It’s a tough pill to swallow- accepting that God is more concerned about our heart than our accomplishments. We’ve been hoodwinked. Prosperity gospels and “self-help” gurus teach us that God is devoted to (and even obsessed) with making us successful. We’re tricked into believing that the accolades, the money, the stature is informing God’s plans for us. On the other side, self-deprecating “gospels” ensure that God doesn’t care at all. He’s indifferent about us and all that we can look forward to are suffering and apathy. That, sisters, are also a lie.
Like I said… it’s a hard pill to swallow that God is concerned with us knowing Him and making Him known. It’s tough to acknowledge that the conduit to this… is the heart’s condition and position.
How is your hearts condition? The heart is an impressionable thing- pain, loss, rejection, and trauma impress upon our hearts. Similarly, love, acceptance, compassion and laughter impact the condition and well being of our hearts too! The heart informs how we show up in our jobs, our relationships and most importantly, with God. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Everything you do?! the Bible isn’t hyperbolic. It means what it says. That means the guy you flicked off on the freeway, the kind words you speak to a homeless woman… it all stems from the heart’s condition. Scripture also says in Proverbs 27:19, "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man”.
How’s your heart’s position? How many times have secret resentments pulled you away from a conversation with him? How often do life’s fleeting pleasures (like social media likes & followers) convince us that God’s love is secondary? Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” How many times have our hearts’ treasures pulled us away from a close position and intimacy with God? The farther away we stray from God, the harder it is to hear His voice.
There’s good news. The purification of your heart and the restoration of intimacy isn’t done within your power! There aren’t enough books, podcast episodes, or conferences to replace God’s influence. Those things are supplements. Spending time with God is powerful. If you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is within you! Spend time with Him, spend time in His word, carve out time to talk with Him. Your heart will thank you for it.
