Our Hardened Hearts Jeremiah 7:26-28

During my quiet time this morning.. i was noticing a part of my heart that was hardened towards God's word. So I talked to God about it. It required an act of obedience that needed to be done right then. It was just a little thing.. but I did not want to do it. Okay, I will go ahead and share what it was. I am sitting in my chair in the family room during my quiet time. The room was in disarray. It wasn't that bad. But I felt like God was prompting me to take a second to pick it up. I had a poor attitude.. and I did not want to pick it up. because it was left this way last night by the kids... So I wrestled around with that while I continued time in m devotional time. The subject of picking up the room kept coming up. Well, I finally got up and picked things up.. that took all of one minute. I sat back down in my chair.. and something had changed in me. A lightness came over me. As I thought on this and what had just happened.. I thought to myself.. wow.. just by being obedient,the love of God flooded my heart and my hardened heart was softened. But that didn't seem to last long. Some other stinking attitudes rose back up in my heart. I questioned God about that. How could my heart be softened one minute and then the next minute be hardened again. This is what I believe God shared with me. That our hearts are not softened by just one act of obedience or one exposure to His love. What we think is softening at that point is ust a washing over our hearts of God's love. It takes constant exposure to God's love in order for our hearts to be softened. Recently, most of our country has been going through a drought, including where I live. Our ground around our house has gotten extremely hard from the lack of rain. Last week we had a deluge of rain. But it did not soften up the ground. It will take regular rain fall in order for the dirt to soften up again. This is just like our hearts. We can go to church weekly, hear the word, and go home and still not be changed. We need to frequently be exposing our hearts to God's love and His word in order for our hard hearts to be and stay softened. So, I challenge you and myself to frequently get into God's presence. Experience His tangible love regularly. Let it soften your heart and keep it pliable. You'll be glad you did Be blessed!

Our Path vs Our Steps (Baby Steps)

Our Path vs Our Steps I have heard for years to watch your nickles and the dollars will take care of themselves. As I am sitting in my quiet time this morning... the scripture comes to mind Ps 37:23... The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. So many times we are challenged by the big things in life... ie, family issues, job issues, finances, just life. We worry about the big picture. Let's break it down. How do we get from point A to point B. How do we get from being deeply in debt to being debt free without knocking off the rich aunt, robbing a bank, selling our bodies (excuse while I regain my composure) etc.... We have to take one step at a time. How many times do we sit there wanting to go from point A to point B and we do't know how to get there. Well this scripture says that the STEPS of a righteous person (don't get to bogged down by that term righteous person right now) are ordered by the Lord. Ordered? Hmm? That means planned. So.. if I think about it... God already has the steps planned out for me. How many times have you been hiking in the woods and you look for the path that has already been cut out? That is what it is like walking with the Lord. God has a specific path planned for you. You can't see the destination down the road. All you have to worry about is keeping your feet on that path that has already been opened up for you. So many times, we see something that looks interesting over to the left or to the right. Or someone tells us things they are doing on their path... so we decide to jump over on their path. Oh my... how many people have done that? My hands and both feet are raised. This only leads to frustration and despondency. God has a path planned out that is unique for you. Baby steps. Don't worry about the destination. You will get there. Really, the pace is not even important. Today.. as you talk to God.. ask Him what your first steps is. Then set in your mind and heart that you are going to do it. Don't let anything else get in the way. Set your focus on accomplishing that task. Don't even worry about the results. Your goal is to take that step. When you take that step... take time and be proud of yourself. Even if it was a small step. The end of that verse says that He (God) delights in his way. So if God can delight in what we are doing.. I'm sure that it is okay if we do the same wouldn't you say? Changing paths. Today you might get up and realize you are on the wrong path. No problem. Becoming aware that you are on the wrong path is a big step in itself. Some people stay on the wrong path their whole lives. How many of us in our lives have not been on the wrong path at one time or another. Now.. be careful when trying to figure out which path you should be on. It is so easy at this point to jump on another path..... that is just another wrong path. In fact, let me suggest you don't even worry about that path you need to be on. I would say.. just take one step at a time at God's direction (see Baby Steps above) and you realize WHAM! somehow you are now on the right path. Staying On The Path. It is really so easy to do yet so simple. It is simply constantly whispering to God, "What is the next step?" and then deciding to do it. If God gives you a bigger picture to accomplish... don't worry! Just ask Him to break it down into those little steps that you are able to take. The biggest obstacle to staying on our path is other people's paths. Our eyes like to look wander. We are always afraid we are missing out on something. We are afraid that someone else has something that we don't have. (How'd that work out for you Eve?) Advertisement agencies have perfected the art of making us feel like we as if we are so deprived we don't have an object or at least go out and get that object right now. I hate this!!! Delighting God. As we take these steps that God has chosen for us, and I am convinced that these steps are not that hard, we cause God to delight in us. And like I said earlier... if God is delighting, I sure that it is okay for us to get a little happy as well. Now. Ask God right now what is your next step. Maybe it is to get up and make yourself a cup of coffee. Maybe it is to make a certain phone call. Just concern yourself with the single next step.. and then like the famous song... Put one step in front of the other and soon you'll be walking cross the flooo--or---ooor. (Everyone sing) Put one foot in front of the other and then you'll be walking out the door....