The word “heart” appears in the Bible 895 times in various contexts. It was used when people made major decisions or showed feelings toward someone or a situation. Today, many people use it to describe their feelings toward God. Jesus looked at the hearts of many people (whether they knew it or not) to discern their true intentions. Many people use the phrase “God knows my heart,” and indeed He does, but that can be a dangerous statement. He’s been dealing with hearts from the beginning and...
When I worked the night shift, I found I had plenty of idle time after assignments and paperwork were done. Whenever possible, I used that time to talk to God and dig into the Word. Matthew 14:23 shows how Jesus sought time alone in prayer: “and when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Regardless of our schedules, we should always make time to meditate on and pray over His Word. This practice nurtures...
God has a calling for each of us. Whether it is preaching the Gospel, writing, or offering encouragement, we all have a place and position in the Kingdom. It’s natural to feel afraid when we discover our calling, and it can feel overwhelming. View it in the spiritual realm and know that God will provide the tools to do your task. In Exodus Chapter Four, God instructed Moses to speak to the people, but Moses felt he lacked the necessary diction to address them. Verse 11 tells us: Then the LORD...