Devotionals
Understanding the Heart of God?
Each day as I live and watch the world around me, I become more and more grieved with seeing so many people struggling with the issues of life. They want good things for themselves and their families, they desire to be healthy, prosperous and productive and they want their lives to be significant. Yet, in all of this struggle, most people still feel insignificant, most never know prosperity and many experience only a life of sorrow and hard work.
Is this the lot of mankind? Is this the norm or is there some great secret that could change this entire life of struggle and hardship? Many people strive for wealth, hoping it will bring relief and meaning to their lives. Some turn to pleasure, resolved to enjoy life as much as they can before they die. Some choose an induced utopia of drugs or alcohol to simply numb the pain and disappointment of their failures. But Jesus Himself encourages us by saying: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Then, God reaffirms this truth in the book of 1st. John 5:5 by saying: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Our loving Creator calls to us out of His book, the Bible. In Proverbs chapter 4 vs 20 He pleads with us, saying,, “My children, if you receive My words and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding; Yes if you cry out for discernment and lift your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear (reverance) of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly, He guards the path of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and every good path.”
Talk about a letter of encouragement from the heart of a Parent who longs to see His children blessed in every way! His promise, “My children, do not forget my law but let your heart keep My commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you--and so you will find favor with God and man!” (Proverbs 3:1-4)
I have diligently studied the word of God and have experienced His goodness for well over thirty years now. And it is true that I have not ever seen “His” children begging bread or the righteous forsaken. God has blessed me, prospered me and disciplined me in love. His interest in me and His tenderness toward me is completely beyond my understanding.
So, I choose to make myself available to my loving Creator and to pass on those nuggets of wisdom that He has shown me. The Bible is, to me, a “secret cache” of wisdom and knowledge that we all desperately need to live a happy, productive and meaningful life here on this earth.
My favorite Psalm, Psalm 37 is, I believe the crowning cry of Father God’s heart toward His children. He closes the chapter with the words, “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them, because they trust in Him.” I hope that you have found these words as encouraging to you this day as they are to me. Searching through the Bible is the key to finding the wisdom we need to succeed in our lives, but one key remains, the key to unlock God’s unmerited favor (undeserved grace) to us.
Invite the Lord Jesus, the only Son of God, to live in you and direct your life, ask forgiveness for and repent of those things you do that displeases Him. This will restore the love of God the Father, because when we “confess our sins, he (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)
God’s promise for us at this point is found in Romans 8:31-32, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not even spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him, also freely give us all things?”
Now, here is a promise, here is hope, here is something to live for and set one’s compass by! He says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, ‘these’ are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14)
We welcome you to come and celebrate God’s love for us (Worship) at the Sunshine Coast Gospel Church, where you will find solid Bible based messages relevant to today’s struggles.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
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I would either submit a disclaimer or change the title. "Understanding the heart of God" is HUGE, as you well know and the title gives the idea that that understanding can be summed up in the few paragraphs you have here. I recently submitted an article entitled "Where are my keys?" and it could be considered a "sister" to your article; I liked the mention of "keys" but I despaired when you didn't explain what some keys were yours and also yours to share. Good stuff, to say the least, and we need to be reminded so often of those things we already know, but busy days have kept us from them. Thanks for sharing, but, please, write more!
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