The Heart of the Matter

As I look back on this past year, I think of the struggles I’ve had, struggles I’ve asked God to help me with.  Things are brought to my mind such as my tongue, attitude towards my husband and children, contentment, not so sweet responses, lack of diligence in areas of my home, submission, trusting my husband’s decisions, worldly desires, patience in training my children, my expectations….I  could go on and on.  But, each time as I prayed for the Lord to forgive me, and then help me, I kept finding He would point me to verses about my heart.  Verses like Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Deuteronomy 4:39 “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart,  that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath:  there is none else.” And Deuteronomy  8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness to humble thee,  and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”  These verses seemed to jump out at me!

 When I prayed and asked the Lord to help me in the area of diligence, for instance, He would lead me to the heart.  Then, I would pray about another  problem, such as submission, and the Lord would again lead me to the heart.  As I struggled with what I thought were no answers to my problems, I realized a common theme.  I have a heart problem.  I realized as I reread these verses on the heart that they are full of action words.  Words like Keep, Dwell, Consider, Do, Know, Learn, Fear, and many more!  Truly out of the heart are the issues of life!  There are so many things my heart struggles with!  There are so many areas I need to work on and give to the Lord. 

This year I want to take one of these action words a month and focus on it.  I want to study it and apply it to my life practically.  I want to apply them to the three main areas of my life: my spiritual walk, my relationship with my husband, and my relationship with my children.  I want to grow closer to the Lord and see results!  To do this, I must focus and work on my heart.

Would you like to join me in this study?
Tomorrow I will post on our word for January.  It's one I really need!  And maybe you do too.

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