Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Another Glimpse at the Heart Behind Making His Name Glorious


Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, 
and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, 
and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." 
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 
"I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways,
 according to the fruit of his deeds."

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:5-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬





I angrily snapped at my husband for questioning my motives. I’d had a day of seeking wisdom from the Lord and others, and eventually attempting to reach out to someone who was hurting, both of which I recognize as being "good" things to do. I mentioned in my text to the woman that I had a fair amount of flexibility in my schedule, as I am down to one child at home, and have time for ministry and for studying for counseling certification. 

I thought nothing of those statements - just thought I was stating some facts. But at his questioning, I had to admit a sense of  “needing” to explain to a woman employed outside of the home that I was not the “Roseanne” stereotype, staying home and watching (or living) soap operas, meddling in other’s business, or otherwise wasting my life away. 

Upon further contemplation, I realized that while my (revealed) intent had not been to draw attention to myself, I had mistakenly done so.  That said, I knew that my first step must be to confess sin - newly revealed - to God, who already knows. His Word clearly reminds me that my heart is and will be deceitful. 


Keep your heart with all vigilance,for from it flow the springs of life. 
Proverbs 4:23

My heart is both redeemed and being redeemed. And, the Only One worthy of glory is, always has been, and always will be God. I can hardly wait for the day when I no longer wear this flesh but am completely restored to be who He always intended for me to be - pure, blameless, walking in constant fellowship with him in a manner that is “naked and unashamed” with nothing to hide (as if that was possible),  and with nothing to confess. But until then, I am and will forever remain grateful for my husband and my close friends, who lovingly speak Truth to me, encouraging me along the way. 




And I am sure of thisthat he who began a good work in you will bring it tocompletion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

God ... saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works 
but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 
and which has now been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel ... But I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.
2 Timothy 1:9, 10, 12

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: 
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, 
for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, 
and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. 
In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? 
For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, 
and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided
 for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.
 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. 
In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, 
and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.


1 Chronicles 29:10-17