Check Your Heart: Restful, Refreshing, and Reflective

As I am packing my suitcase in preparation to return home from the best vacation I have taken so far, my niece tells me; “Wow, you have a lot of clothes and you didn’t even wear all your swimsuits!”. I have to take a pause and had to Reflect on what she just said.  You see just weeks ago I was talking to God about not having enough clothes and feeling a sense of lack and even insecurity due to my once overflowing closet having drastically decreased.   I had to repent to God for having been an ungrateful brat before. You see last year, I believed God instructed me to give away the majority of my wardrobe, which included clothing items, accessories, and shoes. I happily obeyed thinking, “Oh wee, God’s about to increase my closet with even better items.” How foolish of me to think with a carnal mind. You see as a believer we are supposed to seek the kingdom of God first [Matthew 6:33 NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need].and so, therefore, my obedience should be done to please my father, not my flesh. 

I realized that I had been seeking God for what he could do for me, and not just as his beloved daughter who loves her Father. I wept in repentance and sorrow when I realized that I was no better than the Pharisees in the bible who only did things to be seen as righteous, but their hearts were not pure. [Luke 11:39 NLT. Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy–full of greed and wickedness!]

The greatest thing about my Heavenly Father is that nothing can remove me from his love and so I have been forgiven and redeemed. [Romans 8:38 NLT. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.]

On my flight home, I look out the window and I see a rainbow in the clouds. It was a beautiful and Refreshing sight to see, especially from the viewpoint of 10,000 feet in the air. For me, the rainbow was a reminder to me that God has not forgotten about his promises to me. Everything that God has promised me will come to pass if I faint not and trust in the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 KJV And let us not be weary in well doing: for in the due season we shall reap, if we faint not. – Galatians 6:9 NKJV And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Some versions of this scripture say …” we shall reap.. don’t give up”. I found it interesting that the New King James Version says “…do not lose heart”. Then holy spirit gave me a revelation that it is in the heart that we make decisions,  our heart is an indicator of our movies and intentions. If we have a tender softened heart our intentions will be pure and good.

[Matthew 15:19 KJV] 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:[Mark 7:21 KJV] 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

So for me, the deeper revelation was that I had allowed my heart to become bitter towards God, believing he had forfeited his promises. I allowed the lies of the enemy that “It was all for nothing”, and my giving up everything to follow Christ had not been rewarded! LIES LIES LIES. My vacation in itself was an indicator of the goodness of God’s promises, being able to travel, do ministry, and spend time with family all things that I love and it was entirely paid for by the ministry. I am at peace with God again and can continue to Rest in him knowing that GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN!!!

REMEMBER: GOD WILL MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISES TO YOU!

QUESTION: What are you believing God for in your life? 

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