My Son, Give Me Your Heart (Prov. 23:26)
We live in a day when it is common to hear that someone had their heart broken because their beloved team lost a close game. Or perhaps someone fell out of love with someone and had their heart broken. Every week we can see episodes where people give their heart to a new lover in a TV dramatic series. Recently, Frank Gifford gave his heart to his mistress and had every detail splashed over the pages of a tabloid for the world to see infuriating his wife Kathy Lee Gifford. Whoever has one’s heart controls that person.
Which biblical character’s spiritual journey most resembles your own?
David—"I love the Lord, but I’ve failed him.": 48%
Esther—"So that’s why God put me here!": 13%
Jonah—"I’ve been known to run away from God.": 11%
Martha—"Lord, look at all this work I’m doing!": 10%
Paul—"God blindsided me when I least expected it.": 7%
Jabez—"God has truly ’expanded my territory.’: 6%
The Rich Young Ruler—"I’ve got to give up what?": 3%
Peter—"Jesus? Who are you talking about?": 2%
Total number: 1,083
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However, the Lord wants us to give Him our heart as the one we love, worship and obey above all others. The heart is the seat of worship, commitment and affection. Whoever we give our heart to determines our primary allegiance. The following are some guidelines for giving your heart completely to the Lord:
Song: Take my heart Oh God. Make it ever new. Take my heart Oh God. Let me be like You. You are the Potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me. This is what I pray.
1. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS ATTRIBUTES - Praise the Lord for His love, fulfillment and full satisfaction. David wrote, "In your presence is fullness of joy and in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psa 16:9-11) The more we praise God for His grace, joy, and satisfying presence the more our heart will fall in love with Him.
2. GIVE THANKS - Thank God that He heals the brokenhearted and sets the captives free. (Isa 61:1,2) Make a list of all the many wonderful things God gives you: your redemption, love, forgiveness, faith, purpose, plans, provisions, prospects, protection, hope, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Be thankful for the good things you have the good things you have are for many just a dream. So be thankful for the good things that you have.
3. MEMORIZE AND MEDITATE - Hide God’s word in your heart. The Psalmist wrote, "How can a young man keep his way pure, by keeping it according to your word. Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psa 119:9,11) Meditate on God’s word by memorizing it, reflect on it and apply it to your life in all ways.
4. GUARD YOUR HEART - Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life. (Prov. 4:23) Learn to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love giving preference to one another in honor. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. Know that the devil and all that is evil seeks to steal, slaughter, kill and destroy your heart but only Jesus can give you life abundantly. (John 10:10) Take up the full armor of God so you can stand in the evil day. Put on the breastplate of righteousness to guard your heart. (Eph. 6:10-18)
5. BE HAPPY - A happy heart makes the face cheerful but heartache crushes the spirit. (Prov. 15:13) Be happy in the Lord by singing songs and taking a walk so you can meditate, pray and worship the Lord with your whole heart, soul, strength and mind. Make a conscious effort to rejoice in the Lord always. Remember that the joy of the Lord is your health, strength and recharger of your heart. (Neh. 8:10)
6. SEEK DISCERNMENT. "The discerning heart seeks knowledge but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly." (Prov. 15:14) Gain discerning knowledge by listening to Godly people and putting into practice what you are learning. "But solid food is for the mature who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." (Heb. 5:14)
7. UNDERSTAND THE TENDENCIES OF YOUR HEART - Know that the heart is subtle, deceitful and full of deadly wickedness. (Jer 17:9) Do not trust your heart, but only God and His word. Many people who try to trust their own intution, feelings and heart felt emotions are led into self-destructive practices, thinking and attitudes.
8. REMEMBER SOLOMON’S TRAGIC MISTAKE - "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of David his father had been." (I Kings 11:4) The older we get the more we have to continue to press on for the upward call in Christ Jesus and fight the good fight of faith as Paul did. Otherwise, we all tend to fall into complacency and drift into whatever is comfortable.
9. BE DISCRETE WITH YOUR HEART’S SPEECH - Jesus said, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be gad. for a tree is recognized by its fruit... For otu of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of good stored up in him but the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matt 12:33-35)Develop Godly character and let it flow in all aspects of your conversations and relationships. This means spend plenty of time in God’s word every morning asking the Lord to fill your heart with what is true, noble, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable and praise-worthy. (Phil. 4;8)
10. DO NOT LET OTHERS BREAK YOUR HEART - Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Eph. 6:10) James Taylor wrote, "They’ll break your heart if you let them, but don’t you let them. You just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I’ll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall. All you’ve got to do is call and I’ll be there, to see you again." That is the way Jesus comes to each of us if we will call upon in prayer. REalize that there are many mean people who like to project their anger, hurt or frustration on to you. Do not let them break or hardened your heart.
11. BE PURE IN HEART - Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matt 5:8) Ask the Lord to cleanse your heart, mind, soul, and body so you can be pure within and without enabling you to have a more intimate communion with the Lord. Without purity of motives we cannot see God or experience the revealing of His will to our mind, will and emotions.
12. GIVE GOD THE BURDENS OF YOUR HEART - "Cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you." (I Pet. 5:7) After you have suffered for a little while realize that the God of all grace who calls us will Himself confirm you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there. Quit worrying about that which you cannot control. Pray, "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
13. BE OF ONE HEART WITH GODLY BELIEVERS - In Acts 4:32 it was said, "All the believers were of one heart and mind and they glorified God." Ask the Lord to give you friends, godly companions and Christians to be unified with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. Pursue righteousness, godliness, love, faith and peace with godly people in Christian fellowship and service. You will tend to become like the people you most associate with.
14. LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART - Jesus said, "You shall the love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27) Put away all the loves of the world, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life as these are false gods. Love the Lord more as you speak the truth in love and grow up into all aspects into Christlikeness.
Song: 1. Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
2. Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
3. Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
