Saturday, January 4, 2014

His heartbeat

"And I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God],"  Ezekiel 11:19 Amplified

Valentine's Day crams the shelves of stores today, as heart shaped chocolate boxes, teddy bears, jewelry, and delicate wood roses promise to win the heart of the one you love.  February is known by all as the month of hearts, as seen by copious amounts of pink and red heart themed everything sold just about everywhere, from jewelry to candy, clothing to toys, cards to mugs, and everything else in between.  The world promises we can buy these hearts to show our hearts to the hearts of those we love.  It's known as THE love holiday of the world.  And it loads many with expectations, burdens others with great pressure, while still others are left sadly longing for Valentine's love of their own. All the time though, the One and Only True Heart, filled with an overflowing measure of unconditional love is free and beating for us all.  Rich or poor, healthy or sick, young or old, good or bad; this is the One and Only Heart any and all will ever need.  This is the Heart that never stops flowing, or giving, or loving, and is consistently beating away to any and all willing to receive it.  The rhythmic heart within us that drums "lub dub... lub dub...lub dub" 93,000 times a day gives us physical life, while also being a constant reminder to us of the life-giving Spirit of God flowing into those of us who have received Jesus as our Savior.  Substitute "lub dub... lub dub...lub dub" for "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus",  because it is His sacrificial blood that gives eternal life to your own.  Once He resides in your heart, He IS your heart.  Feel the whisper of His name in every pulse of your own heart.  "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus".  Expectations too high?  Pressures too great?  Longings too deep?  His life giving, life saving Spirit flows through you with every thump.  "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus".  God took on a human heart, so that He could be your heart.  A constant reminder that He is always with each and every one of us, no matter where we are in our journey.  "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus"  His name and Spirit pounds through your veins minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day.  Your life is out of control?  You feel unloved?  You don't possibly have the strength left to face the next challenge or even the next minute?  Close your eyes, put your hand on your chest, and feel His heart surging everlasting life into your tired, weary, broken body.  Filling you up with exactly what you need: His love and His strength and His victory.  "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus".  Our heart is His.  His heart is ours.  A perfect exchange.  Not sure if you are doing enough with your life?  Feeling entrapped by sin?  Confused as to where to head next?  March to the beat of His Perfect Rhythm and Perfect Will and let Him lead the way.  "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus".  Feeling too old?  Too broken?  All used up?   Has your heart stopped beating; has His Spirit stopped flowing?  "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus".  The world offers us counterfeits of love, momentarily pleasing to the eye; hearts that are here today and gone tomorrow.  Don't look for a sign of love on the outside, but FEEL His steady, persistent mark of love within us.   "Je-sus"..."Je-sus"..."Je-sus".   This regular rhythmic whisper of His name and His love and His grace flowing within us is a gift we could never earn; pouring through us, at every Divine heartbeat, is His power, a power we will never deserve.   Let us never forget, especially during this season of hearts, that the One who loved us so much to freely offer up His own life and heart, is only ever a heartbeat away.