the heart.

Our hearts.

They're probably one of the most fragile things we carry with us as human beings. And when I say fragile, I mean it in every way possible. It's incredible to me to think that it's in the direction of my heart to choose whether or not to keep me alive or not. Have you ever taken the time to seriously listen to someone else's heartbeat? It's a bit humbling isn't it? I know for me, when I listen to the heartbeat of someone I love it's sometimes scary. Scary, because it's surreal to think that their hearts could just stop at any moment in time. Yet I love the fact that my God holds me steps, and has the power to do with me what He desires, and with my heart.

The God of this universe created you. He designed you specifically for His purposes. Your heart...whether it's physically or spiritually is NOT your own. It's kind of like eating healthy and exercising. When you eat healthy and train your body towards exercise you begin to see good results, right? You're putting GOOD things into your body to get GOOD results.

The same is with our hearts. When we allow things to enter into our hearts, whatever they may be, we are allowing different things to happen. I always think of the Lord in this sense. The Lord created my heart. He designed it intricately for His purposes. He desires my heart. Why not let Him have it? I love what it says in Jeremiah 29:13,

"And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."

It's as simple as that. What are you finding yourself searching for? What are you finding yourself placing all your time, energy, and emotion in?  Guaranteed the things you are trying to seek 'fulfillment' from are leaving you empty. God is the only one who can and will satisfy your every need. I praise my God who has supplied me with above and beyond everything I've ever needed, and not only that, but I praise Him for supplying me with ENOUGH. I'm not fulfilled, joyful, or satisfied because God has given me everything I've ever asked for. No, but rather, God hasn't given me everything I've asked for. He's given me enough!! And in that, I am blessed and fulfilled.

As women, we struggle with this don't we? We're so used to media and society telling us what's "in" or what's "trendy" or what will bring us happiness or joy. Yet, sometimes we search these things out and find they may be too expensive. Or maybe they aren't what we thought they were once we purchased them. Then there are people who tread dangerous waters and they go for extreme makeovers. Plastic surgery, over excessive tanning, things that they think may benefit them in the end when in reality...they may pay thousands of dollars on plastic surgery, come out in pain and hating it, and they've completely ruined what God has beautifully given them. It's empty satisfaction, and we will always be empty as a society if we keep believing the lie. Yes that is what it is: a lie. The devil is good at making women feel worthless and inferior isn't he?

He tries all he can to lie to us and tell us we need to be number one (pride), we need to climb the corporate ladder of success and have dominion over men (lack of submission), we need to have smaller waists, bigger lips, darker skin (vanity, vanity, all is vanity). The devil is real good at making us believe that we will always be inferior and worthless unless we strive for more.

But more of what?

The "more" that we are searching for is a vicious cycle that will leave us completely desolate. That's the whole point. We run around in circles trying one thing, being fulfilled temporarily, then crashing again trying to start over. So we start something else...that only leaves us continually down and discouraged.

That's why the Lord tells us, "You will find ME when you search for ME with all your heart."

But that's what it takes. Your whole heart. God doesn't deserve nor does He want bits and pieces of your heart. You can't give Him Sunday mornings and live Monday-Saturday for your own selfish desires and pleasures. That isn't a relationship. That's selfishness. God deserves and desires your everything. He wants your heart, so He can do a transforming work in you.

Ladies, my hearts desire lately is that we drop the continual pursuit of this world's fleshly desires and lusts, and we cling to the cross of Christ. My desire is that we pursue daily, personal, hour by hour holiness that is pleasing to the Lord, that we strive on to be women of the Word and women of prayer, and that we continually run to HIM. Not boyfriends, not beauty, not popularity, not success, not anything other than the CROSS OF CHRIST. 

As we desire to be more like Jesus we will see that the temporary things of this world will no longer be necessary desires. It's neat to see how once we grow closer to God, the things He desires for us become our desires, too. Why? Because as we draw close to Him we want to honor Him. We want to glorify Him, and as we walk in Him we will see that the things He leads us to we desire to do out of obedience.

And if not? Well, we need to do some serious heart checking before the Lord. We need to ask Him to continually do a 'heart transplant' as I'd like to call it...wiping us clean of any sins, fleshly thoughts or desires..aspiring to live holy lives acceptable unto Him.

It isn't easy, and I'll tell you that you will never be perfect. We are being sanctified daily as we walk in Christ. I can tell you now that the woman I will be in 5 years will (I hope and pray) have only grown spiritually from who I am today. And that's how it should be right?

If you start exercising and eating healthy today, you want to see progressive results in 6 months and not WORSE results, right? The same should be in our walks with the Lord.

We should desire to press on and live uprightly.

Girls, my desire for you is that you seek Christ. Seek holiness. Seek the Word. Cry out to Him in prayer. We have been designed and created by God to be beautiful women at HEART. The outward FADES, but the inward will eventually be eternal.

Spend time exercising yourself towards godliness. My prayer for all of us is that we would daily seek God to become women of holiness. We are called to be set apart from this world, bringing glory to Christ, shining His light to our lost and broken generation.

YOU are the next generation. He is raising you up to do incredible things for His kingdom...don't waste your time on things that won't benefit.

I have to ask myself, "will this bring honor to God, and benefit the ministry in any way? What are my motives." Once you're able to HONESTLY check your heart and your motives, you will begin to see things that you may need to give up to God, or things that He may be showing you.

Our walks with the Lord are designed to be beautiful, intimate, exciting and incredible. They won't always be easy, happy, or blessed....but He is FOR YOU.

He loves you. He desires you. Give Him your heart.