Category: Heart Matters

My word for the year was focus.

At first I thought it was about finding my focus. But then I realized that it wasn’t so much about finding my focus. It was about making a more conscious decision in regards to what I choose to focus on.

I choose where I focus my eyes. I choose what my thoughts dwell on. I choose what task to set my hands to. I choose what I listen to.

But we have to ask ourselves…Do I choose correctly?

Not always.

We may start out with good intentions. But whenever you try to focus on something distraction comes. And that’s where we have to make a decision. Will we try to focus harder, even if it means we have to strain our eyes to see, or will we allow ourselves to be distracted? Will we go where distraction leads us?

Distraction is one of the tools Satan uses expertly. He knows exactly which carrot to dangle before you. He knows your weaknesses. He knows what will derail you.

IF YOU LET IT!!

Perhaps it’s time we stood our ground and showed him our strength.

May he know that (we) can do all things through Christ who strengthens (us). Philippians 4:13.

May he know that we stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and (will) not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1.

The verse I was given for 2020 was Habakkuk 2:1-4.

I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul it not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.

You must:

• Position yourself to hear God’s voice.
• Meet with God in prayer regularly.
• Look for God to speak.
• Listen for the word of the Lord.
• Keep record of what God says.
• Wait for God to bring it to pass.

Your message:

• Must be written/told.
• Must be clear.
• Must be motivating and encouraging.

The messenger/you:

• Must be patient.
• Has an appointed time.
• Accepts delays.
• Humbly lives by faith.
• Is obedient.
• Studies the word.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance that race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.” Matthew 27:32

I awoke this morning with these verses repeating through my mind. In my minds eye I could see it.

Jesus carrying His cross, His body already wounded and dripping and slippery with the sweat and blood and the tears pouring out, His legs buckling under the weight of His cross, under the weight of our sin, the weight of our shame, the weight of our brokenness, the weight of our suffering, the weight of our cares. The weight of the whole world from the beginning to the end, past present and future.

He could have carried His cross alone. He really could have, He had it within Him and still has it within Him to carry His cross alone. But He knew we needed Simon of Cyrene’s example. And oh to be Simon.

I can see it, Simon picking up the cross and following Jesus. Jesus’ blood already pouring down the cross and Simon’s grip gets slippery. Simon the first to receive a covering of Jesus’ blood. Simon the first to pick up the cross and follow Him.

Though the weight is enormous, Jesus still says today “cast it on Me, cast it all on Me, cast every weight on Me, I can still bear the weight of it all, it’s not yours to carry, I can handle it, My yoke is easy and My burden is light”.

The world is a better place because you are in it!!

God declared that over you the very moment He breathed life into Adam and Eve.

Genesis chapter 1 brings us the creation story. The story of how our world came to be and how we came to be on it.

At the end of day 1 (Genesis 1:4) He looked at everything He created and He said it was good.

At the end of day 2 (Genesis 1:10)  He looked at everything He created and He said it was good.

At the end of day 3 (Genesis 1:12) He looked at everything He created and He said it was good.

At the end of day 4 (Genesis 1:18) He looked at everything He created and He said it was good.

At the end of day 5 (Genesis 1:21) He looked at everything He created and He said it was good.

At the BEGINNING of day 6 (Genesis 1:25) He looked at everything He created and He said it was good.

At the END of day 6 (Genesis 1:31) He looked at YOU and He said it was VERY GOOD.

In one days time His opinion of His creation went from just good to very good.

And all because He created YOU!!

In Genesis 1:26-28 He decided that this good world He created needed something more; It needed YOU!  So He made you to look like Him.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

He looks at this good world He created and sees His fingerprints but then He looks at you and sees His face.

Just like a newborn baby is a reflection of its parents, we are a reflection of the Father.

When people look at you do they see His face?

Do they see  His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His gentleness, His goodness, His faith, His gentleness, His temperance?

God see’s it all and He see’s you and He calls it beautiful!

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs to it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

These words have been a repetitive whisper all week. A constant reminder that the Name above all names is here.

Jesus is the name. Jesus is the strong tower. Jesus is the sanctuary.

Sanctuary: A place of refuge or safety. Shelter. Hiding place. Protection. Security.

In medieval times of battle people ran to the high towers of the castle to seek safety from the advancing enemy. They could see the enemy coming. They could see how much time they had to prepare for the coming battle. They could see how much time they had to sharpen their weaponry and strengthen their armor. They refused to go down without a fight and they refused to go into battle unprepared.

There was a day when one could run into a church building and claim sanctuary. The law and the government couldn’t touch them there because it was thought to be holy ground. A person could hide in the sanctuary.

Jesus is the shelter from the storm. Jesus is the place of refuge. Jesus is the hiding place.

Jesus is my covering, my shield, my hiding place, my sanctuary.

So today I run to Jesus; today I claim sanctuary.

Don’t walk, don’t crawl, run. Run like your life depends on it because it does.

I glance out the patio door between sips of morning coffee and I can’t help but notice it.

The oak tree holds on to what’s gone, holds on to what’s dead.

The cold winter breeze whispers through the branches like a gentle reminder that its time to let go. Past time to let go. And it stirs deep within my soul.

Fall into wintry death and life springs up new.

Let go of what was and hold on to What is.

Let go because I won’t let you go.

Let go to set free.

Die to live.

Die to self and find life in Me.

We all must go through seasons of the heart. There are things He’s asking us to let go of. Things He’s asking us to die to.

But we’re like the oak tree. We hold on.

We hold on because we’re afraid. We hold on because of uncertainty. We hold on because of all the what ifs satan whispers in our ears. We hold on because letting go feels uncomfortable.

Hold onto anger and bitterness takes root. Let it go and love pours in.

Hold onto doubt and fear takes hold. Let it go and peace floods in.

Paul said:

Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain. ”

1 Corinthians 15:31

“I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

Be a Paul today. What is God asking you to lay down and die to?

We must experience the death of winter to experience the life of spring.

Let go and let God.