Judges 5:15 (New International Version)

“The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, rushing after him into the valley.  In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.” 

This week I find myself writing to you from one of my most favorite places, my boat!  Yes, I consider it my floating office.  What a beautiful day the Lord has blessed me with, too.  The temperature is in the low 80’s, there’s a light breeze blowing across the water and the humidity is very low!  Yes, I am writing from an Oklahoma lake in August!  The sun is directly overhead and I am obviously in heaven. Well, as close as it get’s on this side of eternity.

  This week we are looking at the Searching or Thought of Heart.  The NIV uses the word searching and the King James used thought.  The Lexicon transliteration for the word thought comes from the Hebrew word cheqeq meaning decree, resolve, statute, action prescribed. 

Did you realize the heart searches and gives thought?   

As I gave this more consideration, I concluded the angle or emphasis I want to take this week is to focus on one particular meaning, that of action prescribed.   

Most of us are fully aware that the heart searches.  One does not have to look far to realize that.  The heart searches to find fulfillment and a way for the needs of the heart to be met.  Just look at what man uses to find such fulfillment; clubs, cars, careers, clothes and companions, just to name a few.  In that search for fulfillment, mankind can find themselves in all kinds of messes vainly following a searching heart as it attempts to fill that void that only the Creator can fill with everything but the Creator.  

According to www.dictionary.com the word prescribe means to lay down, in writing or otherwise, as a rule or a course of action to be followed; appoint, ordain, or enjoin. 

I have come to realize that in our day-by-day quest to receive, maintain and sustain a pure heart, we must be intentionally, actively set a course of daily action to follow the fundamental truths found in the Holy Bible.  This applies directly to the each of us.  Man needs to have very firm “rules,” if you will, around what we allow the thoughts of our heart to be.  I know that where my thoughts take me, my heart follows.  If I allow my thoughts to wander or surf aimlessly they can and will take me right back to my land of captivity that held me in years past.   

So, how does one actively prescribe what we allow in our hearts? 

First, one must not be passive.  Action is involved.  Passive means not reactive visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of emotion or feeling, or not participating readily.   

Believe me; the Enemy loves a passive heart! A passive heart is a vulnerable heart.  A vulnerable heart is a very dangerous thing for a believer to have.  

When one is passive one can not be alert for the Enemy’s deception and schemes.  Frankly, we are living in times of great deception.  Wherever deception is, there the Enemy is at work.  

Second, it requires humility and brokenness to get to the point that you can pray and ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal anything that keeps you from being all that He desires. 

I am in the process of completing a training class at work titled, “Mastering My Career.”  The initial step in the on-line course is a self assessment that measures your strengths and weaknesses against five core developmental career levels.  Interestingly, I scored myself relatively high on the first three of the five.  My next step is to ask my supervisor and peers to complete the same questionnaire.  It will be interesting to see how they compare.  I know that man’s self view rarely aligns with others.  The tough part is for us to align our self with God’s view.   

Finally, once you have engaged in this process and have sought God’s insight, you have to do something about what God brings to your awareness.  It is one thing to be ignorant or blind to an area, it’s completely another to have God bring an area that needs attention and not do anything about it.   

Our God is faithful: if we will ask, He will reveal.  I clearly recall praying several years ago asking God to show me how He sees others.  Well, God answered that prayer, not exactly as I thought He would but as it was best to fulfill His purpose and plans.  His answer to me was basically, “Russell, first I want you to see yourself as I see you!”  That means seeing His good purposes through all my messes.  Again, once the light revealed I had to respond.  That response is continual.  I so desire to have and keep a pure heart and to use that in service and ministry for the Kingdom. 

Join me this week praising God for and praying for the following: 

1.      Pray for our nation.  I feel a very strong scene of oppression or depression, even among Believers. 

2.      Pray for those in the extended PureHeart family that are battling cancer, going through or have gone through divorce, battling addiction.  

3.      Pray for Brad, Ryan and I as we organize a small group of men who have come to us desiring what PureHeart has to offer.  Pray for God’s guidance, God’s timing and God’s will to be fulfilled. 

4.      Praise God for all He has done and all He is going to do.

5.      Pray for eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to understand!  We can not be blind, deaf and lack understanding in our spiritual walks.

6.      Pray for our team of prayer partners that bathe this ministry in their prayers.  Thank you for your years of faithful prayers. 

7.      Pray for us.  Brad, Ryan and I are all extremely busy with our families, marriages and careers.  Pray for us as we balance all. 

Sharing from the Heart;

Steve