My Heart's Desire

If there's one thing we must learn and take hold of to live godly lives, it's that the heart must not be allowed to run rogue. A heart out of control is a life out of control. A mind out of control is a life out of control.

To think of it in a worldly way, we are told to "follow your heart." We learn that we can't control our thoughts. That if a hurtful situation or conversation comes to mind it's because there's a "reason."

The writer of Proverbs says, "Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way." (Prov. 23:19). The heart can be directed. Must be directed and taught.

How? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding." (Prov. 3:5-6).

We trust God when we know His way and obey it. Doing is evidence of trusting. So what does that have to do with directing the heart?

Psalm 37 puts trust and desires together this way: "Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 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."

Spending time with God in His Word, giving it thought, asking questions, engaging God's Word then putting it into action and trying Him--trusting Him--will result in wanting more. I cannot know God's character and likeness until I try it, taste it, use it, bank on it, fully lean on who He is and what's He's said.

At Jr. High camp last week it was presented this way: If I gave you an extra $20.00 in spending money, how would I know you believe me?

The answer, of course, is that they would spend it! As I made the offer to a young lady the wheels were turning in her head about what was in the coffee shop, gift shop, what activities or crafts she wanted to do--she was thinking about how to spend $20. After accepting the money, I would know she took me at my word because she would spend it. She would act on it and put it to use.

The same is true with God. It begins with thinking about how to spend Him, use Him, apply HIs truth, and take Him at His Word. The thinking leads to action and the results fuel our desires to know Him more, trust Him more, see Him more, love Him more, and find Him faithful. 

As for those other thoughts and desires? They diminish and lose power in light of God's goodness. Their deceitfulness is revealed in the truth of God's Word. We suddenly see the hidden costs, the loss, death, and grief of temporary pleasures. And we are satisfied because we have what our hearts truly desire, the pearl of great cost, the treasure of treasures, a right, dependent relationship with our Lord God through His Son, Jesus Christ. And we have found the desire of our hearts.




Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
⁵ Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; (Ps. 37:3-7)

 

Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

 

  

   

Student Edition: Attributes of God and Gospel Primer

There are two new pages on HeartQuencher. One is entitled, "Who is God Really?" Perhaps you've never given it much thought--or you have and don't know where to look. Maybe you're a pastor, Bible study leader, or biblical counselor and you're on the lookout for new material.

If that's the case, check it out, copy, print and use what's there. It's nothing more than a simplified version of A.W. Pink's manuscript, "Attributes of God" with easy-to-read English and room to write out Scripture. It's a work in progress, so it's not complete.

You can also find a simplified version of Milton Vincent's Gospel Primer on the page with the heading, "Unpacking the Gospel," written with permission, but not for sale.

Brad Bigney's prayer journal is also available in a simplified version. If you would like a copy or pdf of any of the above, email and request one from semillage@gmail.com.
 

Suffering Love

I just got home from a great week of counseling Jr. High Camp--livin' the dream! Not only did I make new friends and see old ones, we had a LOT of fun. Be amazed to know that 367 young people listened to 45 minute sermons twice a day--without power point, videos, or technology. They had no phones or devices. They listened. They interacted with God's Word. They asked questions, made observations, were convicted, encouraged and equipped.

After an evening session on suffering, I visited with a young lady I'd never met before pour out her heart. She is facing painful circumstances that are out of her control but the most painful thing of all? No one wants to listen. It's uncomfortable. It's awkward. It's not fun. And it doesn't feel good. Instead of listening, they get distracted, leave the conversation or change the topic.

When I think of loving others, I don't usually think about suffering with them, but that is what Jesus did for us. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.... He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:11, 17-18).

Dr. Bob Kellemen, in one of our class lectures, told the story of Africans transported in the hold of slave ships. Because they came from different tribes and languages, they were seldom able to communicate with words. But they shared one another's sorrow with groans, cries, and song. Grief and pain are not intended to be suffered alone. God suffered for us. He suffers with us. And He has given us His body of believers to absorb the weight, pray with us, and help us see His hand at work.

But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:24-26).

James says there's room for everyone, regardless of our situation: Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.  (James 5:13-15)

This week, however, I was challenged to love others by suffering with them.

 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails... ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).