The Heart

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Life Application study Bible / NLT)

The (Life Application study Bible / NLT) translation instructs us to “guard” our hearts above all else, making sure we are watching and concentrating on those desires that will keep us on the right path.

Therefore we have to put “boundaries” on our wants and desires, and not go after “everything” we see.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (NKJV)

To “keep” something is to make sure it is in a secure place so that it doesn’t get away, and that it is also safe from attack.

The Heart is our inner self that thinks, feels and decides. As we read scriptures in the Bible, the word “heart” has a much broader meaning than that it does to our modern mind. The heart is that which is central and connected to the mind. Many of the references to the human heart in the scriptures refer to some aspect of human personality.

The Bible gives several scriptures about our emotions that are experienced by the Heart:

Love and hate Ps. 105:25 / 1^st Peter 1:22

Joy and sorrow Eccl. 2:10 / John 16:6

Peace and bitterness Ezek. 27:31 / Col. 3:15

Courage and fear Gen. 42:28 / Amos 2:16

Several thinking processes are also said to be carried out by the heart. Thus the heart may:

Think Esth. 6:6

Understand Job 38:36

Imagine Jer 9:14

Remember Deut. 4:9

Be wise Prov. 2:10

Speak to itself Deut. 7:17

Many decisions that are made are carried out by the heart:

Our purpose Acts 11:23

Our intention Heb. 4:12

Our will Eph. 6:6

Finally, the heart will often show a person’s true character or personality:

Purity or evil Jer. 3:17 / Matt. 5:8

Sincerity or hardness Ex. 4:21 / Col. 2:22

Maturity or rebelliousness Ps. 101:2 / Jer. 5:23

Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (NKJV)

Lord Jesus, the bible tells us that you do not judge by a person’s outward appearance but You look at the heart. I pray that anything that is seen in our hearts that is displeasing in your eyesight be removed. Lord Jesus create in us a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. In Your precious name. Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Remaining Focused

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.“ (NKJV)

On many occasions, a person won’t see an immediate reward for the present efforts that they are putting forth.

Once a person understands the principle of “seed time and harvest”, it will help them to remain focused and encouraged with their present efforts.

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (NKJV)

Distraction can be a tool of the enemy to divert a believers attention away from a desired area of focus, and thereby blocking or diminishing a person’s efforts. There can be both external and internal distractions, that can contribute to the interference of remaining focused.

So a believer will have to remain persistent, refusing to give up or let go no matter what is happening, or what they are feeling at any given time.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (NKJV)

Having the right thoughts, can help a person to remain focused and persistent without becoming distracted.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (NKJV)

Having the right attitude about what you are doing can help also. Our conduct and behavior should always honor God.

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (NKJV)

Again, having the right attitude along with giving thanks, is very important. God should get the glory in all that we say and or do.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”

Our priorities should be kingdom focused, being about our Father’s business.

 

Psalm 121:1-2

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.” (NKJV)

Lord Jesus, help us to remain focused in our doing good so that You will get the praise, the glory and the honor, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

The Holy Spirit

John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. (NKJV)

Paraclete (pair-uh-kleet)

The word Paraclete is a transliteration of the Greek word Parakletos, which means “one who speaks on behalf of or in favor of “as being an intercessor, advocate, counselor; a “helper”.

John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity and has several functions in the life of a believer:

1. The Holy Spirit is a Paraclete (pair-uh-kleet) our helper who teaches and reminds.

John 14:26 “Jesus told his disciples, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”

2. The Holy Spirit (lives) dwells in believers and fills them.

1st Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

3. The Holy Spirit is a (true) source of revelation, wisdom, and power.

1st Corinthians 2:10-11“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except for their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God”

 Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

4. The Holy Spirit (leads) guides to all truth, including knowledge of what is to come.

John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

5. The Holy Spirit (freely) gives spiritual gifts to believers.

1st Corinthians 12:7-11 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

6. The Holy Spirit, Paraclete (pair-uh-kleet) helps in a Christian’s weakness and intercedes for them.

Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for sending a helper that is a constant source of what is needed in our lives as believers, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

 

“Perfect Peace”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Many times we can feel over whelmed with everything that is going on around us and sometimes wonder “why is this happening to me?” If we are not careful we can easily get caught up in what is going on in the world and loose our focus on what we need to do to obtain and keep “perfect peace.”

If we allow fear to be our main focus, it will be extremely difficult to obtain the victory over tribulations that come our way.

There will be individuals around us that might be experiencing the same tribulations that we are experiencing, but are allowing fear to control what they see and how they feel.

Mark 4:41 “And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

This was the response from the disciples when they were on a boat in a storm on the sea after Jesus rebuked the wind, and spoke to the sea.  

Mark 4:37 “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.”

Mark 4:39 “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

As believers, we have the authority to speak to storms, trials and tribulations and command the presence of “perfect peace” to rule in the place of fear and experience freedom from disturbances or unrest.”

Philippians 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Vs 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The “peace” of God surpasses all understanding. When others around you allow themselves to be overwhelmed by what is happening, and you are calm because of having “perfect peace”, this type of peace will not be understood by those around you. It is hard for them to understand why you are not acting, or behaving the way that they are, and the question might even be asked about you “what’s wrong with them, don’t they see what’s happening?”

“With peace comes strength”

Isaiah 26:3,4 “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You” vs 4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”

Because of God’s grace and mercy, He will provide strength with His peace. All we have to do is keep our mind on Jesus.

“With peace comes safety”

Psalms 91:1,2 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust.”

Because of God’s grace and mercy, He will provide safety with His peace. All we have to do is trust Him.

“With peace comes rest“

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“

Because of God’s grace and mercy, He will give us rest with His peace. All we have to do is come to Him.

Lord you said in your word that you have overcome this world that we live in. Thank you for the “perfect peace” we can have that comes from only you…in Jesus name. Amen!   

Continuing in His service…Rev