Matters of the Heart

Matters of the Heart

God’s Word -  I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. Palm 138:1-2

Encouragement  Shared:
 
Let us Resolve to seek the Lord while he may be found-   

Wisdom Shared: We are beyond the mid-point of the month of the new year.  How are those resolutions coming along?  It is with great anticipation that we can walk in freedom through Christ.  It is a matter of putting all the tools given to us into practice.  It is a matter of eternal focus.  We need to separate our selves from the ordinary and seek through the word of God the extra-ordinary life in Christ that he has for us.  Abraham had extra-ordinary along with many faithful men and women did in the bible. [Hebrews 11]  The writer of Hebrews states: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  My desire is to earnestly seek him through the word of truth breathed out by God.  My prayer is the same for all that are committed and trusting in the Lord.

The Heart of the Matter: When my daughter Jessica was in middle school, we were going about the business of the day.  We saw this green mini van covered with hearts and stars. There was a bumper sticker that boasted “Follow your heart!”  My then thirteen year old daughter Jessica was so excited to see that mini van all covered in hearts.  My thought quickly went to a scripture verse in the book of Jeremiah. The world says follow your heart. God’s word says the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked…Who can understand it?  Jeremiah 17:9

Matters of The Heart:

There are seasons in our life that we can become spiritually dry.  Matters of the heart often leave us broken, lost even with out hope.  When life’s circumstance leaves us in this condition we need to turn our focus from within our self to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIV   The Bible states; Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open into a spacious, free life.  [Romans 8:6 - Msg.] In other words, an internal focus needs to be eternal focus.  Paul stated in his letter to the Colossians; “Set your mind on things above…” Colossians 3:2  There is freedom, power and direction through the cross.  The life offered for us by God the “Father”.   What does this freedom look like?  Well we can see these mercies that direct our hearts to understanding, wisdom and knowledge through the following items listed;

• Worship/Thanksgiving
• Bible Study/Application
• Prayer/ Interceding
• Stewardship/Tithing/Serving
• Fellowship/Assembly in the House of God

Fasting/Prayer

Focus on Christ = Acts of Obedience:
These are eternal focused acts of obedience which is an act of worship to the Lord that pours favor into our life.
 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.   All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:  You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. Deuteronomy 28:1-3   We only need to look to the cross and to God’s Word in order to experience this awesome gift of freedom.

Blessed Woman Seeks Christ:BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.  And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. Psalm 1:1-4 The Amplified Bible -
I encourage you to do something different this year through  your worship, bible study, prayer, stewardship, fellowship and fasting. Seek direction in God’s Word for the change.  Seek the Lord and for His ”strength” it will increase your faith!

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance,
Jennifer Pettiford~

Recommended Reading: Psalm 1; Hebrews 11