A Heart For Jesus

  “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”  Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV  I notice three directives in this verse We are to continue steadfastly in prayer   We are to be watchful in it And we are to be thankful  Continue steadfastly in prayer…not always easy when you don’t see any change. When you feel like your prayers fall on deaf ears. When you’re not sure God even hears; sees or cares. But in Luke 18:1, Jesus says we should always pray and not lose heart. Someone said to me one time that God doesn’t answer prayers, I let the comment slide, but later thought how sad to feel that way. Although sometimes I do wonder. But just because He doesn’t answer a prayer the way we think He should does that mean it’s not an answer? Just because a circumstance seems to stay the same does it mean He isn’t working? And maybe the answer is found in a change in us instead of the circumstance or person we may be praying for?  Isaiah 55:8-9 says...

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ I have reflected on this verse many times, but today something different stood out for me.  We destroy. The KJV says, “casting down imaginations”; NIV says, “demolish”. Regardless, what is it we are to destroy? Arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God. So I had to ask myself, what arguments and lofty opinions do I need to destroy in my own thought life that are raised against the knowledge of the God I know? Then I need to bring those thoughts into captivity. You can’t destroy something if you don’t take it captive!  Then there’s bringing those thoughts to the obedience of Christ. This part is what’s difficult for me. What exactly does that mean? What does that look like? As an example: the thought, “I bring nothing to the table”. I need to destroy this argument because it is against what I b...

  ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬ October 22nd will mark one year since my mom’s passing. She was 95 and had a good life, and accumulated a lot of stuff! It took my sister and I about two and a half days to clean out her apartment.    Most went to Salvation Army and Goodwill, some to the lady who cleaned her apartment and a lot to the dumpster. Which gave me pause when everything was done. What is it all for? A life of accumulating stuff and it all ends up in a thrift shop somewhere or a dumpster? Why do we hold onto so much stuff?  In John 10:10 Jesus said that He came to give us life and that we might have this life abundantly. So what does abundant life look like th...

  “You, too, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”  James‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ What does it mean to “establish your heart”? The word “establish” means “to firmly set in place, make stable, confirm, or make permanent.” I like the definition “firmly set in place,” which reminds me of how my husband sets the anchor when we’re fishing, ensuring we don’t drift off our “honey hole.” Charles Stanley has a life principle that states, “God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.”(Life Principle  #3) In times of trouble or difficulties, when the trials of life pile up and you feel overwhelmed, what do you cling to? What do you rely on to help you navigate through these challenges? This life principle promises that God’s Word is an immovable anchor. In Hebrews 6:19, we are reminded, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” This anchor is Jesus! He is the one we can count on to guide us through any challenges we face. Li...

  “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.””  ‭‭2Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬ For context, this verse was delivered to Asa by Hanani, a seer at the time. Asa ruled over the tribe of Judah. Initially, he was a virtuous king, faithful to the Lord. He dismantled the idols and Asherim, commanded Judah to seek the Lord, and even removed his mother’s idols. He sought the Lord, and the Lord granted him victories over his adversaries. The Scriptures even state that there were no wars until the 35th year of his reign. However, Asa’s heart hardened towards the Lord, he ceased seeking His guidance, and he was confronted by Hanani, leading to our verse for today. (See 2Chronicles chapters 14-16) “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” In Isaiah 43:4, God declares, “…you are precious in my eyes, ho...