Willingly. Gladly.
I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free. Psalm 119:32
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God spends a lot of time talking about the heart. He longs for me to have His heart. That is what David had. That is what Jesus had. That is what I long for.
May I have His heart. May I show His love and compassion. May I know what He cares for and do it. May I be completely one with Him.
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19
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