Nurtured by Heart Lessons
"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
You have delivered me from the depths of the grave."
Psalm 86:11-13 NIV
My beloved Papa continues to teach me His ways concerning heart health. And I am quite sure these lessons will continue until I am with Jesus. The condition of my physical heart mirrored the state of my spiritual heart. Through a physical and spiritual heart catherization He exposed blockages that if left untreated, would be my certain physical and spiritual demise. He exposed areas of my heart that were still wounded and thus divided. A concerted (physical and spiritual) heart exercise regimen was prescribed. I fully anticipate following this for the remainder of my days. I suspect I am not alone in this process.
According to the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches that it is from our hearts that we gain all spiritual guidance and understanding. "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop" Luke 8:15 NIV.
'All valid spiritual direction comes to us through our heart-the seat of true knowing and our "eyes and ears" in the spirit. If we discern the "will of God" it is through our heart. Knowing our true identity and destiny is achieved through our hearts as well.' Living From The Heart Jesus Gave You, pg.67, published by Shepherd's House, Inc. revised version 2000.
As a direct result of these remaining heart blockages, I was no longer able to fully hear, retain, or re-produce a good crop from the word that had been so wonderfully planted in my heart for decades. The ability to correctly discern, know and understand Papa's will or my true identity and destiny as Papa's beloved son were being robbed from me. In this state, my capacity for joy was weakened. Of course my loved ones were profoundly affected by my heart disease as well (which of course there has been profound mercy and the amazing grace of forgiveness).
When your heart has blockages your core identity becomes at best skewed and can even lose touch with reality. You are less able to live from the new heart Jesus gave you as your birthright. You can even end up not behaving or acting like which you truly are-an adopted child of God. Probably the most devastating part of this condition is being blocked from enjoying Christ in your heart. He-of course, will never leave us or forsake us-but our intimacy with Him can be diminished.
I am being so transparent about this in hopes to impart the courage for you to ask Papa to search your heart and know truth in your inner most parts, as King David did. This is why he was 'called a man after God's own heart.' The single goal of heart healing is to again walk in His truth, to have an un-divided heart that reveres, praises and glorifies Him-knowing the depths of His lavish love and to experience deliverance from the depths of the grave. A grave that can swallow the 'abundant life and freedom' that is ours in Christ. Up from the grave and ashes I am arising! And I trust you are as well. May Papa’s heart lessons release the joy of your salvation.
In the grip of Papa's Grace,
I am-Ron Ross
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