There's A Stake In My Heart

Are you listening to your negative thoughts, maybe even marinating in them?

Are you spewing out that ugly to other people?

The Bible says the words we say come straight from our hearts, our words actually reflect our spiritual conditions.

However, when we are followers of Christ, God is in us!

So, because the Spirit of God is in us we SHOULD BE producing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I don't see the words negative, mean-spirited, discouraging, bullying or condescending anywhere.

I confess my spiritual 'fruit' orchard has to be tended almost on a daily basis. In fact, the 'gardener' prunes the ugly, wayward branches in my orchard and throws out the unattractive, rotten, non-productive fruit.

Thankfully, God is my loving and wise gardener. Sure, his pruning is painful but it always leads to more fruit. It's hard to speak negative things to myself or spout hurtful words to others, when I’m cultivating love, joy, peace kindness, gentleness and self-control!

I encourage you to pray and read God's Word. His life-giving words are nurturing. Let him put a stake in your heart and gain ground there. Ask him daily to renew your mind and to give you a fresh vision of Whose you are.

There's no getting around it, if you're God's child, He wants to move you from where you have been! We are meant to become more like Christ every day! That means change must come, and change begins in the heart.

How does such a transformation happen?

If you haven’t already, join a bible-believing, gospel truth-telling church where God is glorified through worship and His Word, heaven and hell are real places, the consequences of sin aren’t glossed over, salvation is offered, and grace and mercy are extended.

Get involved in a small group at church. Study the Bible and do life alongside those people. Make friends. Share in the good times and hard times with one another. Pray together. Cry together. Laugh together. Hold each other accountable to the ways of God.

Study and teach yourself the promises and truths of God’s Word. Practice them regularly.

Ponder the Words of God! Soak your mind in them. Etch them on your heart. Plaster sticky notes with helpful bible verses on the places you frequent most often in your home, at work. Apply God's truths to your life, in every situation.

Pray. Prayer is your lifeline. When you seek God with your whole heart, you WILL find him.

When He speaks, listen. Then act. Don’t hesitate.

WHEN He says, ‘surrender!’ (And He will) Do it.

If He says, ‘wait!’ Do it.

If He says, ‘move!’ Do it.

If He says, ‘keep your mouth shut!’ Do it.

If He says, ‘speak!’ Do it.

Wash, rinse, repeat!

God can do in you what He is doing in me and in the lives of many, many others; He can transform you from the inside, out. Then, the words you speak to yourself and others will be life-giving, a gorgeous reflection of your beautifully transformed heart.

Let God drive a stake in your heart!

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words." Proverbs 4:20 NLT

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV

"Do not be transformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 ESV