STEWARDSHIP OF THE HEART

This is one kind of giving for which there is no tax deduction. Pride rises in the soul too often as yeast makes a loaf of bread rise. It leads to an inflated sense of greatness that is more an illusion than the truth.

In my opinion a wise steward of the heart is one that comes to that crossroads with the Lord where one chooses the path to the right that leads to “not my will, but your will oh Lord.” That is a wonderful path to follow in terms of boasting about it to others. It is just very hard to follow in terms of truly surrendering the will.

Along this path one has to step upon the stones of veracity. Honesty has to fuel the progress. That can only come with the help of the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord’s spirit is aiding one in this journey each step helps us to see how God is the really giving us the strength for the journey and it isn’t the result of our own strength.

But even more difficult is being able to appreciate how our stride is never perfect. It is often strained by the distractions of the heart. Mainly sin. And if they becomes too painful sometimes people step off the path to find a trail less stressful to their conscience. They ultimately do find one. Only it is seldom one that will lead in the direction God desires for our lives.

How often the little web of desires that covers our heart and lures us out of pure lust to follow our own way causes us to stumble. Sadly there are times in order to help to heal us of our dependency on this comforter of the ego God has to allow us to suffer a broken heart. Then he can repair it in a way that finally makes us willing to see his way as the real path towards heaven and not the one that looks more appealing to our selfishness.

But God knows are heart well enough to understand when that process will do not good. Thus there are some who have spent a lifetime marking time in the pews and thinking their membership in some house of worship is the measure of their spirituality and salvation.

They have a heart so filled with the dross of “me first” that it can never been turned into a true born again instrument for the lord. That would require submission of the will and a surrender to trust God by faith rather than the self-righteous delusion of their own works.

While I believe God would truly desire all would learn the kind of stewardship of our lives and heart that lead to obedience. He will not force us to do so unwillingly. We are given the free will of making that choice for ourselves.

And for some time and circumstance can and do guide us to the point of reaching the crossroads of submission. For others they are so busy racing towards the noise and clamor of man’s approval they can worry about the sign that points towards the Lord’s path. May the Lord be merciful and fill our hearts with his desire instead of the need to follow only our own ways. And may he give us the joy of finding out the wisdom and peace that comes from finally doing things according to his will.