Tag: Love

God looks at the Heart

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I love studies of the Old Testament as I learn so much about the character of God.  His attributes shine through as He exhibits His faithfulness and sovereignty over all creation.  In 1 Samuel is the story of God sending the prophet Samuel to identify the son of Jesse that He has chosen to be the next king of Israel.  The Lord gave Samuel some good advice that we need to take to heart as we look at others and even ourselves.  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward 1-Samuel-16-7appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7    When God looks at us, He looks at our hearts.   Therefore, He desires that our hearts be transformed, renewed and cleansed.  He wants more for us than we can even imagine.   He sees what is truly in our hearts and knows our innermost thoughts.  It is a humbling and sobering thought that God knows all and in His love and mercy He see what I can be not what I am at the present.  God looks at our hearts.

I am comforted by Psalm 10:17 where the psalmist proclaims what God will do for him.  “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;  you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear”    God will listen to me and the cries of my heart then He will strengthen me.  He knows I need transformation and will listen to my heart cries and then give me strength to persevere in pursuit of His transformation in my life.  

GodismystrengthOur challenge today is seek His transformation for our lives from a heart filled with obedience and love and then to seek to see others as God does.  We are limited and can’t see the heart of others but we can learn not to judge by outward appearances and seek to reach out to others with love and kindness.  We can ask God for insight and wisdom in dealing with others.

Thankful for a loving God that will give me strength to live for Him,

Linda

Why Transform our hearts?

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God is very intentional in His transformation of our hearts.  I would say there is no wasted efforts or motions in God’s plans.  Unlike man, God is omniscient and knows the beginning and the end.  He knows where we are going and how to get us where He wants us to be.  Here are a couple of verses that point to God’s intent or purpose in transforming our hearts.

psalm 90 12Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days  that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Jeremiah 32:40 “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”

God wants us to realize that we are accountable to Him and use our time here on earth wisely.  He desires we affect others with our lives and show His goodness and glory in what we say and do.    In the Jeremiah passage God tells us what He will do for believers.  We have an everlasting covenant of salvation in Jesus, He promises to not turn from us- He is completely faithful, He desires good for us and will do it and He wants us to love and follow Him.  God wants us to spend eternity with Him and the only way that is possible is if we wisely turn to Him, accept His salvation in Jesus and have a make-over of our heart’s desires.  A transformed heart is essential for the Christian believer and something God does with intentionality.   Look back at the ways He transforms our heart… with joy and praise, love and faith, commitment, purity, kindness, compassion and forgiveness, devotion and obedience.  His way brings results and fills our hearts with His heavenly treasures.

Jer 32 40Let’s make this a day of Thanksgiving to God for His grace and mercy.  Thanking Him that for transforming us so we can live lives of purpose and bear fruit for His kingdom.

Linda

A Transformed Heart is a Believing Heart

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One of the clearest verses in scripture that tells us what we have to do to be Saved is Romans 10:9-10.  ” If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”  Once you believe in Jesus within your heart and say it you are saved.  The saying confirms what your heart is telling you that Jesus is the son of God and that He came and died for your sins and was raised from the dead.   In dying He took your sin and mine upon himself as the perfect sacrifice but in rising from the dead He conquered death and buried our sins forever.  Romans 10:9-10 show us that a heart that believes in God is essential to faith.   We have to believe in Jesus with the very core of our matthew22-37being, our heart, for salvation.   Jesus told us about the importance of heart faith in Matthew 22:37  “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  God will accept nothing less that our whole heart, soul and mind.  Loving and knowing God requires it all.  

How about you?  Do you have a sincere heart love for God?  Are you willing to tell others that Jesus is your Savior?  God demands that our love be all consuming.  He is a jealous God and wants all of us.  Exodus 20:5 “You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.”   Are you devoted to God and willing to give all of your heart to Him?  Meditate and about this today.  Consider how much of your heart you are giving to God, remembering He wants it all.

Matthew 22 37Let this be said of me as I seek to give all my heart to Jesus,

Linda

A Transformed Heart is filled with…devotion

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When was the last time you spoke of your devotion to God?  Is it something that you and I as believers take for granted?  In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul used the example of slaves and masters to illustrate the devotion we need in serving Christ.  This would have been very familiar to the early Christians as it was common practice during Roman times and many of them were slaves not free men.  Ephesians 6:5-8  “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Paul uses several ‘heart’ words in describing how are to treat others whether they be in authority over us or working alongside us.  We are to serve with sincerity of heart.  False or fake love for others will not show devotion and love of God to them.   We need to work in serving others to fulfill God’s desires not our own.  We have to work and act from our whole heart not just a portion reserved for showing God’s love.  Paul is describing pure devotion to God that is shown in our heart attitude and our willingness to serve Him.  God wants us loving the world regardless of where we find ourselves.  This is a tall order that can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.  ephesains 6 7Jesus can make all things possible.  We need to walk each day in His love with a sincere, devoted heart for the world to see.

May you experience God’s love and power as you strive to be devoted to Him with your heart.

Linda

A Transformed Heart is filled with….kindness, compassion and forgiveness

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In Ephesians Chapter 4, Paul is exhorting Christians to be Christ honoring in their behaviors.  He encourages them to clean up their speech, eliminating unwholesome talk, and speak only words of encouragement that build others up. (29)  He does not want us grieving the Holy Spirit by our actions, thoughts and deeds that he lists in verse 31, bitterness, rage, anger, arguing, fighting, being slanderous, or doing any kind of evil.  TenderheartedIn Ephesians 4:32 Paul tell us what actions and thoughts would be Christ honoring in our lives.  “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

What does it mean to be tenderhearted?  The dictionary defines it as ‘soft-hearted, sympathetic’.   Does that describe your heart?  Because of Christ’s transforming love, do you react to the world with a kind, forgiving and sympathetic heart?   Paul is telling us that because we are forgiven and Christ lives within us we can react and interact with the world through a kind, tenderhearted, forgiving heart.  Let this be your challenge today.  Ask Jesus to let you see the world through a heart that is tender and loving towards those around you.

Loving with a tender heart is what Jesus did while on earth and He desires us to continue showing that love towards others in His name.

Linda

A Transformed Heart is a pure heart

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Paul tells Timothy in two letters to have a pure heart.  This is not something Timothy could make himself but rather the result of his love for Jesus.  Paul wants Timothy and all future believers to examine their hearts and check their motives.  1 Timothy 1:5  pure heart“The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.”   Paul wants to know if our love for others comes from a heart overflowing with love for Jesus.  He needs to be the source of our love.    In 2 Timothy 2:22 Paul encourages believers to look for others who share the purity of heart that you find in Jesus.  “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”  He wants Timothy and us to chose friends that will encourage us towards right living and not worldly pursuits.

Since we are sinners, purity of heart can only be achieved through the redemption.  Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to make a way for us to be ‘pure in heart’.  His love for us is transforming and will clean up even the dirtiest of hearts.  Talk with Jesus today and ask Him as David did in Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure and clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Jesus will not let you down but will lift you up and make you new.  2 Corinthians 5:17  “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ psalm 51has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”   Claim it today in Christ alone!   Then look for fellow believers to encourage your new pure heart and your desire to love and serve Jesus.

Purity comes from Jesus alone,

Linda

A Transformed Heart is filled with commitment

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Commitment seems to be something that scares people in our day and age.  They seem afraid to step out and say they will be there at a certain time, place or with you in a project.  Are there so many choices in our lives that people cannot decide?  Have they had experiences where they felt trapped by agreements they’ve made?  Whatever the root of their fears, to love and serve Jesus we have to go beyond them, step above or over them and persevere.   1 Peter 3:15 appears in a portion of scripture where Peter is encouraging believers to persevere in their faith and not to fear doing good.  He tells believers to hold fast to their faith in Christ regardless of where they find themselves.  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”    In addition to honoring Christ as Lord, we need to be able and willing to tell others about what Christ has done for us.  The hope we have in living, the hope we have in eternity, the hope we have in being forgiven and cleansed, and the hope we have in His always being with us.  We need to be prepared to tell others about Jesus.  Being committed to Jesus with your heart demands that we are ready to speak about Him.  This is not to be an argumentative discourse but words that speak of the Hope we have in Jesus with gentleness and respect that come from a heart of love and commitment to Jesus.

Reasons for Our Hope_0I love this verse in 1 Peter because it holds me accountable and tells me where my commitment needs to be.  God wants us committed to Him, loving and acting in our world with words of Hope for unbelievers and words of encouragement in that Hope for fellow believers.   Who will you tell today about the HOPE you have in Jesus?

May the Lord bring people to cross your path today that are in need of those words of hope and encouragement.

Linda

A Transformed Heart is filled with….faith and love

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When we take the leap of faith and step out with Jesus, we are putting our trust in Him to be the guiding force in our lives from now through all eternity.  That step brings about a transformation in our hearts that solidifies our faith in Him.  With a heart committed to Jesus, scripture teaches that our hearts become filled with love for God and our fellow man.  Let’s look at Ephesians ephesians_3_173:16-19.  “16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”   

Paul first reminds us of God’s total power and resources.(16)  Then having Christ in our hearts will give us deep rooted love and strength. (17)  That deep love will help us understand God’s love for us – the depth of it.(18)  That love, so hard to understand, will make us complete for a life that is full and power driven.(19)   Peter describes this transforming deep love in 1 Peter 1:22.  22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.”   Accepting Jesus and His cleansing power brings about obedience and sincere love for others.   He says we are to love deeply from our hearts.

love deeplyWhat about you?  Do you feel sincere love for others because you know Jesus?  Do you feel that the love God showed to you by sending Jesus makes you love Him even more?  A truly transformed heart is a heart filled with faith in Jesus that manifests itself in our lives by love for God and others.  If you feel you lack this kind of love, ask God for it.  Love for others is a God thing and when we are lacking He tells us to ask Him.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”    Asking, seeking and knocking are to be a continual part of our lives if we desire to have transformed hearts for Him.

Blessings as you seek to love others like Jesus today.

Linda

Why the tears?

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Psalm 119:129-136 opens with praise and awe over the amazing depth of God’s Word.  Your laws are wonderful.
    No wonder I obey them!
130 The teaching of your word gives light,
    so even the simple can understand.   So many times I have heard people say that the Bible is too hard to understand.  Here the psalmist is declares that even the young or less trained can understand.  How is that possible?   Understanding comes from God, so with prayer, meditation, the right translation and through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit believers can read and understand that which God has for them in His Word.  
131 I pant with expectation,
    longing for your commands.
132 Come and show me your mercy,
    as you do for all who love your name.   The psalmist looks with great expectation into God’s Word.  He is looking for mercy and love.  These are tangible confirmations of faith for him.  When you read God’s Word, do you read with expectation?  Do you look for His mercy and love?  Think back, when you read the Bible do you find that you are filled with peace, understanding and hope?  Have you ever opened its pages seeking advice or help or comfort?  The psalmist has faith that God will answer his needs and then provide him with direction.
133 Guide my steps by your word,
    so I will not be overcome by evil.
134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
    then I can obey your commandments.   He trusts in the guidance of God and knows titus 2 14that the Word will lead him to victory.  He claims God as his guide and redeemer!  He refers to being ransomed or bought back from evil.  This is what Christ did for us.  In Paul’s letter to Titus he puts it this way, “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Titus 2:14
135 Look upon me with love;
    teach me your decrees.    The psalmist trusts God to look upon him with love.  He knows that God is immutable and will always be loving, slow to anger and filled with compassion.  He looks for teaching from God as he trusts God.
136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
    because people disobey your instructions.  The last lines of this section of Psalm 119 really spoke to me.  The psalmist is proclaiming to God that he is distressed to the point of tears over those who disobey and reject God’s Word.  I asked myself, does the psalm 119 136rejection of the truth of God’s Word and His ways bring me to tears?  Do I sorry for those that do not believe or those that profess to believe and do not live by the standards God desires?  If I am  brought to tears, then my response should be one of love and restoration not condemnation.  Pray, pray, pray for the light of God to be made known to them.  God has ways of  reaching those who we consider unreachable.  Look what He did to confront Saul, the chief persecutor of early Christians. He brought him to his knees and to faith in Jesus.  Read his miraculous story in Acts 9.   Lift your tears up to God and ask Him to work on the person who you are concerned about, to bring them to faith and change their life.  Many times I have heard stories of people praying for individuals for years and years before they came to faith.  God calls us to be persistent and filled with hope at their redemption. 

God’s Word fills us with expectation, hope, love, and guidance as He points us to His truths that are eternal and filled with redemption.

Linda

I’m claiming God’s promises for my own, how about you?

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psalm 119 76The next section of Psalm 119 in verses 73-80 the psalmist speaks of his joy that God created him and the joy that living as one who fears the Lord brings.  I think the heart of his message is  in 76-77:    “Let your steadfast love comfort me  according to your promise to your servant.   Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;  for your law is my delight.”  The psalmist is praising God for loving and comforting him just as He promised.  He knows that God will be merciful to him and give him life as he learns to live delighting himself in God’s Word.

Do you know these truths about God for yourself?  Do you experience His steadfast love and comfort?  Do you see His mercies in your life?  Do you find that praying, reading God’s Word and worshiping Him brings you delightful peace and assurance?  The psalmist reminds us that all of these are promised by God to those who believe and stand upon His Word.  Here are a few promises you can claim in your life and hold onto their truth.

God keeps his promises

Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;  his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.”

Psalm 86:5-7  “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,   abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;  listen to my plea for grace.   In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord,  when he delights in his way;”

Ask yourself today, where do I see God’s love and mercy and where am I delighting in doing things God’s way?  God will keep His promises.  Claim victory in Christ today!

Walking with love and mercy given graciously by Jesus to me,

Linda