Heart Issues
In a short story I wrote, I said this:
Can we allow within ourselves some force that is greater than we are, something that might cause us to fall headlong into it? We find it easy to give love when we want to—but can we bear to be loved?
The thing is, we give all we want to—or not—and maybe that’s because we perceive that we are in control. It is harder to receive love as a gift and allow it to draw us into it, to relinquish our control. To love and be loved is the greatest human need, so it’s a paradox, in a way, that we resist it so.
At our church’s last Bible study session for this fall, our pastor, Dr. K, led a discussion in which we all agreed that love is the most important response of the human heart to God. By nature, God is love. He draws us in to participate in his nature, in his love, to be honest in our feelings, to allow ourselves to be broken—and healed. Love enables us to be who we are, in him.
Dr. K said God primarily makes himself known by word—“thus saith the Lord.” Our response, too, comes by word. Proverbs 4:20-23 says
… pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to a (person’s) whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
And Oswald Chambers says, When love or the Spirit of God comes upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. …. Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.
And you are freed and transformed to be who you truly are. What all this means to me is that my response to the issues of my heart determines the course of my life.
I borrowed the picture from this site.
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