He Wants . . . Our Hearts

WHAT DOES GOD MOST DESIRE from His creation?  From you?  From me?  Isn't this the question we ask ourselves as His children?  How can I please Him . . . serve Him . . . glorify Him?  J. Eldredge has a beautiful perspective on this thought:

"We've been offered many explanations [to this question]. From one religious camp we're told that what God wants is obedience, or sacrifice, or adherence to the right doctrines, or morality. [Other churches] suggest that no, God is after our contentment, our happiness, our self-actualization, or something else along those lines. He is concerned about all these things, of course, but they are not his primary concern.

What he is after is US . . . 

. . . our laughter 

. . . our tears 

. . . our dreams 

. . . our fears 

. . . our heart of hearts."  

                                                                 
Just think for a minute about how interesting it is that Jesus chose to use physical touch as the channel for the healing He gave while He was on earth.  He could have just spoken the word and the healing would have happened immediately, similar to how God carried out creation at the beginning of time. But for the interaction between Himself and broken humanity, God chose an approach that communicates tender kindness and loving concern . . . a kind of intimacy that often exists between good friends and lends comfort and security to the relationship.

He wants . . . not adherence to doctrine, not righteous lives (although if we truly love Him, the natural overflow will be a life of submission and obedience to Him and His Word) and not even our happiness (although lasting joy stems from our relationship with Him being right) . . .

He's after our hearts . . . our friendship.

Are you and I viewing our God as the deeply relational, deeply intimate Being He is?  Do we remember that He's invited us to step into His Throne Room as nothing less than Beloved children?  That He's invited us to share our laughter, tears, dreams, fears, and struggles with Him moment by moment?

Are we honoring His greatest desire?  If we are, we will find our joy in His!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us for adoption to SONSHIP through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his PLEASURE and WILL--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" (Ephesians 1:3-6).

photo by annalizphoto.com

Quiet My Heart

Be Still & Know by Steven Curtis Chapman

"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me."

--Psalm 131:2--

LORD, I'M SLOWLY BEGINNING to understand. Until my heart is quiet in the Your presence:

You can't gently touch my heart with Your love . . .
convict me with Your truth . . . 
extend Your grace and strength to me . . .
or grant me the riches of Your wisdom. 

In order to draw from You, my spirit must first be quieted of all it's noise. 

The distractions that crowd my mind need to be eliminated. The inner voice that is constantly reminding me of all the needs left unmet needs to be stilled. The worries and fears that pull my heart in a dozen directions need to be turned over to You in trust and prayer. 

"In experiences of solitude [when our hearts are quiet] we gently press into the Holy of Holies, where we are sifted in the stillness. Painfully, we let go of the vain image of ourselves in charge of everything and everybody. Slowly, we loosen our grip on all those projects that to us seem so significant. Gently, we become more focused and simplified. Joyfully, we receive the nourishment of heavenly manna." (Richard J. Foster)

Help me bring my heart to this place when my schedule is too full, when I'm overwhelmed, or I'm wearing thin.  Help me trust that when I let go of all my cares and responsibility for a few minutes of enjoying Your presence, You are enabling me to better perform the desires of Your heart through my life. 

Only here, in this calm and quietness of spirit, can I hear Your voice . . . and only when I can hear Your voice can I truly serve, honor, glorify and bless Your heart. 

"Rest. Rest. Rest in God's love. The only work you are required now to do is to give your most intense attention to His still, small voice within." (Madame Jeanne Guyon)

Four Things that Can Steal Our Joy

JESUS WARNED US clearly that "in this world [we] will have much trouble" (John 16:33). We are not only to endure but also to expect difficulties, pain, disappointment, struggle, and persecution in this world. 

But we are also to expect good from God.  He gains glory, and we gain joy, when through the troubles of life we are satisfied in Him--knowing that in Him, we have and will always have, all we could possibly need. All over in scripture He promises that His eyes are upon the righteous (Ps 34:15), His ear attentive to their cry (1 Peter 3:12), His hand always waiting, willing and eager, to extend strength, wisdom, grace, peace and joy in the time of their need (Isaiah 41:10; James 1:5; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Isaiah 26:3; John 16:24). He waits to satisfy our longing or weary souls with the treasure-store of limitless goodness found in Himself! This doesn't mean we have trial-free lives--in fact, quite the opposite. But when we look to Him in our need, heaven's storehouse doors are flung open wide, and we experience one joy after another as we come to be familiar with Him of whom Psalm 107:9 calls “Our Exceeding Joy”.

Sometimes we know these things in our hearts, but still struggle to receive His joy. Maybe you are being pulled down by a weight that’s source you haven’t yet been able to make out. I hope this list of joy-stealers brings light, eases your burden and leads you to find refreshing joy in our Comforter and Secure Rock, as it has me . . . 

1. Uncertainty of Life Purpose
If you're aimlessly stumbling through life without navigation tools to lend you a sense of direction, you're on a discouraging journey! We were meant to enjoy a sense of the clear purpose God has set in place for us, and to find delight in serving Him daily in the unique, one-of-a-kind ways He’s marked out for us. Have you ever gotten down on your knees and asked the Lord to show you the plans He has for your individual life? Have you sought to catch a glimpse of the Designer’s blueprints for His glorious intent behind your daily existence—your personality—your placement in your family—your interests? These aspects of our person are not merely coincidental—they are given to us to serve special purposes, that we may be useful to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:21). I find it so encouraging and refreshing to search my Bible to find out what it says about life purpose. Don’t forget to also seek guidance from the Godly authorities in your life . . . because they’ve raised us from our childhood, our parents have special insight into our hearts, and are able to give valuable counsel about the Lord’s purpose for our interests and personality.  

            Another thing I find especially helpful is to try to stick to a habit of often reassessing the life goals and ministry options I am pursuing, constantly inviting the Lord to change my plans and heart and mold them into His. Joy follows naturally as we come to appreciate God’s wisdom and goodness in giving us a dynamic position in history bursting with opportunities to bear fruit for His Kingdom! Give us eyes to see Your eternal purpose Lord!


2. Preoccupation with the World 
Regardless of our geographical location, everywhere we turn we find that the culture surrounding us holds (and often vociferously communicates) ideas of how we should be living our lives that sharply conflict with the gospel and the Word of God—or if not these, our conscience and the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Whether it's coming from Hollywood, or modern-day, scientific, multiple-degree-holding "intellectuals", or even well-meaning, unbelieving family members, we are constantly being sent the message that our faith in Christ is unsubstantiated and that our choices are, at best, extreme.  In my experience, it has at times been disheartening to hear my values and lifestyle criticized and misunderstood . . . but I’ve since realized this is only the case when I am seeking the applause of the world. Instead, I must learn to look only for God’s smile! O my soul, remember the wondrous truth that you are headed toward an Eternal home, and are living now for an Eternal God and Savior! 

            Insecurities and anxieties abound when our ears are held rapt to any other voice than the voice of God. However, in this world of deception and confusion, remembering that God's opinion, God's Word, God's desires, are the One Thing that matters fills us with sweet encouragement and joy. This kind of focus on His voice instead of the voice of the world ensures that His Truth is continually in our minds, and the result is that we gain protection from the danger of subtle lies and are fortified with truth with which to fight well and stand strong when conflict comes. Find your joy in His approval and truth!  

3. Prayerlessness--Not Abiding in the Life-Giving Vine of Christ
Our hearts were created for the express purpose of experiencing and delighting in God's presence--imperfectly through scattered experiences hindered by sin and the shadows of this world now, and perfectly in unbroken, unstained and holy experience when heaven's pure light shines upon us then. Forsaking or refusing the power, privilege and joy of verbal fellowship with God becomes unthinkable to us as Christians when we take the time to truly ponder the wonder of it. It's incredible value is found in what it cost to be granted us--which was nothing less than the spilling of God's precious Son's blood and the endurance of His agony on Calvary! To be able to approach our Holy God in free and loving fellowship, there needed to be complete cleansing for those that would draw near. 
        And as if our gaping indebtedness to the sacrificial love of Jesus were not reason enough to pray every waking moment, listen to what Spurgeon writes: 

"Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do!" (Strengthen My Spirit, pg. 355)

There is nothing in this life that can help us keep our keep our eyes on Christ, our Source of Joy, more than prayer. When we are in constant communion with God, we not only feel His nearness (which, of course, is always present, whether we feel it or not :), but we gain strength to do His will, are empowered to stand our ground through temptation, and are encouraged, refreshed, and uplifted by the loving conversation we enjoy with our Abba Father. May our hearts rise in fellowship to our Father increasingly every day! If we do, our joy WILL be full, regardless of what life brings our way.


4. Failure to Reach Out to Others--Self-Focus

As the big sister of many siblings, I am daily surrounded with hundreds of opportunities to find joy in extending God's grace and serving others--and I know that it is due to my own selfishness that I miss so many of them! There are so many times I look back over my day and realize that I could have given so much more to my siblings in my time, my energy, and my love. Little kindnesses and encouraging words can go so far!
           The issue here is self-interest. It's a focus on what I would like to do with my time, energy, and emotions instead of a focus on finding ways I can GIVE AWAY my time, energy and emotions as a blessing to others. But spreading the love and knowledge of Christ is one of the sweetest privileges we enjoy as Believers! Words often fail to express the joy gained in working alongside the Lord (in prayer or in physical service), and watching His healing, transforming, guiding hand in action. 
         When I strive to meet the needs of others before having mine met, I am only following the beautiful example of my Lord and Savior, Who poured Himself out unto death (Isaiah 53:12) for me. How I need to be willing to extend the love of Christ in whatever ways He directs me--without reservation! I’m praying for a tender, willing, self-forgetful heart!
        


IT REALLY JUST COMES down to where our eyes are looking--because where are our eyes are, our hearts will soon follow. Are we looking to our circumstances, Hollywood, other people, or our selfish desires? Or are we looking unto Christ--our All-mighty God, Savior, Beloved friend, and Source of all Joy? If we are looking unto HIM moment by moment--if HE is the desire of our hearts, our first love, and the Lord of all of our thoughts and desires--we will have no need left unmet. Our joy will be full. As He Himself told us:

"Taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
Fear the Lord, you His holy people,
For those who fear Him LACK NOTHING."

(Psalm 34:8-9)