All Things New (Part 3): Being In The Right Place
Photo Courtesy of Jan Bolz
The Right Course
We all want to get to the right place in life. We want to go where we’re supposed to go, to do what we’re supposed to do, and to be who we’re supposed to be. The problem is that we often go about it in the wrong way. We take an “outside-in” approach. Thinking that once we acquire, achieve, or arrive at a certain point in life, then and only then, will we be right. But God’s Word redirects us to a different starting point. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) tells us:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Our heart is the starting point because it’s the source of our identity. Guarding your heart is more than just good advice, it’s a God-given revelation. It’s understanding that getting “to” the right place comes by living “from” the right place. It’s recognizing that a heart that’s well-protected—
Leads To The Path Well-Paved.
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)
The Christian life is about running your race at a Christ-centered pace. Under the Lordship of Jesus, you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you forward each day as you grow & mature in your unique identity as a Child of God. As a cross-bearing Disciple of Christ, you surrender your heart to God & He secures your path. He sets you on a course that’s focused on what truly matters; a path in which you deflect side-distractions in pursuit of righteous living. You come to a place in which you truly live from the Right Source, Jesus Christ. And when you live from the Right Source—
You Live On The Right Course.
searching for sustenance
We all end up sick at one point or another. Though we may not know exactly what’s wrong, our symptoms are the indication that something isn’t right. But God willing, we find a good doctor who properly diagnoses & treats the source of our symptoms. In the same way, there are times in life when we don’t feel right in our heart & mind. We may not know exactly what’s wrong, but thankfully, we don’t have to. We just have to be willing to go to the One who does.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
There is no greater person to bring your burdens to than Jesus. He’s the only One who can fully comprehend, and He’s the only One who can fully help you mend. And there’s no greater mechanism to diagnose & treat your condition than the Word of God.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
Hebrews 4:12
God’s Word is our meditation, diagnosing & revealing what’s wrong at the deepest level. And His Word is our medication, which goes beyond our symptoms and treats our hearts directly. When we repent & return to the Lord Jesus, we find God’s every Word to be the sustenance our spirit has been searching for.
We Receive Diagnosis & Direction.
In partnership with the Holy Spirit, things in our life begin to be put back in their proper place. In His great strength, Jesus helps us right our wrongs as only He can do. In His great Love—
Jesus Works To Restore Us All The Way Through.
3 heart conditions
1) A dull heart
There are a number of paths in life that are filled with opportunity, but every opportunity also comes with responsibility. You can have all the “right ingredients” for success, but if you incorporate the right stuff in the wrong way, things aren’t going to pan out. Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NKJV) tells us:
“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.”
When we chronically operate in our own limited strength, we dull our own blade. Instead of making true headway, we end up exerting more strength the wrong way. Godly wisdom recognizes that—
Overexerting Yourself Only Leads To Hurting Yourself.
In the business world, those who learn to “work smarter, not harder” tend to enjoy sustained success. These people understand that time & energy are limited. Therefore, they exercise wisdom in place of mindless toiling, which produces the fruit of success. As born-again Believers:
“We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…
We have the mind of Christ.”
I Corinthians 2:12-13, 16 (NKJV)
It is foolishness to work according to the world’s life-taking ways, when we have been given the privilege of laboring in the Lord’s life-giving ways. Jesus has not called you to mindlessly hammer away until there’s nothing left of you. He’s equipped you to work skillfully as He brings out His goodness within you. The hour is late & the times we’re living in are evil. Don’t let the devil dull your blade, but ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen you so you never labor in vain.
“For God, the Faithful One, is not unfair. How can he forget the beautiful work you have done for him? He remembers the love you demonstrate as you continually serve his beloved ones for the glory of his name. But we long to see you passionately advance until the end and you find your hope fulfilled.
So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm, but follow the example of those who fully received what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance.”
Hebrews 6:10-12 (TPT)
2) an anxious heart
One of the worst games we play in life is the “what-if” game. We come away with a depressing outcome every time we entertain this line of thinking, and yet, we come back to it as if it’s an old friend. Living with a what-if mentality—
Fills Your Heart With Anxiety.
Jesus knows first-hand the attacks that come against us in our human condition, and He has no desire to see the well of our hearts tainted with the waters of anxiety. This is why God’s Word continually instructs us to look ahead. When we learn to see things His Way—
We’re Never Left With Dread.
“If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.”
Ecclesiastes 10:4 (BSB)
The “what-if” scenario provided in Ecclesiastes is a straightforward illustration of how we’re to attack anxiety. We see that when tough moments inevitably come, we don’t abandon our post. We don’t flinch & we don’t give an inch, because the Spirit of Christ gives us a calmness and composure that will lay “even the greatest offenses to rest”. No matter what threatens to move us off our peace—
We Remain Grounded In God’s Presence.
Make up your mind to remain resolute. Even when your circumstances are stubborn & refuse to change, let your heart remain pliable & result in permanent change. Stand firm in the Spirit & you will be able to testify about all God will rectify. Let go of “what might be” and embrace what God said “will be”. Above all else—
“…be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
3) a cold heart
Jesus had a lot to say when He was asked what sign there would be of His Second Coming & the end of the age. In detail, Jesus described how the world would look & how deceptive it would become. He also said, “lawlessness & evil would abound”, causing the love of “most” to grow cold.
“But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.”
—Jesus (Matthew 24:13, AMP)
Another translation says it this way: “the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.” This a sobering picture & eye-opening reminder of how critical it is to protect our heart. Because we face serious hardship & evil in our world, the darkness threatens to turn our hearts cold. Thus, one of the great temptations of our time is to—
Allow What’s Wrong To Overtake What’s Right.
Our dark world is in need of the bright light of Jesus Christ. This is why disciples of Jesus have been called to bear & reflect His Light. We’re to be a lamp that brings light to dark rooms. The body of Christ is called to be a “city on a hill”, a beacon of light for all to see. And how will people ultimately know we’re His disciples?
“If you love one another.”
—Jesus (John 13:35)
If you find yourself calloused by all that’s happening around you, ask God to protect what’s within you. If you’re increasingly overwhelmed by doom & gloom, draw close to Jesus & allow His Love to consume. By God’s grace, may you never grow cold toward all that’s good & right. When it comes to loving Jesus & others—
May You Never Lose Sight.
no more despair
“The heart is deceitful [desperately sick] above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
On its’ own, this verse from Jeremiah delivers the worst diagnosis you can possibly receive—a fatal heart-problem that’s incapable of being cured. But thank God, there’s a hope that goes beyond our diagnosis.
“…Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I [Jesus] have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
In need of a heart replacement & without a single donor, The Great Physician came onto the scene. Jesus came to bring treatment to those who were hopelessly sick. He came to treat people who are well beyond repair. Jesus came to replace our broken hearts—
Jesus came to take away Our despair.
we pray this week’s edition of “all things new” richly blesses you & the lives of those around you!
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today’s Takeaways
When the source is right the course is right.
don’t allow what’s wrong to overtake what’s right.
jesus is the cure for a broken heart.