Every one of us wants a healthy heart. Sure, Lord, keep it pumping. Mine seems to be in good shape. It keeps me going. Actually it pumped enough that I walked ninety miles in August. That was my goal and my heart helped me make it. I'm already at forty-five miles for September. Not bad, huh, considering my age.
We all have a spiritual heart too. Our spiritual heart is there to keep pumping and producing for the Kingdom of God. It pumps to make us melt. Actually melt for the people we see everyday. Melt with compassion for those people we come in contact with that don't know who Jesus really is. Jesus saw the multitudes and had compassion on them. So what is compassion? I think it is melting, caring enough that it troubles us, that we want to do something about it. It even makes us search for ways to show compassion. Yes, that we care enough to start a relationship so they can talk to us about their needs...that they will know they have a friend that cares and will know how to pray for them.
Why did they get in our line of vision anyway? The same reason the invalid got in Jesus' vision at the pool of Bethesda. The same reason the Samaritan woman did at the well. The same reason Nicodemus did in Jerusalem. Jesus saw, he had compassion, and he cared enough that their life changed. Hum... Is this what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to go and do likewise?
I keep reminding myself that I don't have to be successful but I do have to be obedient. I can plant the seed but I can't make the tree grow. Okay Lord, I'll look today asking to see people through your eyes and reach out to them as you would if you were walking beside me. I'll do my best to do my part, to be obedient. And Lord, you make this success. I sure am glad I don't have to do it all. Thanks for being with me in all of this. I couldn't do it by myself but it is fantastic to be your partner. (Wow, imagine having Almighty God as your partner today. Not bad, huh?)
Blessings,
Donna
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2 comments:
A great reminder for us to keep our spiritual heart in check. The prayer you worded is a prayer I prayed for the first time in 1981 when God granted me perfect vision. The prayer became the focus point of my testimony which goes like this.
As a child in first grade, I had to start wearing very thick lenses to correct an inherited far-sighted condition. Kids are cruel and I had poor self image from being called names like "4 eyes", bottle bottom eyes, etc. I began attending church when in 2nd grade.
By the time I was in 5th grade I had accepted Jesus and my faith was growing. I prayed every night for God to heal my eyes and give me perfect vision. One morning I came downstairs to eat breakfast without my glasses. My mother asked me where my glasses were and I explained to her that I knew God was giving me perfect vision and I no longer needed my glasses. She marched me back upstairs to get my glasses and torment continued.
With age and spiritual growth, I was able to thank God for giving doctors the ability to correct bad vision but continued to struggle with self image through high school. I eventually got into contact lenses and self image improved.
I got married, had 3 children and thanked God for healthy kids. When Jennifer was 2 she was diagnosed with "Leighs Syndrome", a degenerative central nervous system disease with a terminal prognosis.
Through the next several years, as we watched Jennifer's health deteriorate, we spent more time in God's word and in prayer and I grew closer to God than at any other time in my life. This was good. However, I also became very critical and judgmental of others who were not what I thought they should be. Why didn't they get it?
Then on Sunday morning in September of 1981, I head a message on seeing others through the eyes of Christ. I'm sure this wasn't the first such message I'd heard. I went to the alter that morning and prayed to God to allow me to see others through the eyes of Christ and accept them for who they are and who they can become through Christ.
At that moment, God answered my childhood prayer for "perfect vision" in a way I can only claim by the grace of God.
But just as both our physical and spiritual heart needs to be kept in check so does our physical and spiritual vision. We must continually test our spiritual vision to maintain as close as possible, "perfect vision."
Thank you for the checkup.
It is wonderful message. May God Bless you and guide you to write more for Spiritual encourangement to all the people in the World.
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