9-27-13 “A Great, Big, Fat Heart”
Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
When Believers say they "seek God" or "give a problem over to Him," I like to ask them what they are physically doing when they do it. Seriously, what does seeking God look like?
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else... We choose how we prioritize our day, week, month and life. If my relationship with God should be above all (more important than) all other relationships and activities, what does that look like?
We know what is important to us by how fast we get to it. When I went into labor with our first kid, my parents dropped everything and got in the car. They arranged life so this event could be the priority for them. It didn’t matter that she was born at 2:00 in the morning or that they had to work the next day or that they were hungry or tired or anything else. They were determined and excited to meet this new person beyond their usual habits and comforts.
Well, quiet time (Bible reading and prayer) should be the first procedure of the day. It doesn’t matter if I have to set the clock early in order to make spending time with God first each day a reality. I am excited to be with Him, to hear from Him, to thank Him. Just because I have responsibilities doesn’t mean God takes a back seat to my schedule. It means I build my schedule around set and uninterrupted time with Him. And should I miss my regularly scheduled time with God, I get to a point in my day where something else will take a backseat in order to get to Him same as I would if I were rushing off to the hospital to see a new baby - as soon as I can get there I will! It may make for extra chores or errands tomorrow, but it’s something I just can’t put off today. Considering God as important as a seeing a new baby is what “above all else” looks like.
And loving God the most doesn’t mean loving others less. I love my husband and my children and my family and friends as much as I possibly can. I make time for them, I think about them, I do things for them to my fullest capacity and capabilities. Then on top of that - love God more.
My heart is not finite. In order to give God the biggest space in there doesn’t mean the other special places decrease. It means my heart expands. And it continues a life of expansion as I mature and love others better and more, and as I love God better and more through the years.
Above all else...Could be mistaken for there’s not room for anything else, but this is not the case. Ezekiel 36:26 explains how this is possible. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Other translations call the new heart “a heart of flesh.” A “stony” heart has no capacity for expansion. A “heart of flesh,” a “responsive heart” certainly does. Think of trying to pour water into a stone container vs. pouring water into wineskins or some other expansive material. The stony vessel only has room for a certain amount and nothing more.The new heart I get not only has “a new spirit” but also new expanding capabilities.
That’s how I know that loving God the most doesn’t require loving others less. Love the people in my relationships as much as I possibly can and then simply love God more. That’s what “above all else” looks like... a great, big, fat heart.
Dear God,
Thank you for expanding my heart’s capabilities rather than make life less. Thank you that these words are so true and how I know firsthand that you do provide everything I need including the ability and desire to have a relationship with you that is above all my other priorities. You are great and greatly to be praised and I have loved our time together this morning, and I am so glad you are with me all day long. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
When Believers say they "seek God" or "give a problem over to Him," I like to ask them what they are physically doing when they do it. Seriously, what does seeking God look like?
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else... We choose how we prioritize our day, week, month and life. If my relationship with God should be above all (more important than) all other relationships and activities, what does that look like?
We know what is important to us by how fast we get to it. When I went into labor with our first kid, my parents dropped everything and got in the car. They arranged life so this event could be the priority for them. It didn’t matter that she was born at 2:00 in the morning or that they had to work the next day or that they were hungry or tired or anything else. They were determined and excited to meet this new person beyond their usual habits and comforts.
Well, quiet time (Bible reading and prayer) should be the first procedure of the day. It doesn’t matter if I have to set the clock early in order to make spending time with God first each day a reality. I am excited to be with Him, to hear from Him, to thank Him. Just because I have responsibilities doesn’t mean God takes a back seat to my schedule. It means I build my schedule around set and uninterrupted time with Him. And should I miss my regularly scheduled time with God, I get to a point in my day where something else will take a backseat in order to get to Him same as I would if I were rushing off to the hospital to see a new baby - as soon as I can get there I will! It may make for extra chores or errands tomorrow, but it’s something I just can’t put off today. Considering God as important as a seeing a new baby is what “above all else” looks like.
And loving God the most doesn’t mean loving others less. I love my husband and my children and my family and friends as much as I possibly can. I make time for them, I think about them, I do things for them to my fullest capacity and capabilities. Then on top of that - love God more.
My heart is not finite. In order to give God the biggest space in there doesn’t mean the other special places decrease. It means my heart expands. And it continues a life of expansion as I mature and love others better and more, and as I love God better and more through the years.
Above all else...Could be mistaken for there’s not room for anything else, but this is not the case. Ezekiel 36:26 explains how this is possible. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Other translations call the new heart “a heart of flesh.” A “stony” heart has no capacity for expansion. A “heart of flesh,” a “responsive heart” certainly does. Think of trying to pour water into a stone container vs. pouring water into wineskins or some other expansive material. The stony vessel only has room for a certain amount and nothing more.The new heart I get not only has “a new spirit” but also new expanding capabilities.
That’s how I know that loving God the most doesn’t require loving others less. Love the people in my relationships as much as I possibly can and then simply love God more. That’s what “above all else” looks like... a great, big, fat heart.
Dear God,
Thank you for expanding my heart’s capabilities rather than make life less. Thank you that these words are so true and how I know firsthand that you do provide everything I need including the ability and desire to have a relationship with you that is above all my other priorities. You are great and greatly to be praised and I have loved our time together this morning, and I am so glad you are with me all day long. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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