From the Heart

Would you come and pull up a chair across from me? Would you like some coffee? Hot cocoa? Maybe tea?

For those who know me in real life, you know that I don't live on the surface level. I am constantly thinking about deeper things, probably because until Jesus came into my life almost 7 years ago (Praise the Lord!) I lived on the surface level. I was too afraid to go deeper, to be found out.

I'm guessing most of you know someone who you wonder what is going on below the surface, but they never let you in? Usually they are so busy, so concentrated on tasks that your sincere question of, "How are you?" is returned with, "Fine. Gotta go!" I am not saying that to be critical. I am this person. I am more comfortable for what I can do than for who I am.

Seriously, I have a hard time believing that people love me for me. It hasn't been until recently, when a friend looked me directly in the the eyes and asked me, "Why can't I just love you?" that people do see more in me. And she wasn't the only one asking that question. God has been asking me that, more and more in the last few months.

Here is the real issue, if I feel my worth comes from what I do, not from who or I should say Whose I am, then the most natural thing to do is to ignore and bury my heart. But Jesus, kept seeking my heart out, and I am learning that the abundant life Jesus talks about is found when we live from our hearts.

Most of us run from out hearts, because we are afraid of them. We are afraid if anyone see's them, we will be found out as imposters. We are told they are evil and that we should keep them in check. Yet, in looking at scripture, this isn't the truth.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.

So often we are told our hearts are sinful and bad, but if we are new in Christ, we have been given new hearts. So our hearts are good, because they are from God.

So what about sin? Check out Romans 7 and Paul wrestling with this very question. If my heart is good, why do I sin? Because there is the flesh. When Paul says there is nothing good in him, it is the flesh he speaks of.

So what about the heart? The heart expresses our desires. Those desires, unchecked by the Spirit and allowed to be corrupted by the flesh, can and do lead us into sin. So the heart becomes the target of our harsh attempts to get our sin and woundedness under control. Ladies and gentlemen, we have picked the wrong target.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. ~Proverbs 4:23

...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good... ~ Matthew 12: 34-35

We should be protecting our hearts. It is not just about trying to avoid the evil in this world, though we are commanded to flee from it. It is about actively caring for our hearts and caring for the hearts of those around us. ABOVE ALL ELSE! Truely when was the last time you paid even minimal attention to your heart? When was the last time you let your whole guard down with someone? When was the last time you did something you really enjoy without feeling guilty or selfish for taking time for yourself?

The heart is the source of life. Remember that person who won't let you even get close to what is going on? Most the time, they don't either. They are busy, but they are not alive. The heart is covered over, blocked off, and they don't really want to go there after years of neglect.

A friend, was having a stressful week. I asked her if she had taken time for her heart. She said that if she did, she would get nothing done. Here is what I am coming to understand, when we take time to care for our hearts, letting God heal wounds, and understanding the desires of the heart, we find joy. And all that energy we spend trying to keep our hearts hidden, is now available to be poured out. We really live and not just do.

There is a reason God says, above all else. Our hearts are the source of life. The first person we need to be honest with about the condition of our hearts is God. He does already know our hearts completely, but we don't always trust what He is doing in our hearts, unless we are laid bare for Him to work and heal us.

So why be vulnerable with others? It is about giving life to others. If you are anything like me, I was waiting for permission to be real with someone. It showed me the truth and a truely good desire, to know my heart is valuable.

With the power of God's redeeming love, I share my story. I know it is important, because it shows God's love and work in my life to others. Just being me, not doing anything, shows my value to God's kindgom.

So why is it so hard? Well, my friends, we are at war and the enemy aims for the source of passion and desire, our hearts. Don't have a clue what I am talking about? As Christians, we are citizens of God's kingdom. Before we knew His salvation,we were members of another kindgom. The prince of this world, Satan, will do whatever he can from us joining God's kingdom or from understanding the power of being a citizen of God's kingdom. Satan aims for the heart because once that is taken out we don't have the will or desire to fight. He will tell us we are good enough and don't need God before we accept Christ, and will then tell us that we are not good enough once we do. So the devil will try to get us caught in sin, believing our hearts are no good, or he will wound us, most often by the people closest to us, to keep us from wanting to live from our hearts. So what do we do?

We fight with the weapons God has given us. We fight with the Truth of God's Word. We pray for the Spirit to reveal the Truth. We choose to lay down everything, every excuse, every sin, every wound before God. Let Him speak the truth to your heart. He is far kinder to our hearts than we ever are. We wonder why it is so easy to wander away from God's love. I think we often don't let God go to the depths of His love that Paul talks about in Ephesians 3. The love that surpassing understanding, the love that when we let it, completes us. When we know this is the way God loves us, lavishing us with mercy and grace, we are drawn ever closer to Him.

We also know when someone hurts us, for those who are Christians, that their hearts are good. It is unlikely what they did was intentional, and even if it was, it was most likely a response to being under attack. (When I speak of being attacked, I am referring to when fear of what ever hurts us the most, overwhelming us) We also know we should be caring for others hearts. That when we are vulnerable with one another, we look out for ways that we could wound someone in the same ways they have been wounded before, we invite and encourage them to do things that will be be good for their hearts, and we pray for them intensely.

Friends, lay yourself and and heart before God. If life flows from our hearts, we desperately need God to hold our hearts. Know you are deeply loved and have a value that reaches far beyond what you do. You are His.