Jane
Scriptures:
Psalm 62:8 Proverbs 16:1 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Psalm 10:17 Psalm 28:7 Psalm 28:7 I Chronicles 16:34 Proverbs 3:5-6 Psalm 27:14 I Peter 1:13 Psalm 20:4 I Samuel 16:7 Psalm 51:10
AS CHRISTIANS WHAT DOES PREPARING OUR HEARTS MEAN?
Preparing our hearts can be compared to preparing the soil ready for plants. One must remove weeds, grass, thorns, stones, and bugs to prepare the soil for plants to be able to grow and flourish. As with us the Lord wants us to prepare our hearts through confessing our sins, giving any anxieties, worries and concerns we may have over to our to God. This can be hard work and is a continual process. As with plants you have to continually weed, nurture and look after the plants. Preparing our hearts is an ongoing process and allows God to work through us and within us.
HOW THEN CAN WE PREPARE OUR HEARTS?
By maintaining regular and consistent time with God. Through prayer, worship, reading the Bible, learning scripture, meditating on scripture, fellowship with other Christians, are all ways we can prepare our hearts. Being in a place where we can allow God to work within us and through us. In the Psalms David constantly turned to God in prayer to prepare his heart. We can pray God will open our hearts, to hear what it is God is saying to us. In Psalm 28:7 we read “The Lord is my strength and my shield, I trust him with all of my heart.” In Proverbs 3-5 it says to “trust in the Lord with all of my heart”.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE PREPARED?
Like a garden, if the soil is prepared, the plants will grow and flourish. If our hearts are prepared, so we too can grow and flourish. In Psalm 51:10 we read “create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me”. God can purify our hearts, allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us and through us. The Light of Jesus will shine, the Love of God will flow out of us and Gods joy and peace will be apparent. Others will be drawn to this Light, Love Joy and Peace.
As a child I learnt this chorus: - “In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of heavenly harmony, in my heart there rings a melody of love. Jesus, Jesus sweetest Name I know fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.”
Hearts that are open, that are prepared and receive from God, will be fruitful. These hearts will be like beautiful flowers in full bloom.
Prayer: Lord, we pray that you will prepare our hearts to receive what it is that our Lord has planned for us. Guide us in how we need to prepare our hearts. Then, oh Lord, may our prepared hearts become the bearers of Your love, Your hope, Your grace, and Your peace as we bless and minister to others. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen
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