Happy New Month. 🙂 How has the year been for you, so far?
Well, the first half of the 2023 was – for me – a major eye-opener about myself in many ways. I found myself (or do I say God put me) in certain situations where I was shocked at my thoughts, actions and reactions.
I didn’t realise I could be vengeful, calculating and extremely possessive of things I felt were “my rights. ” The things that came out of my heart caused me to be scared of myself. I realised that, under certain situations, and if pushed to the wall, I could act and react in certain ways and say certain things.
It shocked me so much, I began to pray about the state of my heart. Intensely. It was as if I was under a dark, heavy cloud, and – just like someone in ICU fights for their life – I was fighting for the protection of my heart. I understood that, as someone said, “The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.”
I didn’t ignore the feelings, pretend they didn’t exist, or excuse them away. I’ve come too far with God to do that. Instead, I accepted that these negative, evil, feelings existed inside of me – and I brought them to God.
I began to pray love into my heart. I began to deliberately help, deliberately assist, deliberately “allow”, deliberately speak positively at and about others – just so my heart could be free.
I also believe that God allowed me to get into these situations so I could see myself, and realise what I was capable of without His help. I also believe He wanted to bring those things to the surface so He could skim them off. It is what is brought to the light, acknowledged and confessed that God deals with or removes.
I listened to a well-known minister talk about how he periodically goes on retreats, and asks God to reveal anything in his life that would be detrimental to his life and ministry. He said, many times, he is shocked at what God shows him. He doesn’t see those things in his own heart, but he never argues because he realizes God searches the very core of a person – and that includes the potential of the individual, or what he is capable of in certain situations.
I honestly believe that when God reveals certain issues in your lives to you – and they are not dealt with, or you make excuses for them, or pretend they don’t exist – they grow, and sometime down the line, they get exposed in a negative and public light, humiliate you, and can even destroy your character, reputation or life.
When God said, “The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart and try the reins…” (Jeremiah 17:9&10), I believe it was also meant to be a cleansing platform for the believer. What do I mean? That verse should constantly make us pray for our hearts like David:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)
Praying this way causes God to reveal to us what is in us. It causes all the unknown, hidden murkiness in our hearts to rise to the top so He can skim it off. But this only happens if you accept it without ignoring, excusing, or pretending.
When He shows you you, acknowledge it, ask for mercy and a cleansing – then watch your heart and life get clearer and brighter.
(Blessed? Kindly share.♥️)
If you want to give your life to Christ, just say with your lips, “Lord Jesus. I am sorry for all my sins. Come into my heart, forgive me and cleanse me with your Blood. I believe You died and rose again, and I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.” You are welcome to the family!🤗 Drop a note, and we will be glad to reach out!
(Do you have a prayer request? Send it in. We will DEFINITELY be praying. Testimonies? Questions/Topics you want discussed? Suggestions on the blog? Drop a note. All private and anonymous. We will share only if requested.)
Debby Osa 