Heart Posture

I had been in a complete slump in my Bible reading. I didn’t know what to read, or where to start. I decided that I would just start at the beginning of the New Testament and read through that if I couldn’t think of anything else. So, that’s what I did. I started reading Matthew, and the Lord started revealing things to me in scripture I thought I already knew so well. 

This really had me thinking. Sometimes, I get into my own thoughts that in order for the Lord to guide, and direct me, it has to be some obvious thing that he has directly told me to do, and yes, he does do that sometimes. Just like this Bible reading, I was thinking that because he didn’t direct me to read something in particular, that there wouldn’t be much I would get from it. 

 In reality, the Lord meets people right where they are all of the time. Don’t get me wrong, we must be obedient to the will of the Lord in everything he asks us to do, but if you are like me there are times that I just don’t know what he wants me to do, so I go about my day, doing my usual routines. 

Here is where the difference lies. If your heart is drawn to him, he will direct you. It may not be as obvious as a billboard sign, and it may be during those routines of everyday life. He will show you, that is, if your heart posture is turned to him, and his will. As you walk forward in that heart posture through your day, doors begin to open, you start to hear him speak, and other doors close, making it more obvious of where you are to go. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. I believe this to mean we need to be earnestly seeking him in all things, making sure even the smallest things reflect a heart posture that is turned to the Lord’s will.  If that is the case in our life, then those times we feel unsure, he will show us what to do. 

If your heart posture is seeking his will, he will not fail you. He will let you see which way to go. There are times that I have a decision to make. Sometimes it’s big. Sometimes it’s small. Sometimes it is whether to do something, or not do something.  Sometimes it is not as big of a deal as I may think it is. Even so, at those times it is time to seek his will in the matter. He may not send me a message in lights making it so obvious, but he will show me the questions to ask, the right people to talk to, and ways to dig deeper in order to find the right answer. There are times he sends me to talk to someone I’d rather not or do something I’d rather not. There is a humility that is learned through this process by leaning on him in every choice we make, and every step we make in the choice making process. 

   In my recent New Testament reading, I am still in Mathew because the Holy Spirit was showing me so many things that I ended up in a deep dive study.  Currently, I am on the beatitudes in Mathew 5. The first one in verse 3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  In the past, I’ve looked at this scripture as the down, and out people. Really it means those who are aware of their spiritual poverty, and willing to set aside your dependence on self, and seek the grace that then Lord offers us.  Oh boy, I am really learning some things on this one. After learning this, I decided I really need more clarity on the Lord’s grace. I don’t think I have a full grasp on that. I looked up a bunch of scripture on grace. One that stuck out was James 4:6 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6).  What exactly does it mean to be humble? I mean I think I know, but I went ahead and just googled that for curiosity sakes. Google says, “not prideful; submissive respect.”  Ok, I think I get it. The Lord wants me/us to submit my/our ways so he can show us our path, and I do believe this is in things small and big in our lives.

I just pray for myself, and every person reading this that we all can have a heart posture that is facing the Lord, leading us to a life of humility in doing the Lord’s will at all times.