A Heart For God ♥

On this holiday celebrating love and the tradition of exchanging man made hearts are we exchanging our spiritual hearts with God. Do you have A Heart for God? We will send Valentines and post love notes on walls, but is that real. Is that the love that comes from the heart of God? How wonderful to have a holiday based on love, but we are bombarded by so many distractions, so many versions of love in our life and on the media, that I believe the enemy is trying to distort and pervert our concept of love.

God has created our hearts to be filled by Him. There is an empty place in all of our hearts that only can be filled by God. If it is not we start looking...looking for things to fill that void. It can be food, possessions, activities, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, and anything else the world has to offer, but mostly relationships. Especially women, we are taught from an early age that our "Prince Charming" will sweep us away and our life will be a fairy tale. It sets us up to replace that void for the "love" of a man.

If you haven't experienced or been taught at an early age to fill that void with God you believe that is what love is. Especially on Valentines Day. We focus on... our man... looking for a man... depressed because we don't have a man... maybe I will just eat chocolate. Many people are turning to food to fill the void that only God can fill. Again the answer is love. Not only the love of God, but love for ourselves. Not the self center kind, but a wholesome acceptance of our strengths and weaknesses.

So, on this Valentines Day, may you receive the most priceless heart of all...A heart for God. May you have a desire for more of God in your life...just as you hunger for food and thirst for water. May the desires of your flesh be turned into an intimate relationship with Christ. May your pain be healed and the emptiness filled. May the words "I love you" turn into actions of love. 

With much love, wishing you a Happy Valentines Day!
May God Richly Bless You ~ ♥~ Brenda

A Pure Heart

Whiter and brighter than fresh fallen snow,
Change me Lord Jesus, tell me it's so.

Make in me a pureness of heart,
to become another of Your works of art.

For all that's dark which lies deep within,
where in my power would I even begin.

Lord cut out that which you so desire,
All that cannot pass through the fire.

Change my heart Lord, tell me it's so...
Whiter and brighter than fresh fallen snow.

By: Preston Pittman

As we continue to look into the condition of our heart... or a heart for God, we must consider that, "God loves a pure heart." But, what is a pure heart and how is it achieved? This is the focus of our study today.

I think the words of the Psalmist are a good place to start. Here are a couple that actually use the term "pure heart", but Psalms is filled with similar such "heart-felt" pleas to The Lord to change the heart.

"Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me" Psalm 51:9-11.

"Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully" Psalm 24:3-4.

"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart" Psalm 73:1.

So, we see there must be such a thing as a pure heart and you can feel the writer's yearning for The Lord to create it in him. The purification of the heart during the time of these writings, was a far more complicated ordeal than it is today, for those in Christ. Those of us who have studied prophecy know that the some of the predictions in Daniel were "near future", which already happened once (during the time of Antiochus IV) (he forced many Jews to denounce their faith or be ruthlessly killed)

"Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them" Daniel 11:33-34.

And, they are also "end time" prophecies also.

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. Daniel 11:35

There is part of our lesson focus revealed right there... that, "being refined... or purified". But my reason for looking here in Daniel is to show you, "how early in God's Word He promises the WHO and WHEN for real purification, before they were actually possible".

The difference in the purification process (along with other revelations of Christ) was made a "mystery" for many years after these writings...

He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked" Daniel 12:9-10.

The mystery that was sealed was the work and teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and we are now in that purification period mentioned in Daniel. Jesus took the work of purification away from priests, ritual, and man and He promises a mighty work in those who "trust in and rely upon" Jesus Christ.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" Matthew 5:8.

Everything in our lives rotate around the glory of God, whether we know it or not. This is much like our lives which rotate and live around the light and influence of the sun. We might not pay any attention to the sun, but it greatly influences our lives. However, we are not content to let the marvel and glory of God to pass us by without abiding in it. We want to make those steps forward to see God. This pathway is called purity.

Purity of heart is an examination of our lives at the heart level. Righteousness describes our activities; fear of God touches our attitudes and behaviors, but purity speaks about the way we utilize our heart. In a sense, it is the most strategic of all examinations. For the loyalties of the heart betray the weaknesses of ones life. The evil one knows those weaknesses. He sees our hesitations. He doesn't tempt us right away. Often he lets us become leaders and have greater influence on others and then tempts us.

Many do not understand that with God's grace we can become pure in heart. He operates at that heart level and can help us eliminate errors, poor habits, sins that produce character flaws in our lives. It is a sad truth that so many of us have not pursued a pure heart.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" I Samuel 16:7.

In our own ability, we have an impossible job ahead of us toward purity... for who can know the heart. From our early years, we have but foolishness in our hearts. Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child." More than this is the fact that only God really knows our hearts.

"Then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know; for You, You only, know men's hearts" 2 Chronicles 6:30.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]" Jeremiah 17:9.

However, by the Spirit's work, we should as His children be able to affirm our heart's cleanness to some measure. John says,

"And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God" 1 John 3:21.

Many are desperate for God to initiate and maintain a heart for Him.

And I will give them a heart to know (recognize, understand, and be acquainted with) Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7

In the "parable of the sower," those with a good "heart" were like seed planted in good soil:

But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:15

Paul expounded on the virtues of a "pure heart" that has been purged of carnal behavior:

So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. 2 Timothy 2:21-22

Paul gives us a very important Word from The Lord, when he says,

"I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]." Romans 12:1-2

One thing to keep in mind, is that, when you read books, or watch images, involve yourself in, or listen to, and dwell on things that are not pleasing to God... which would include anything contrary to or contradict The Word of God... Those memories and images stay inside your mind. The only way to get them out of your thought-life is by renewing your mind, as Paul would say... but a study of how the mind works, reveals that what Paul is talking about is to take The Word of God - daily... And fill your mind with new thoughts to replace those you are use to. In reality, you will replace lies and deceptions with The Truth. This is the regeneration process, becoming consecrated... It's the way toward a pure heart.

A "pure heart" is made by obeying the Truth so as to not squander the Lord's Sacrifice:

"But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot. It is true that He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you. Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God. Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart. You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God" 1 Peter 1:19-23.

A "pure heart" is a matter of setting the right priorities in this temporary physical life, and storing up treasures in the eternal life:

"Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" Matthew 6:19-21.

Notice how the key to this word concerning treasure, found in the next few verses, also supports what we studied last time about measuring how much we love God against every thought... every action.

22. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. 23. But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!"

What am I looking at? Is that what I really treasure? What does it say about my love for God. Or, "how" do I look at anything I see, too? What does it say about whom I serve? Let's keep reading...

24. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). 25. Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?"

A pure heart! God alone knows... He alone can make it pure... It is a life of surrendering our hearts to Him... resisting those things that displease Him... measuring everything by our Love for Him.

I love you.

A Heart For God

What is a heart for God... how does it get "right"... and what is a "right" heart?

You know, Jesus taught that the most important thing for man to be concerned about is LOVE (Matt 22:34-40). When asked, of all the commandments, "which was the greatest"... "Love God", was His reply.

There is an interesting conversation in John 21, verses 15-17. In trying to bring Peter into an understanding of a particular fruit that he needed to bear, Jesus asks Simon Peter... "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

If we look at the passage in the original Greek, it does make an important difference. There are two different words translated as 'LOVE' in this passage. Let's simply put the two original Greek words in place of the English words in the same 3 verses above. Notice the changes:

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you agapao Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you agapao Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you phileo Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I phileo You."

You will see how differently these verses appear now, with the two Greek Words inserted for the Word "Love". Now let's look at the Greek definitions of these two words:

Agapao - This is a very special and deep kind of love. It means to love dearly.

Phileo - This is a friendly kind of affection. In Strong's Exhaustive Concordance it states the difference between agapao and phileo is that agapao is more of a heart love and phileo is more of a head love.

Now read the verses again. You will see what I am talking about:

Jesus asks Peter, "Do you LOVE me more than these?" Peter says, 'yeah I like you Lord.'

The second time, Jesus simply asks, "Do you LOVE me?" Notice that Jesus lessens the level of love. Sigh... Peter still cowers and only responds... 'yeah I like you Lord.'

Finally, Jesus asks, 'Peter...do you like me?' And Peter agrees.

Some refer to this passage as the Lord allowing the Apostle Peter to redeem himself after denying Him three times prior to the crucifixion. I don't see it that way. We see that Peter was still too prideful to admit before other men that he had a special kind of love for Jesus.

The church is quick to lead many Christians into all kinds of important things to do for God... Yet, Jesus says the greatest, most important thing is to Love The Lord.

It is true, that most common behaviors that keep us from victory are things like: pride, impatience, and insecurity, but I want us to look underneath these problems at the root issue... the thing that these problems grow out of... the soil, so-to-speak... actually, our heart. This brings us to "our love for God" and for one another! Jesus never mentions Peter's pride, but instead cuts right to the "heart" of the problem... do you Love Me?

Now, I don't want to turn this into a study of ways to show God that we Love Him... Jesus was not asking Peter if he loved Him... like, He didn't already know the answer. No! Too many times, the bible says things like: And Jesus, knowing their hearts... or Jesus, seeing that their hearts were away from Him... etc. So, this study should be about us examining the measure of our love for Our Lord. It's time to search ourselves as to how much we really love God... He already knows.

If we look at some of the problems we experience which hinder our spiritual victory, as they relate to the condition (or measure) of our "heart for God", we can discover if it is "right" or not.

Pride - What does pride say about our love for God? There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we feel about a job well done. The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin, and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him.

Psalm 10:4 explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). The "poor in spirit" are those who recognize their utter spiritual bankruptcy and their inability to come to God aside from His divine grace. The proud, on the other hand, are so blinded by their pride that they think they have no need of God or, worse, that God should accept them as they are because they deserve His acceptance.

Throughout Scripture we are told about the consequences of pride. Proverbs 16:18-19 tells us that "pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." Satan was cast out of heaven because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). He had the selfish audacity to attempt to replace God Himself as the rightful ruler of the universe. But Satan will be cast down to hell in the final judgment of God. For those who rise up in defiance against God, there is nothing ahead but disaster (Isaiah 14:22).

Pride has kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Admitting sin and acknowledging that in our own strength we can do nothing to inherit eternal life is a constant stumbling block for prideful people. We are not to boast about ourselves; if we want to boast, then we are to proclaim the glories of God. What we say about ourselves means nothing in God's work. It is what God says about us that makes the difference (2 Corinthians 10:13).

Why is pride so sinful? Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining us. "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). That is why we give God the glory... for, He alone deserves it. (Ecc 7:8) patience is better than pride.

Impatience - What does impatience say about our love for God? When everything is going our way, patience is easy to demonstrate. The true test of patience comes when our rights are violated... when another car cuts us off in traffic; when we are treated unfairly; when our coworker derides our faith, again. Some people think they have a right to get upset in the face of irritations and trials. Impatience seems like a holy anger. The Bible, however, praises patience as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) which should be produced for all followers of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Patience reveals our faith in God's timing, omnipotence, and love.

Although most people consider patience to be a passive waiting or gentle tolerance, most of the Greek words translated "patience" in the New Testament are active, robust words. Consider Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (NKJV). Does one run a race by passively waiting for slow-pokes or gently tolerating cheaters? Certainly not! The word translated "patience" in this verse means "endurance." A Christian runs the race patiently by persevering through difficulties. In the Bible, patience is persevering towards a goal, enduring trials, or expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.

Patience comes from a confidence in Gods' love for us and returning that love to Him in the expression of trust. Colossians 1:11 tells us that we are strengthened by Him to "great endurance and patience," while James 1:3-4 encourages us to know that trials are His way of perfecting our patience. Our patience is further developed and strengthened by resting in God's perfect will and timing, even in the face of evil men who "succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7). Our patience is rewarded in the end "because the Lord's coming is near" (James 5:7-8). "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him" (Lamentations 3:25).

We find many examples in the bible of those whose patience characterized their walk with God. James points us to the prophets "as an example of patience in the face of suffering" (James 5:10). He also refers to Job, whose perseverance was rewarded by what the "Lord finally brought about" (James 5:11). Abraham, too, waited patiently and "received what was promised" (Hebrews 6:15). Jesus is our model in all things, and He demonstrated patient endurance: "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).

How do we display the patience that is characteristic of Christ? First, we thank God. A person's first reaction is usually "Why me?", but the Bible says to rejoice in God's will (Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:6). Second, we seek His purposes. Sometimes God puts us in difficult situations so that we can be a witness. Other times, He might allow a trial for sanctification of character. Remembering that His purpose is for our growth and His glory will help us in the trial. Third, we remember His promises such as Romans 8:28, which tells us that "all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." The "all things" include the things that try our patience.

The next time you are in a traffic jam, betrayed by a friend, or mocked for your testimony, how will you respond? The natural response is impatience which leads to stress, anger, and frustration. Praise God that, as Christians, we are no longer in bondage to a "natural response" because we are new creations in Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17). Instead, we have the Lord's strength to respond with patience and in complete trust in the Father's power and purpose. "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life" (Romans 2:7).

Do you want spiritual victory in your life? Focus on the most important question you can ask of yourself... Do I agapao You, Lord? A heart that is "right" for God consistently keeps this question close... adds it to every situation... every experience. There are a multitude of problems that we will endure and for every one, we must consider our feelings in light of "what do they reveal to Christ in relation to how much we love Him. We must consider the way we respond to trials in light of "how does this reveal to Christ the measure of love we truly have for Him. Is my heart right for God?

Friends, there is much more from Gods' Word to share with you relating to the condition of our hearts in our next study. Until then, let's prayerfully examine our problems, our thought-life, habits, relations, and all that we do as they relate to our love for God. He can only help us with those things that we acknowledge, repent from, and surrender to Him... and He is more than able. Amen?

I love you.