"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Ephesians 3:20

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. 3:17 "Watch over our heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23 Many times in service to God we become discouraged. We start cut with a great attitude, but as time wears on, we get tired. We don't see any fruit and the hope and thrill of Christianity leaves. We serve out of duty and not of the Spirit. How can we keep from losing our freshness in service to God? proverbs 4:23 says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life." It is from the heart that we serve God. When our excitement or passion for serving God wanes, it is our heart that changed. What Are The Ways That We Can Watch Over Our Heart? We can know the condition of our heart by the things that we rejoice in. "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor, 9:7) If we do things because we have to, or reluctantly, our heart is not in it. For example, I enjoyed watching a good football game on television; I liked to cheer for my favorite team or the underdog. But, when it was time to go to church, my heart sank at the prospect of leaving the game. Another way that we can test our heart is to ask, "Are we giving our life to the service of God to help others, or are we living for ourself?" "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Lk.9:23) If that is not our purpose in life on a daily basis, then our heart is not right, if our heart is not set on keeping His commandments, then it is not right. We can know where our heart is by what we treasure. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Mt. 6:21) The Bible is an excellent way to judge our heart. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and morrow, and able to judge the thoughts and inten­tions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Do we rejoice in doing what the Bible says, or is it just a works thing? Do we reject the commandments of God as legalism to maintain our freedom, or do we enjoy doing them? The Bible is the perfect judge of our heart. Another way we can know what is in our heart is by what we speak about. "For there is no good tree which produced bad fruit; nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produced good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." (Luke 6:43-45) If we delight ourselves in the Lord He will give us the desires of our heart. It is not, if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us what we want, but that He will change what is in our heart. A desire that keeps coming back is from our heart. "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do it." (Psalms 37:4-5) Ways To Watch Over Your Heart When we are in agreement with our heart we are joyful. 2 Cor. 9:7 Have we laid down our life to serve Christ, or are we selfish? Luke 9:23 What we treasure. Matthew 6;21 God's Word shows us what is of the heart (spirit) and what is of the soul. Hebrews 4:12 If we will listen to what we say, we will know what is in our heart. Luke 6:43-45 The things that we desire are from our heart Psalms 37:4-5 How Can We Allow God to Change Our Heart? Prayer is .the main area of changing your heart. If you don't do anything else but pray, you are on the right track. Luke 18:1 (KJV) says, "Man ought always to pray and not lose heart." Pray for God to intervene on our behalf. Pray for wisdom to fight the enemy. Pray for grace to continue when there is nothing left to go on. Pray for mercy when we don't deserve anything from God. Pray until you touch God. If we get to God we have life. Praying in tongues builds us up. It is the Holy Spirit pray­ing through us. "The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..." (1 Cor. 14:4) "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit." (Jude 20) Bible memory is another way we can change our heart. "Where­withal shall a young man cleanse His way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:9,11 KJV) Putting God's Word in our hearts will keep us pure. If we memorize the Word for protection of our souls and not to show off, we will attain purity. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit shall from the spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." (Galations 6:7-8) A farmer doesn't get a crop right after he plants. He plants, cultivates, waters and fertilizes; then he sprays herbicides. After all this comes the crop. What if, after he planted, he came out the next day and didn't see anything and gave up on the crop because of no results? He would lose his crop. It is the same in the Spirit. When we sow to the Spirit, there is a waiting period, but the crop will come in at the appointed time. Usually, the longer we wait, the bigger and more valuable the crop will be. If a farmer plants wheat or corn or soybeans, he will see results that same season. If a farmer is planting a forest, it might take thirty years before a commercial benefit would be realized. So, don't lose heart in doing good. "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethern, fervently love one another from the heart." (I Peter 1:22) An unspiritual man is ruled by his soul (and flesh). But, if we purify ourselves from worldliness, we are free to love from the heart. Obedience to God allows us to put away the things that don't profit, allowing us to spend our time for God. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:21) We can change our heart by putting our treasure in things that edify God. Our treasure is where our heart is. We can stabilize our heart by laying up treasure in Heaven. If we make God our boss (Lord) we will have a pure heart. That is, we set ourselves to obey God and not our desires. 1 peter 3:15 says, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to every one who asks you..." Strength comes from waiting. Waiting could entail being quiet before Him, or waiting for His answer to our request. Listening for the still small voice. There is strength in this and it should never be neglected. It is a true source of strength. "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord." (psalm 31:24) "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14) "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (psalm 37:4) If you make the Lord your delight, if you make your goal to please Him, if you make the Lord your pleasure and your refreshing, then He will give you proper desires and grant those desires. We must have faith that God will enlarge our heart. Is God calling you to do something? Obey Him, trusting Him to help your weakness. "I shall run the way of Thy commandments, for thou wilt enlarge my heart." (Psalm 119:32) God is looking for people of faith. It is not enough to build ourselves up. We should have faith that, as we serve Him in a new area, God will step in and support us. Maybe our heart isn't strong enough to do something that God is asking us to do. But, if we do it in faith, God will meet our need and enlarge our heart. Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." The Ways We Can Strengthen Our Heart Prayer. Luke 18:1 Praying in Tongues. 1 Cor. 14:4, Jude 20 Bible Memory. Psalm, 119:9,11 Trust God to allow us to reap if we sow. Galations 6:7-9 Purify yourself through obedience. 1 Peter 1:22 Put your treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:21 Make God your boss. 1 Peter 3:15 Wait and hope on God. Psalms 31:24; 27:14 Delight yourself in the Lord, psalm 27:4 Obey God, trusting Him to strengthen your heart. Psalm 119:32 Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted. - - - Scott McCrae Home | Back to Top

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