Heart in His Presence

11-17-09

Proverbs 15:11

The presence of the Lord is noted for Love, Holiness and Awe. These forces speak to pleasant qualities. In contrast, wickedness, hell and destruction are seldom recognized as forces to inhabit the presence of the Lord. Proverbs tells that these seldom recognized forces along with the heart of man as being in the presence of the Lord.

An obvious question comes to mind, what are hell and destruction doing in the presence of the Lord? Why would a loving Lord want them around Him? Hell is a place known for punishment and torment. Destruction speaks of devastation and misfortune. To thinks that these would be able to be in the presence of the Lord is unprecedented. In fact, it is believed that they are contrary to what the Lord represents so He would look at them negatively. The Lord created all things and it is from Him all things have existence. Even though hell and destruction have such negative implications they have a place in His presence and His control over them is never lost.

If hell and destruction are in the presence of the Lord, then according to Proverbs the heart of men are also in His presence. All that is in the heart, wickedness included, is not hid. The Lord sees and knows it all. He knows exactly what position in His presence our hearts occupy. Whether we believe it or not, the position we occupy in His presence is an indication of what is in our heart. When ever I don’t feel or think I am good enough I tend to hide or shy back away from His presence. Perhaps you can relate to sitting in the back of the church, not wanting to get involved or denying an opportunity to take a lead.

Truth be told, of ourselves we can never be good enough but that’s the beauty of the faith in grace. This is not a feeling or state of mind; instead it is a status that says we are as good as we need to be. Proverbs wants us to grasp the point where there is no doubt in our minds that the Lord who has hell and destruction in His presence also has our hearts and all that is in it. His presence is more than a place of worship; it is also a place of realization where we are exposed to the truth of who we are in relation to Him. Beyond the mask and fictions behavior, all hearts are open and exposed. This realization takes place not that He might see us, but that we might be made aware that He sees us and this awareness would prompt us to return to our rightful place, the place not threaten by hell and destruction.

The Heart and Knowledge

11-06-09

Proverbs 15:7

Knowledge is like live imprint designed to inhabit humans. By inhabiting knowledge provides an intellectual hold on the things that affect day to day life. With knowledge we are able to respond confidently. Proverbs describes what the wise and foolish do with knowledge.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. When the wise speak, the intellectual hold that they have on the things that affect life is shared. Three notable reasons; the first being, people can only speak from what they have in them. The wise has knowledge. In fact, it is their ability to handle knowledge that makes them wise. Because they have knowledge speaking release what they have in them. The second reason why the wise disperse knowledge is because of the abundant supply. The presence of knowledge does not get depleted in the wise. Therefore the wise is not conservative when it comes to sharing that knowledge. The third reason why is found in the nature of knowledge. Knowledge does not like to be confined. In fact conditions where there is an absence of knowledge acts as suction for knowledge.

The presence of knowledge, the nature of knowledge and the suction for knowledge contributes to the sharing of knowledge from the wise. The heart of the foolish is not the same. Even though the heart represents a more concentrated source of power, when operated foolishly it cannot produce the same results. The reason being the foolish by nature is not receptive to knowledge. The foolish does not receive instruction so knowledge is lacking and there is no enough to disperse.

God in His design of mankind place in us an organism capable of holding the potential needed for life. By following God any human is able to release the potential for a life filled with wisdom, peace and love. All it takes is a heart surrendered and committed to God. From this commitment God fills our heart with His presence, and Word. This Word activates and releases potential as needed in a way that promotes and edifies His glorious name.

A Sound Heart is Life

11-12-09

Proverbs 14:30
A sound heart is a heart of substance. It is filled with qualities which provide the vitality needed in life. From a heart of substance a foundation of truth is established on which life can be built. A sound heart is a heart with its values aligned to bring about continued existence. It has the beliefs that will enable an in-pouring of life. This means that the intellect, emotions and will are all structured to support and facilitate what comes from the Life giver.

A sound heart is a channel of provision. This heart enables unction to be transported to the flesh. It works in advance to ensure the measures are taken to prepare the channels needed for the flesh’s continuance. A sound heart is not damaged but in good condition. It is sensible, reliable and acceptable by most. A heart of this sort keeps life in high spirits, energized and adaptable to the vicissitudes.

Envy, on the other hand, causes the bones to rotten. It is a form of moral corruption and when at work in the heart it causes the beliefs and values to be unstable. Envy penetrates into the structure and support system causing it to go bad. The instability produced weakens life’s ability to withstand the ups and downs.

The challenges we face in life are so real they can bring about major changes introducing us to a mode of living we have never seen before. Having a heart capable of dealing with every challenge involves advance foresight and in depth planning. Such a task can only be done by one who has the ability to see both the past and the future at the same time. With this sight a source can be created to adequately face and triumph forever. The sound heart is that source.

Thank You Lord for equipping us with all that we need to enable us to get the fullness out of life.

Heart to Heart

11-10-09

Proverbs 14:13
Laughter is commonly associated with joy and happiness. To laugh signifies some sort of amusement. It is good when a person laugh because with it comes a release from emotional tension. Even though the heart may laugh, Proverbs tells us of the sorrow the heart has and at the end of all the confusion heaviness remains.

The presence of sorrow puts weight upon the heart. Sometimes that weight is so heavy laughter from happy occasions is unable to completely lift the heaviness. Whenever a great loss is experienced it is hard to laugh. For some the heaviness may last a week, some for months and others for years. Some people live their lives day by day with heaviness. They wear it on their faces, express it in their voices and have traces of it in the interaction with others.

Some have a hard time ridding themselves of the heaviness; so many unanswered questions and unexplained circumstances. The ‘ifs’ and ‘whys’ are like big trees blown down across the path of life blocking the acceptance of certain truths, limiting the level of belief and robbing relationships of its intimacy. The good times we were meant to have cannot be enjoyed like it should when there is blockage. Life will not be lived, it will only be endured.

The heart sitting as the core of our existence is a true representation of where we are, what we are dealing with and the forces that are at work. Although as pretentious as we may try to be the heart hold the true identity of what we have as our reality. At the end of the pretentious game the heart reminds us our reality is still the same and until we honestly face the issues in the heart the heaviness will remain.

God has the answers to lift the heaviness that weighs the heart down. He alone can move us past the experience that block our path and enable us to live life full and free fill with prosperity.

The Heart Knows

11-09-09

Proverbs 14:10
The heart is aware of its contents. The situations that cause joy or pain, the moments where laughter or sadness were experienced and the incidents that brought happiness or frustration are all clearly known by the heart. The heart can relay a vivid picture of its emotions because it knows itself best.

A stranger is the one who have not had similar situations, moments and incidents. They are not able to be apart of the joy that stems from those experiences. Although their experience they may explain their words to a stranger are a portrait of reality. Unless you have been in it you will not have the mental faculties, emotional triggers and willful impulses that made the experiences a reality. Without these you are a stranger in their domain who can only hear but not share. The heart with the experience is the heart that knows.

There is a certain type of knowledge that is gain from having to deal with or live in a bad situation. The impact and power of this knowledge has a penetrating hold so deep that only those who are in it are aware of its existence. The knowledge takes on personal characteristics, it is able to relate and communicate directly and vividly to an individual through a scent, color, sound or image. Other persons could be looking at the same color or hearing the same song but because they don’t have the same experience they are unable to relate. It is this sort of experience that is known by the heart.

There are emotions words can not explain, for these tears will drain. The mind may encounter mental blockage, for this there is a sigh or a scream. Perhaps at times the ability to choose may freeze limiting use from what we please and if that is not enough decisions has its way of making life so tough. The complication in life will always drain you and although through the mouth the heart may explain the words are a mere portrait of the reality attained. The heart with the experience is the heart that knows.

Your Dream Your Hand

11-07-09

Proverbs 13:12
Do you realize most of your ability to fulfill your dreams is in your hand? You have the resources you need to have your dreams fulfilled. Even when your dreams involve others who may not cooperate, you can still fulfill your dreams. Your creativity affords you alternative means to bring the dreams to fruition. You have a guide that shows you the way and encourages you along that way. The fulfilling of your dream is mostly up to you.

So what about the ‘most’? What happen to the other parts? Well as a child of God He reserves the right to withhold any dream that does not work for your well being. This occurs in rare situations. But as God’s child your dreams are already screened by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. If you have a dream it has been pre-cleared by God. The dreams that are not of God, you know them because your conscience tells you what they are and why they are not acceptable. You can force them into your life but you will only end up hurting yourself.

So what are you waiting for? Get on with it and start living and enjoying the dream as you are guided by the spirit of God.

Sick Heart: Hope Delayed

11-07-09

Proverbs 13:12
Life is so much richer with good health. Having a healthy life begins with a healthy heart. Proverbs tells us about the impact delayed hope has on the heart. This knowledge serves as a guide in setting the health conditions upon the heart.

How does hope interact with the heart? Hope sets in us an expectation to which we are drawn. Indirectly it forms an appetite that waits to be filled. This appetite enables us to confront the life challenges as it move toward fulfillment. With hope the future is always brighter and more rewarding. The presence of hope releases a supply of energy that equips us with the drive to get to the next level. The next level where life seems livable, goals seem achievable, promises seem receivable, journeys seem reachable, challenges seem overcomeable, hard times seem passable and enemies seem defeatable as long as there is hope.

When hope is delayed or cancelled the heart becomes sick. Having invested love into a relationship, effort into a job or money into a project only to find out the results will not come as expected brings feelings of disappointment that the investment was not worth it. Unfortunately there are no refunds or exchanges. This happened to me when an employer I worked for six months decided they were not going to pay. The disappointment provided a lesson that established a rule that governed all other employments. The rules acted as a form of protection for my heart. No one likes the expectation to be disappointed because of the negativity it brings.

On the other hand, when the desire comes it is a source of life. Desires are connected closely with life. Having a desire fulfilled beings satisfaction, excitement, confidence, energy and health. The journey toward a fulfilling desire will probably have difficult and discouraging moments, but when the journey is completed maturity is increased. By looking back and realizing how the difficulty and discouragements were overcome elevates us to a level beyond the level of that challenge. A similar challenge would not be as alarming or as challenging.

The existence of completed desires is a source of life. The more desire fulfilled the more of life you have to draw from. Keep the hope alive.

The Glad Heart

11-06-09

Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness has it affect but a good word has it affect as well. A glad heart is the answer to a stooped heart. The format of Proverbs suggests that the heaviness in the heart that weighs down can be lifted by a good word into a glad heart. A good word makes the heart glad. A good word is not necessarily good because of what it says. It is good because of what it does. A good word is gladness wrapped up in power. The impact of the word is not only heard but felt. This word makes changes within in a way that produces a glad heart. For some that change may be a sign of hope, to another a breath of refreshment, to another an arm of comfort wrapped tightly around, to another an arm of support resting on the shoulder, the answer to a pressing issue, a conformation or a listening hear.

Regardless of how bad the situation the good word has its way of making us better in the situation. With it we are better able to face it, to cope with it, to go through it, to do it. The heart becomes glad and you are able to face life anew. A glad heart is a heart that is filled with goodness. It radiates this goodness into an attitude that positively impacts life and those around.

• A glad heart is a heart that is positioned above its concern. It is not worried or over taken by the issues that press upon it. Instead it excels to a level that easily answers the issues.
• A glad heart is a heart that trumped and defeated its challenges. It is not without enemies and it is not without challenges. But it confronts these adversaries with a conquering joy so much so that the activities in the confrontation are effortlessly successful.
• A glad heart is a heart that energizes us with an attitude that brings pleasure and excitement about the future.
With a glad heart life is the greatest gift a person can have. It all can begin with a good word. GIVE ME THE WORD, THE GOOD WORD OF GOD.

The Stooped Heart

11-06-09

Proverbs 12:25
What is in the heart has a way of physically taking its toll. Proverbs exposes us to the physical affect heaviness and a good word has on the heart. Heaviness has a way of piling itself upon you. In some instances you may not even realize it is there until it starts to take its toll. Have you ever been depressed but can’t find the reason why? Got a lot on your mind and feeling run down? Can’t seem to keep up with life the way you use to? Had a series of unpleasant news? Busy, busy, busy but getting nowhere? These are a few conditions that make the heart heavy.

Bad news has a way of bringing heaviness in the heart. I remember while I was in college sitting at the desk in my apartment room and hearing the news that my loving grand mother had passed. It brought a sharp numbing pain in my heart that pause everything. I could not see past that devastation it was like tomorrow never existed; perhaps you to can relate to the heaviness that came when you heard the bad news of someone loving, someone close. It knocks the relevance out of everything and brings the heart to a point where simple everyday tasks are difficult. Bad news can bring heaviness in the heart weighing it down to where life seems impossible.

When the heart is heavy it stoops, it is weighed down.
• The stooped heart is a physical sign that the heart has become overwhelmed by what’s in it.
• The stooped heart changes the paste of life in that you are not able to do as you would normally do.
• The stooped heart rearranges your focus. The thoughts you were so engaged in no longer hold priority, instead the physical conditions becomes priority.
The stooped heart is a physical affect to an internal condition. The answer for the stooped heart is found in the Word of God and give through a ‘Glad Heart’ (look at the next blog).