You've Touched My Heart Revisited

We all have a heart.  Our hearts beat and pump blood throughout our bodies, providing oxygen and nutrients.  Without our hearts, we would not be alive.  In our culture you can be hard-hearted, cold hearted, broken-hearted, good-hearted, etc.  The list goes on and in English, we think of the word "heart" as the center of emotion and kindness.  The Hebrews, however, had a broader meaning for the word "heart".  It goes beyond the Western cultural idea of it being the center of emotion and kindness to including a person's thoughts, reason, and logic, in essence, the "mind" is included with the word "heart".  So a heart can think, understand, and be intentional.  A heart can be a storehouse for God's word.  It can be full of deceit.  It is capable of love and hate, joy and sorrow.  Here is a word study on these aspects of the word "heart"  in God's word.

The heart is capable of understanding:

"Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,  therefore you will not let them triumph."  Job17:4 (ESV)

"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."  Proverbs 2:10 (NIV)

The heart is where you can store scripture:

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."  Deuteronomy 4:9  (NIV)

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."  Psalm 119:11 (KJV)

The heart is capable of deception:

"'How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?  The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?' declares the LORD."  Jeremiah 23:26-28  (NASB)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  Jeremiah 17:9  (KJV)

The heart can be intentional:

"When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  Acts 11:23 (NIV)

"The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; in the last days you will clearly understand it."  Jeremiah 23:20  (NASB)

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)

"Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart."  Ephesians 6:6  (NIV)

The heart is capable of love and hate:

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."  1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)

"He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants."  Psalm 105:25 (ESV)

The heart is capable of joy and sorrow: 

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken."  Proverbs 15:13 (NASB)

"But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."  John 16:6 (NASB)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27  (ESV)

In closing, we want to have the heart of God within us as it says in Exodus 34:5-7, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."(NASB)  And we need to be ever conscious of the fact that our hearts reflect who we are.  "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man."  Proverbs 27:19  (ESV)  And we need to be aware that God looks not at our outward appearance but at our hearts.  "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7  (NIV)

Dear Lord,  We ask that You shape and mold our hearts.  Let our hearts be as Yours, full of kindness and compassion, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. 

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com.

You've Touched My Heart

We all have a heart.  Our hearts beat and pump blood throughout our bodies, providing oxygen and nutrients.  Without our hearts, we would not be alive.  In our culture you can be hard-hearted, cold hearted, broken-hearted, good-hearted, etc.  The list goes on and in English, we think of the word "heart" as the center of emotion and kindness.  The Hebrews, however, had a broader meaning for the word "heart".  It goes beyond the Western cultural idea of it being the center of emotion and kindness to including a person's thoughts, reason, and logic, in essence, the "mind" is included with the word "heart".  So a heart can think, understand, and be intentional.  A heart can be a storehouse for God's word.  It can be full of deceit.  It is capable of love and hate, joy and sorrow.  Here is a word study on these aspects of the word "heart"  in God's word.

The heart is capable of understanding:

"Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,  therefore you will not let them triumph."  Job17:4 (ESV)

"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."  Proverbs 2:10 (NIV)

The heart is where you can store scripture:

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."  Deuteronomy 4:9  (NIV)

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."  Psalm 119:11 (KJV)

The heart is capable of deception:

"'How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?  The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?' declares the LORD."  Jeremiah 23:26-28  (NASB)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  Jeremiah 17:9  (KJV)

The heart can be intentional:

"When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  Acts 11:23 (NIV)

"The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; in the last days you will clearly understand it."  Jeremiah 23:20  (NASB)

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)

"Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart."  Ephesians 6:6  (NIV)

The heart is capable of love and hate:

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."  1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)

"He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants."  Psalm 105:25 (ESV)

The heart is capable of joy and sorrow: 

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken."  Proverbs 15:13 (NASB)

"But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."  John 16:6 (NASB)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27  (ESV)

In closing, we want to have the heart of God within us as it says in Exodus 34:5-7, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."(NASB)  And we need to be ever conscious of the fact that our hearts reflect who we are.  "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man."  Proverbs 27:19  (ESV)  And we need to be aware that God looks not at our outward appearance but at our hearts.  "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7  (NIV)

Dear Lord,  We ask that You shape and mold our hearts.  Let our hearts be as Yours, full of kindness and compassion, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. 

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com.

Listen to the Music

I can't tell you how important a role music has played in my life!  I post songs here on my blog that have moved me, touched me, filled me, and motivated me toward a closer walk with my Savior.  The Christian life and walk isn't always easy and the music I spend my life listening to (and I do listen to it all day long!  Ask my family!) helps me stay on the path He wants me on; He speaks to me through it and I find myself in a constant state of worship.  I have often wondered if music could make the difference in a person's life, the difference between mediocrity and being sold out to Jesus.  I think it could.

Please don't miss the music that I post.  These are all songs that go with the written posts (usually) and are integral to the message!  Many times the music inspires the words.  And I would encourage you to make your own play list of Christian/Worship music.  You can start out with some of these songs posted here and then add your own songs which speak to your own heart and encourage you to stay on the path He wants you on, the path of life with Him.

I was quite young when I realized the power that music had over me (and I have always assumed, everyone else).  When I was a teenager, I listened to popular music and I noticed that I loved some songs more than others but that they all had an influence on how and what I was thinking and feeling.  Most of those types of songs had to do with love won and lost.  They could actually be quite depressing and I could feel myself thinking that finding and keeping true love was the most important thing in life.  Well, I agree with that but with a twist that I am sure those secular musicians never intended.  I think that finding and keeping true love is the most important thing but that it can only be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Every other person on the face of this earth will let you down, but Jesus never will.  He never can!  It is against His very nature.  Our nature, on the other hand, with our utter selfishness, will always fall short, and always disappoint.  The only way we can get away from our utter selfishness is to be wholly devoted to God...

I have always tried to make things easier for myself if possible!  By that I mean that I have found that walking a true life of faith is easier when I fill my heart and mind with the things of God.  So I try to spend most of my days in His word, in prayer, and listening to music that makes it easier to stay focused on Him.  Now this does not mean that I sit around all day reading, praying, and listening to music.   I go about my business praying and listening to music if I can, and as I pray and listen, the word of God pops into my head, too.  So what I have read (and memorized) throughout my life so concertedly, stays with me and helps  walk His path.  So sing a new song to the Lord, or get an old song stuck in your head!  The more time you spend on Him, the more you will feel His presence all day long.

"God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for His place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to God."  Psalm 27:6 (The Message)

"They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress.  They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves.  Selah.  My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.   Awake, my soul!  Awake, harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn."  Psalm 57:6-8 (NIV)

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods."  Psalm 95:1-3 (NIV)

"I will sing of steadfast love and justice;  to you, O LORD, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me?  I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.  I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me."  Psalm 101:1-3 (ESV)

"Remember what you said to me, your servant— I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me. The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don't budge from your revelation. I watch for your ancient landmark words, and know I'm on the right track. But when I see the wicked ignore your directions, I'm beside myself with anger. I set your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way. I meditate on your name all night, God, treasuring your revelation, O God. Still, I walk through a rain of derision because I live by your Word and counsel."  Psalm 119:49 (The Message)

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)

Dear Lord,  Thank You for Your precious gift of music.  Thank You that as we walk this pilgrim way, setting Your word to music and singing make it easier for us.  Please give us an incredible, all day attitude of worship and thanksgiving through Your music...Let us move from mediocrity to being sold out to You.

An Encounter with Pride

In Hannah Hurnard's Hinds Feet on High Places, the story of the journey out of the Valley of Humiliation and onto the High Places of the Great Shepherd unfolds. It is an allegory which dramatizes the desire of God's children to move out of the valleys of life and on to intimate communion with God. The High Places promise higher degrees of love, joy, and victory to the believer on the journey, a journey which should begin the moment we ask Jesus Christ to save us from sin and death. Unfortunately, many of us are reluctant to begin. The journey to the high places is fraught with danger, discouragement, and pain. It is unknown and therefore unproven. Very often we allow our own pride to stop us from starting the journey or continuing on our way. We may ask ourselves, "What if nothing significant happens while I am up there? What happens if I can't make it to the top at all? What if I am humiliated and rejected? What if I fail?" What we often fail to realize is that the journey is as important if not more important than reaching the goal.

"Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength,and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places." Habakkuk 3:18-19a (NASB) You see, the Lord must make our feet like hinds' feet. A hind is a deer and deer are very sure footed. We on the other hand are not, especially when it comes to spiritual journeys. He must make us sure footed on our spiritual journey. We cannot do it ourselves. And it is through the process of the journey that the transformation from gangly, awkward, spiritual klutz to wise grace-filled, light-footed spiritual traveler takes place.

The main character of this allegory is a small, disfigured, crippled girl called Much-Afraid. She, like her Fearing relatives, lived in the Valley of Humiliation in constant fear. One thing had changed for Much-Afraid; she was now in the service of the Great Shepherd and He had asked her to journey with Him up to the high places. For Much-Afraid, a greater thrill and honor could not exist. The Great Shepherd promised her two very important companions for the journey, Sorrow and Suffering.

"From the very beginning the way up the mountains proved to be steeper than anything Much-Afraid had supposed herself capable of tackling, and it was not very long before she was forced to seek the help of her companions. Each time she shrinkingly took hold of the hand of either Sorrow or Suffering a pang went through her, but once their hands were grasped she found they had amazing strength, and seemed able to pull and even lift her upwards and over places which she would have considered utterly impossible to reach. Indeed, without their aid they would have been impossible, even for a strong and sure-footed person." (Hinds Feet on High Places, Hannah Hurnard, 1975)

Down in the Valley of Humiliation, the Fearings were angry that such an honor was bestowed on poor little Much-Afraid. It was not that they themselves wanted to go for in fact, they did not. They hated the Shepherd but they were also jealous that crippled, miserable Much-Afraid was singled out for this journey. As long as she was poor and miserable, they didn't give her much thought. Now that she had left them to journey on to something better, they plotted and schemed on how they could stop her.

"A great consultation went on between all the more influential relatives, and ways and means discussed by which she could be captured most effectively and be brought back to the Valley as a permanent slave. Finally, it was agreed that someone must be sent after her as quickly as possible in order to force her to return. But they could not conceal from themselves that force might prove impossible, as apparently she had put herself under the protection of the Great Shepherd. Some means, then, would have to be found to beguile her into leaving him of her own free will. How could this be accomplished?" (Hinds' Feet on High Places, Hannah Hurnard, 1975)

Much-Afraid's relatives decided to send a distant cousin named Pride to bring her back. He pulled her hand away from her companions and held it tightly.

"Poor Much-Afraid tried to pull her hand away, for now she began to understand the meaning of his presence there and his bitter hatred of the Shepherd, but as she struggled to free her hand, he only grasped it tighter. She had to learn that once Pride is listened to, struggle as one may, it is the hardest thing in the world to throw him off. She hated the things that he said, but with her hand grasped in his they had the power to sound horribly plausible and true." (Hinds' Feet on High Places, Hannah Hurnard, 1975)

When we encounter pride, we find ourselves in the most challenging of struggles. Once we have grasped the hand of pride, it is extremely difficult to let go. John Piper puts it this way in his book Desiring God and throws in an unusual twist, "The nature and depth of human pride are illuminated by comparing boasting with self-pity. Both are manifestations of pride. Boasting is the response of pride to success. Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering. Boasting says, 'I deserve admiration because I have achieved so much.' Self-pity says, 'I deserve admiration because I have sacrificed so much.' Boasting is the voice of pride in the heart of the strong. Self-pity is the voice of pride in the heart of the weak. Boasting sounds self-sufficient. Self-pity sounds self-sacrificing." Both boasting and self-pity are about self.

"The reason self-pity does not look like pride is that it appears to be needy. But the need arises from a wounded ego, and the desire of the self-pitying is not really for others to see them as helpless, but as heroes. The need self-pity feels does not come from a sense of unworthiness, but from a sense of unrecognized worthiness. It is the response of unapplauded pride." (Desiring God, John Piper, 2003)

Much-Afraid only escapes the grasp of Pride when she calls out to the Great Shepherd.

"'Much-Afraid,' said the Shepherd, in a tone of gentle but firm rebuke, 'why did you let Pride come up to you and take your hand? If you had been holding the hands of your two helpers this could never have happened.'" (Hinds' Feet on High Places, Hannah Hurnard, 1975)

"She learned in this way the first important lesson on her journey upward, that if one stops to parley with Pride and listens to his poisonous suggestions and, above all, if he is allowed to lay his grasp upon any part of one, Sorrow becomes unspeakably more unbearable afterwards and anguish of heart has bitterness added to it." (Hinds' Feet on High Places, Hannah Hurnard, 1975)

"Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice." Psalm 51:16 (The Message)

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." 1 John 2:16 (NASB)

"For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

Dear Lord, Help me not to grasp the hand of pride. Help me only to hold the hands of the ones You give me even if they may be sorrow and suffering. Please let me not feel self-pity while enduring suffering, but instead let me accept it for the sake of joy.