Speaking from the Heart - Part 1

This week, Michael writes: In everything give thanks. If God needs to break your heart for what breaks His, then thank Him for this blessing. Jesus said, however, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction? Joy is not the absence of pain. Rather, joy is the presence of the Lord. Joy does not depend on whether we live in comfort and contentment. One day we will enjoy comfort and peace in eternity with our Lord. However, until then we can rejoice in all things.

Turn the other cheek. This was difficult advice to take to heart. When we're hurt by another person, the natural tendency is to retaliate ... to seek justice and retribution. It's difficult to forgive from a heart of love. However, this is the key to making progress in the Christian life. Philippians 2:8 says, "Have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus.  And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:12-15 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

Our hearts will be restless until we find our rest in Him. Why would we want to live a life to God's glory? God will answer this question when our prayer becomes, "Lord make me the person you meant for me to be." Only then can God put the desire in our hearts to live for Him. The ongoing process of "sanctification" after salvation is because God has put His desire and His purpose in our hearts. When we deliberately align His good pleasure with our good pleasure, then God will work in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. According to John 15:7, If you abide in me and my word abides in you, then you shall bear much fruit.  What is that fruit?  It’s produce. It's the fruit that your heart produces. When the Word of God's heart is the word of our heart, the fruit will be according to God's heart. As Luke 6:45 says, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." 

The devil's job is to lie and deceive. His deception starts with calling evil good and good evil. This was his ploy in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve.  He said, "If you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, ye shall be as God."  He played on her ego to forsake God as the source of knowledge and sufficiency. 

Let's continue Michael's message int he next post.

In Christ, Brian