Tag: Heart

Let Us Begin

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love

Nehemiah 2:11
So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work

Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them

Psalms 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love

Psalms 147:11
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love

Psalms 149:4
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation

The story of Nehemiah is a good reminder to us all.  He was with those who had been taken in exile yet he did not forget God.  When he heard the news of how broken Jerusalem was his heart was broken and he sought comfort bringing this to God.  His heart was all about the honor and glory of God.  Imagine living in exile and God stirring your heart to the plight of something outside of your control.  In fact the only way you would be able to move on this stirring is if God’s hand was in it.  Then the King asks you what is on your heart, you tell him not only what is on your heart but that you need the King to allow you to rebuild the city, supply safe passage back to the city, supply letters to show those in opposition of what you are about to do, and letters instructing others to supply materials for the job at hand.  Any of these questions could have been answered with your head chopped off.  Yet God’s hand was in it.  His timing, His plan, His sovereign will.  This is a good reminder for us to always keep our heart’s desire for serving God.  Without this desire we will never be willing to hear and act on what God places on our heart.  No matter how big the task is that God lays on your heart – remember God is more than able to overcome our weakness and feeling of not being equipped – who can stop what God puts into motion!

With All Your Heart and Soul

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

Love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul. This is the greatest command given to us to follow.  If we follow this command what would we see in the outward appearance of our lives?  Would we worry so much? Would we be blind to the needs of others?  Would our time be spent differently?  Would our generosity be more? Would we be kinder?  Would we see people in a more positive light?  These are questions each of us could ask ourselves.  Everyday we will have opportunity to love Him more and deeper.  Today is a new day, purpose in your heart to love Him more and be wanting to be used by Him for His glory and honor.

Matthew 22:35
And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets

Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates

Luke 10:27
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.

All of me and All I have

Sometimes we get into a thought pattern that is all about getting more and more without the thought of giving more and more.  Where is the limit on what we should give? How much of what God has blessed us with should we hoard? Doesn’t He want us to bless others with what He gives us?  It is easy to think I have worked for something or I deserve something because of my effort.  Yet in all of this is it not God who has given us abilities and opportunities to both think and do.  Our treasure is still waiting for us in Heaven.  Our life here should be one of humbly serving God.  Learning to hear His quiet voice speak to our heart to give to those in need rather than to ourselves.  We think giving 10% of what we make is good .  In reality there is no percentage on what is expected – rather we should thankfully place it all in the hands of God and not limit our giving to a certain percent.  Is it possible that we limit God into our lives because we close our ears and hearts to His leading when we hit 10%?

Matthew 19:20
What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Acts 5:2
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles ‘feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God

Matthew 6:19
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain

Ezekiel 8:18
Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them

Why Forgive Others?

Every last one of us, or someone close to us has been wronged by someone.  It will have happened from a stranger, wife, husband, mom, dad, brother, sister, extended family member, colleague, boss. and even us to others, etc…. No matter where it comes from it hurts and I think it hurts most when it comes from those closest to us.   Yet scripture is very clear isn’t it – there is no limit on how many times we are to forgive.  Our example on forgiveness is to be looked at from the side of understanding what God has done with us who have received His forgiveness.  Our Holy God not only forgave us, but also the debt of sin was paid in full by His son.  The act of Forgiveness only takes the action of one person.  It is up to the individual alone to forgive even if the other person has no desire to reconcile.  What would life be like if we were to forgive, forget, and show mercy and love to those who wrong us.  Do you want to be a light to the world that sees no hope? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of those around you? Do you want to honor and glorify God? – Forgive those who have wronged you – Show the same grace, mercy and love God has given you!

Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy- seven times “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. ’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe. ’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you. ’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? ’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart

Probers 21:12
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered

James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy

Matthew 6:15
but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses

A True Heart

What comes out of the mouth originates in the heart.  Do you find yourself at times saying things that should not be said?  Are there thoughts that come to your mind that are wrong and expose an area of darkness in your heart?  What goes into the the heart and mind are what is most likely to come out.  Commit to daily feeding both your heart and mind with God’s word.  Desire to have Him the center of all you do. Try this for 7 days and see if your thoughts and what you say doesn’t change.

Matthew 15:10
And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.
“Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.

James 3:8
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Psalms 140:1
Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
and under their lips is the venom of asps

Ask, Seek and Knock

“Ask  – it will be given”  “Seek – you will find”  “Knock – it will be opened”.  I wonder how many times I read this verse and think about my own gain.   What if I asked, sought, and knocked for someone else – that it would be given them, that they would find, that it would be opened for them.  Why do I not think about the other person first with the intent of their needs above myself. Certainly I am not  anxious, worried or concerned  every day.  Slow down enough to see the needs of those around us above self and then Ask, Seek, and Knock for their benefit.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts

2 Chronicles 15:1
The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord

Treasures in Heaven

Are we really mindful of what we chase after in this life?  Is it one new thing after another, or one new adventure?  How many times can you recall the excitement of that new purchase or adventure and then after a short period the very thing that was to give you satisfaction has lost it’s appeal? All of this is chasing after the wind – hear today gone tomorrow.  There are so many things to distract and pull us away from being a servant of God.  Keep your heart and eyes on Him.  The peace and satisfaction we are seeking can only be found in Him and a life purpose to honor and glorify Him alone.

Matthew 6:19
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

1 Timothy 6:9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils

6:17
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me

Covenant with my eyes vs Lustful Intent

How much does the culture influence our thoughts, desires, and intents?  In the name of “Adult Entertainment” we allow pornography.  In the name of Adult Decision we allow lawful human trafficking in some states and strip clubs in most others.  We allow and frequent restaurant bars that exploit young woman.  What is the purpose of these establishments – it certainly is not for creating a pure heart but rather lust.  Scripture tells us exactly what God thinks of this.

Matthew 5:27
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. ’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart

Job 31:1
“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
how then could I gaze at a virgin?
What would be my portion from God above
and my heritage from the Almighty on high

Proverbs 6:25
Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes

Pain in Your Heart

Have you ever had something happen to you that just made you feel like the pain in your heart was unbearable?  I am sure most of us have.  Thankfully we have a God who deliver us out of this and will heal our heart if we go to Him.  He can also use us to help those around us who are hurting – open our eyes and allow us to see – open our ears so we can hear – use us.


Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted

Isaiah 66:2

All these things my hand has made,

and so all these things came to be,

declares the Lord.

 But this is the one to whom I will look:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit

and trembles at my word

Psalms 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

 but the Lord delivers him out of them all

Gladness of Heart

Isaiah 65:13

Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, my servants shall eat,

but you shall be hungry;

behold, my servants shall drink,

but you shall be thirsty;

behold, my servants shall rejoice,

but you shall be put to shame;

 behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,

but you shall cry out for pain of heart

and shall wail for breaking of spirit

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you.

 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;

you cover him with favor as with a shield

Psalm 2:12

Blessed are all who take refuge in him

There are times gladness of heart seems so far away.  The pain this world throws at us is unbearable but aren’t you glad we have God who we can take refuge in.  He comforts the broken hearted and has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  Our peace and rest are found in Him alone.