Monday, January 12, 2009

When something is Heavy on your Heart...


One common cause of distraction is our troubles. We all have them and we all want to know how to deal with them as they come up. And, we probably can all agree that when we are in the middle of something that is heavy on our heart, it is hard to stay focused. Truth is, when something is heavy on our hearts it is natural to become distracted and sometimes our distraction leads us to a path of being distraught and maybe even depressed. Depending on the circumstance at hand, many well meaning friends will encourage us with something like, "it's natural to be troubled, distracted, depressed...just look at what you are going through!"

Part of embracing the WILD life Jesus has for us is learning to walk in what is NOT natural in our flesh. Yes, it's natural for us, when left to just ourselves, to get distracted, distraught and depressed! But, girls, we are not left to fend for ourselves. The WILD walk is about turning away from living just in ourselves or just in what comes naturally. The WILD walk is about learning to live life differently.

Do you have something heavy on your heart today?
A child who is hurting? A bill that is looming? A bank account that is empty?A job that is laying off people every day? A relationship that is sour? A medical diagnosis that is not pretty?

Life is hard. We will always encounter problems. Our hearts will get heavy with the weight of troubles from time to time. A heavy heart does not mean that you don't love Jesus. A heavy heart simply means that the weight of troubles has weighed you down and that you need to turn to Jesus to find peace again. Besides that, a heavy heart might me a signal to you to continue to pray, seek, ask, knock...on the door of faith....until you see an answer from God.

When you repeatedly pray about something, it doesn't necessarily mean you do not have faith. You need to keep bringing your requests to God as long as those unfulfilled requests are heavy on your heart.

Mark 14:39
"Once more he went away and prayed the same thing."
This was speaking about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He kept going to a place of prayer about the same thing, because it was heavy on his heart.

The apostle Paul admits to praying three times about a thorn in the flesh ( 2 Cor 12:8-9) The New Living Translation uses the word Begged to describe how Paul prayed, which suggests that he was emotionally distressed over the problem.

Matthew 7:7-8 ( from the Williams translation)
"Keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking received, and everyone who keeps on seeking, finds and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will be open."

What is heavy on your heart today?
Keep on asking
Keep on seeking
Keep on knocking on God's door.

I would rather be distracted with prayer and seeking God, than to be distracted with distress over my situation.

Trust Him today. God is in control, He really is.

Today's Prayer
Lord, I give you my heart and all that is heavy on it. I come to you with each thing and seek you for your answer, your will, you intervention into my life's hardships. I trust you that you are in control and I come today giving you all that I am, all that I have, all that I love , and all that I desire.

3 comments:

Lorri said...

Amen. So be it.

Love, Lorri

Anonymous said...

Thank You for your encouragement today!

Pastor Terry said...

The "Wild Walk!"
I like that!
Very encouraging word.
Thank you, sister.
Be blessed,
Terry Michaels
‘The preacher who hates religion and loves God’
http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/ThatIMayKnowYou.html