A New Year, A New Me

What might Yahweh's goal be for you in the coming year? What would He illuminate or highlight for your well being? To what would He ever so gently turn your chin, so as to invite your attention? I can sense Him saying, "Look, sweet child. Please look at this. It will save you from greater hurt; both the continuation of hurts from the past and even new kinds of hurt our enemy would like to inflict upon you."

Psalm 119:36-37, “Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.”

Inclining my heart to Your testimonies, to celebrating what God has done and is doing in me, is an inoculation from the insipid allure of being covetous. Covetousness leads us to compare ourselves to others, and I don't believe I am alone in saying I need forgiveness for this false focus. Forgiveness for comparing my life, the path He has placed me on, with the path of others. It is worthless to do so! It is life draining and He wants for each of us to turn our eyes away from it. Rather, He would have us to celebrate what He is doing our life. If we look to others, let it be only to celebrate His testimony, what He has uniquely crafted for them in their life, their journey. Then allow Him to revive you in His way that is specially crafted with sole-intentionality for you. To revive you in His way that is also specially crafted with soul-intentionality for you.

So many of His precious Truths for His children include methods for how to best guard our heart and mind from the attack of the enemy of our soul. Nestled within Psalm 119 is one such tried and true method: inclining our heart (our spiritual and emotional attention) and our eyes (our physical attention) to His ways. Why? So as to be revived; to reap eternal benefits for my heart and my emotions, yes, for my overall well-being!

Praise the Lord that we don't have to try to make these changes all on our own! Because what sounds so simple on paper becomes so complex when we actually move to walk it out. We have all tried with varying degrees of success (er... failure, if I'm being honest) to look away from things that make us covetous. The Psalmist asks for the Lords help, "Incline my heart," "Turn my eyes," and then, "Revive me." This is not his strength to accomplish these goals, but God's. 

But are we resting on God's work alone? He will just do it. I'll just sit here and wait. And enjoy the view... of all those things I wish I had... Hmmmm.... Yeah. That probably isn't going to cut it. Psalm 119:32 says, "I will run the course of your commandments for you shall enlarge my heart."

Running. Ew. Sounds like effort. A LOT of effort for some of us! We are asking for God's help in these heart health endeavors, but we also must agree in our spirit and partner with Him to establish these changes. Effort will need to be expended. But the results? An enlarged heart! We know this to be a true dividend for athletes; a healthier heart capable of even greater things. It is equally true for our spiritual hearts and their health.

What part of your heart would God want to partner with you to enlarge for 2017? What would He lead you to "write in" as your shared goal for that heart? Ask Him. Find a quiet moment on your drive to work, during a coffee break (or the break you need after having too much of that coffee), as you go on a walk (or run? Ha!), or in the pre-sleep moments as you lay down.

He promises that He will enlarge your heart! He will make you whole! To the extent of the effort you are exerting, He meets you and you are in process, even now.

Finally, rest. Allow your spirit to be at peace because you are confident that He is working. Be still, continue to be honest in the midst of each stillness, and allow Him to accomplish His purpose within you, sweet friends!