AWE + WONDER - THE POSTURE OF OUR HEARTS
THE POSTURE OF OUR HEARTS
Any given day surprises can pop up from any direction. A phone call from the Dr; a text message from a family member; memo from the boss; an email from a co-worker. Things happen that can catch us off guard. We’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating, we cannot control the things that happen to us, but we can control how we respond to them.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
This scripture is saying what is inside of us comes out of us and directs the course of our lives. We find this to be true especially under pressure or unexpected circumstances! We can find countless examples of this scripture lived out in the Bible but because we are a week away from Christmas let's take a look at the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The visit from the angel was quite unexpected! The angel tells her she will give birth to the Son of God, and this news comes with knowing she has never been with a man. I’m sure we would have all the questions; how's, why’s, what do you means??? But how does Mary respond? Let’s read the scripture together in Luke.
Luke 1:38
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The only way Mary could have responded in this manner to such unexpected and life altering news was she had the scriptures stored in her heart and she had a trusted relationship with God. Mary understood a submitted, worship-filled life and she lived it out every day. She didn’t just talk the talk; she walked the walk. This encounter is proof of that. It is why God knew she would say yes!
The posture of our heart matters. Do we have a worship-filled heart set on God, His goodness and faithfulness, or are we focused on the things and ways of this world? The doom and gloom we can find by scrolling on social media or watching the news can fill our hearts with fear, trepidation, anger and outbursts. Filling our hearts with God’s word every day will give us peace, joy, love, steadiness and hope.
A very practical way to protect our heart is by protecting our eyes and ears. When we keep our focus on God's Word we lay our own lives down; we live a life of worship in every way and others see the fruit of that in the way we live.
Action: Take an inventory of your heart this week. Are you taking in God's word every day and filling yourself with His words or do social outlets and the news take precedence? We will be full of what we fill ourselves with so let’s be extra mindful this week and set our hearts to have a posture of worship in every circumstance. We may just set some new habits as we head into the new year.
Scriptures: Proverbs 4:23, Luke 1:26-38, Joshua 1:8-9, Psalm 51:10
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
This scripture is saying what is inside of us comes out of us and directs the course of our lives. We find this to be true especially under pressure or unexpected circumstances! We can find countless examples of this scripture lived out in the Bible but because we are a week away from Christmas let's take a look at the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The visit from the angel was quite unexpected! The angel tells her she will give birth to the Son of God, and this news comes with knowing she has never been with a man. I’m sure we would have all the questions; how's, why’s, what do you means??? But how does Mary respond? Let’s read the scripture together in Luke.
Luke 1:38
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The only way Mary could have responded in this manner to such unexpected and life altering news was she had the scriptures stored in her heart and she had a trusted relationship with God. Mary understood a submitted, worship-filled life and she lived it out every day. She didn’t just talk the talk; she walked the walk. This encounter is proof of that. It is why God knew she would say yes!
The posture of our heart matters. Do we have a worship-filled heart set on God, His goodness and faithfulness, or are we focused on the things and ways of this world? The doom and gloom we can find by scrolling on social media or watching the news can fill our hearts with fear, trepidation, anger and outbursts. Filling our hearts with God’s word every day will give us peace, joy, love, steadiness and hope.
A very practical way to protect our heart is by protecting our eyes and ears. When we keep our focus on God's Word we lay our own lives down; we live a life of worship in every way and others see the fruit of that in the way we live.
Action: Take an inventory of your heart this week. Are you taking in God's word every day and filling yourself with His words or do social outlets and the news take precedence? We will be full of what we fill ourselves with so let’s be extra mindful this week and set our hearts to have a posture of worship in every circumstance. We may just set some new habits as we head into the new year.
Scriptures: Proverbs 4:23, Luke 1:26-38, Joshua 1:8-9, Psalm 51:10
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