2006-04-17 - From the Heart

Please note: The last time I sent a devotional of Sandi's, I inadvertently sent one that had been mailed very recently. We apologize for any confusion this caused you, but we feel God had a reason for that boo-boo of mine! And we trust God used it to bless you, as He will again with this new devotional (we promise!). Thanks for bearing with us in our hummanness, which we at webservants have found God often uses, a la Romans 8:28!

Jan

Hosea 4:6a..."My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:"

Matthew 12:35...."A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:"

Psalm 119:11..."Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

1 Peter 2:2...."As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby"

John 14:26..."But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

We are a busy people. Occupied with this, busy with that. Our schedules are full. And yet, we are empty. We attend church on Sunday, maybe. We warm a pew or seat and expect to be fed - and frequently our minds wander to the things that we need to do or people we need to see, and we leave hungry, because we didn't really dine.

It is outrageous for me, as an adult woman, to expect someone to feed me food, spoon by spoon, into my mouth, as if I were an infant. And yet, how many of us are waiting for someone to give us a word from the Lord? There are many Christians who have a conversion experience but never grow to mature men and women of God. Why? Because they are starving themselves by not eating the word.

How can the Holy Spirit teach us, if we aren't spending time alone with Him? How can we have good stored up in our hearts, if we aren't putting it there by reading? How can we have a prayer of knowing what to say, how to react and changing our thinking, if we aren't giving God fuel to give back to us when we need it?

There is a battle being fought over our minds. Our enemy, Satan, has no desire to see us grow. He does not want us to know what is that good and true and pure word of God. He wants to keep us stagnant and empty and hungry, so that we have no weapons to use against him.

Yet, what does God say to do? Fill ourselves up! Drink the milk like babies! Have you ever seen a baby sucking the milk out of a bottle? That's exactly how we are to want the living Word of God poured into us. It's not hypocritical to read if you don't feel like it. The more you exercise your "want to," the bigger the "want to" grows until, like a baby with a bottle, you can't get enough!

We, as a people, are being destroyed! Why? Lack of knowledge! We are sucking in the philosophies of the world and spewing them out as if they were the truth, and they are not!

Ladies and gentlemen, our hearts are empty...and out of the heart pour forth the issues of life. Let's start filling ourselves up, so that we can march into the enemy's camp and start winning back ground that has been steadily but surely given up! Having done all to stand, let us stand!

I am praying this for you with all my heart.

Father, please, please forgive us. We don't pant for You like a deer pants for water. We don't think of You with all our doing. We don't even turn to You unless we are in trouble. And yet, You are there, waiting to give us help when we need it. Longing to have a relationship with us that is steady and rich and ongoing. Oh, Father, make our hearts long for you, so that You are our heartbeat. We need You. Help us know that. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen

Comments or Questions?
Sandi

sandi@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org