The Unseen

                 

“For my people are fools; they do not know me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good.” Jeremiah 4:22

They called Jeremiah the weeping prophet. I am beginning to understand what that means as I learn about what he saw and experienced. This was during the time that the many kings ruled and around him grew eviler with each king. Some kings offered glimpses of a turnaround but then the people went back to what they knew. It had reached their hearts. It was spilling over from their hearts into every area of their lives. They were called to be devoted to the Lord only, but they thought adding to Yahweh would be ok when the truth was it kept them in captivity. 

Why do you think the Lord talks about the heart so much? We can’t see it. 

That is where it started for me. It was not guarding my heart that led to my slippery slope of sin. It wasn’t something others could see early on just allowing those little lies to begin within my heart. “Just this one time.” No one can see me making this choice and then I just stopped listening to God and started to allow my actions to flow from my heart. I thought just like the Israelites I could serve both. We cannot live a double life. We can’t just dabble with a little sin. The heart that the Lord places within us is designed to worship Him alone. And every day will be the battle to choose what we allow in our hearts. And just like the Israelites didn’t know God because they didn’t know the heart of God, I was the same.

I read today that Satan wants me oblivious and God wants me vigilant. Oblivious leaves me wandering just waiting to be swept up in my own desires. Not really looking for something to catch me off guard just looking all around at the pleasures of the world. Vigilant makes me remember to stand guard. One of the definitions I found was being watchful and attentive to potential danger or trouble. There is so much danger around the corner. 

“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Proverbs 4:23

This is one of my favorite verses. I used it as a young mom with my girls and still hold it close today as a reminder. My heart is something that you can’t see but allowing things to take root can be seen in my actions and words. All of my prideful and unrighteous thoughts that come into my mind. Am I going to allow them to take root? Am I going to entertain them? Or am I going to remember to remove them and cast them at the feet of Jesus? “Father take this anger and replace it with love.” Father take my prideful heart and help me to remember what you brought me from.” 

What could the Lord be placing upon your heart that doesn’t belong there? Give it to Him. 

The Lord wants to know what is in our hearts. It is perfectly fine with Him when we are honest about our feelings. He created us with them and expects us to be honest with Him. It is only when I begin to acknowledge them that He can begin to work. 

Master,

Be Master over our thoughts and actions. When something is put before you Lord call that out in our hearts and minds. Jesus help us stay rooted and grounded in you. Give us a steadfast mind and spirit to walk in your ways. Demolish strongholds that stand in our way of allowing you all of it. 

Guard our hearts, Lord. The unseen is where you love to work. So that you may be glorified in all we say and do King Jesus.

Amen