But then the Holy Spirit dropped a bombshell that is still messing me up. Before anyone can follow their heart, they must first know what their heart is saying! And this is very biblical! The bible has much to say about my heart and what it says. Here are just two examples.
- The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
- Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5
The unfortunate truth is that my heart was born fallen, wicked, and sinful. It came into the world saying "Me! Me! Me!" And to some extent, it continues to say that today. However, when God by His grace saved my soul, the Bible tells me that He changed my heart too! ("I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26) So I have a new heart! And God has promised that He is working in me to make me, and specifically my heart, look more and more like Jesus. And so I must strongly consider what it is my heart is saying, because it is the signpost of my sanctification.
Very often, what I find is not encouraging. Very often, my heart is saying things that Jesus definitely would not say. But sometimes, I hear whispers, and yes, even shouts from my heart that show me the Holy Spirit is working and changing who I am.
So recently, my prayers have been for God to change the cries of my heart. Specifically, that my heart will declare shouts of welcome to God, that it will invite Him to come and move and work and change me. That I can really declare: I am here for You. I long for my songs, my shouts, my actions, my speech, and everything I do to demonstrate what is in my heart. And (I think biblically), there is only one word I want my heart to cry: Worthy! Jesus, You are worthy! You are worthy of my life, and You demand it!
And slowly, as I delight myself in the Lord, and the Holy Spirit changes my heart so much that it is like the heart of Jesus, then I can say with David, "The Lord will give me the desires of my heart" (Ps. 37:4). Why? They are His desires because my heart is His. And so I end up here, desperately trying to listen to my heart.
And they sang a new song saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." Revelation 5:9,12,13 (these verses are blowing me up! Lord willing there is a post to come on the significance of them)
And they sang a new song saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." Revelation 5:9,12,13 (these verses are blowing me up! Lord willing there is a post to come on the significance of them)
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