A Care-Free Heart

Cultivating a Heart after God

A Carefree Heart

by Rachelle Crawford

Introduction:

On any given day, we experience anxiety; sometimes it is over the huge issues of life—loss of a job, divorce, illness, death…planning a wedding, our children; and sometimes it is over the small things in life---the sink is piled high with dishes! My haircut is horrible! What will I wear today?

Regardless, every human being experiences anxiety at one time or another. As we walk with the Lord, we desire to deal with anxiety according to His will and His way. In this study, we will explore anxiety, how it affects us, and how we can walk in victory over anxiety.

I.      What is Anxiety?

In 1 Peter 5:5-7, we are admonished to cast all our anxiety on God because He cares for us:

“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble (to make low, bring low; to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances; to assign a lower rank or place to; to abase; to have a modest opinion of one's self; to behave in an unassuming manner; devoid of all haughtiness) yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time casting all your anxiety (care, anxiety; to divide, to separate into parts) on Him, because He cares for you.”

Casting anxiety on God is an act of humility.

The Greek word for anxiety in this passage means to divide; to separate into parts, cut into pieces; to be split into factions.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines anxiety as:

concern or solicitude [carefulness] respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. It expresses more than uneasiness or disturbance, and even more than trouble or solicitude; it usually springs from fear or serious apprehension of evil, and involves a suspense respecting an event, and often, a perplexity of mind, to know how to shape our conduct.

Anxiety is a perplexity of mind; a division or disturbance of the mind. The painful uneasiness occurs when we forget that “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) We forget the promise of 1 Thes. 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

Our mind is disturbed and in a painful uneasiness because we are afraid of some evil we perceive coming our way or because we are uncertain of how to handle a situation, we are fearful that we will come into a place where we cannot control our circumstances and situation which may create discomfort or pain that we do not want to experience. What if this happens? What if that happens? We forget the truth of Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Is. 26:3-4 we discover the secret to a peaceful mind: “You will keep him in perfect peace (completeness, soundness, welfare; safety, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment; peace; friendship; covenant relationship), whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

A mind stayed on the Lord, our everlasting strength, is a mind at peace.

When we remove our focus from the Lord and place that focus on our selves—on our own strength, whether mental or physical—or on our circumstances, our mind becomes divided between faith in God Who is able and the uncertainty of my own ability to face whatever comes my way.

David understood the importance of an undivided heart/mind; a mind united in reverence for God Who is able. In Psalm 86:11 he prays, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear (stand in awe; revere, honor, respect) Your name.”

The most common Hebrew word used in Scripture for heart is “leb” or “lebab” which means:

• midst (of things) the middle or center of anything; heart (of man); soul, heart (of man)
• knowledge (which is the illumination of the mind)
• thinking (our ideas, supposings, judgments, intentions, meditations)
• reflection (our consideration of past thoughts, opinions or decisions of our mind or of past events)
• memory (the area of our heart where past events are retained)
• inclination (those things we are drawn to in our minds)
• resolution (the fixed purpose or determination of the mind)
•  determination of will (the faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or not to take an action; the aspect of who we are that decides among two or more objects, paths, or decisions, which we will embrace or pursue)
• conscience (internal self knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections and instantly approves or condemns them; the moral sense)
• As seat of:

§         appetites (natural desire of pleasure or good; the desire of gratification; passions directed toward an object)

§         emotions (the moving of the mind or soul)

§         passions (zeal or vehement desire; violent agitation or excitement of mind)

§         seat of courage (bravery; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution)

Therefore, God calls us to revere Him with every fiber of our being: our mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, our understanding, memory, inclination, resolution, determination of will, conscience, the seat of our appetites, affections, emotions, passions, desires, sensibilities, intelligence, and courage. Our whole heart!

AD.      What is the fruit of anxiety? Anything rooted in fear produces rotten fruit. In order to produce rich, godly fruit in our lives, we must address any and all anxiety.

1.    Walking in anxiety is prideful. Casting our anxiety on the Lord is an act of humility. Anxiety is an uneasiness of mind that occurs when we fear evil or an unknown future and we are unsure of how to shape our conduct to deal with what may come our way. The focus is shifted to “me, I” and away from the Eternal God Who is “my rock (security) and my fortress and my deliverer (escape); my God, my strength in whom I will trust my buckler, and the horn, of my salvation, and my stronghold.” (Ps. 18:2) When we become our own rock, fortress and deliverer, we usurp God’s authority as the one true Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer; we elevate ourselves to the place of the Lord of Psalm 18. We must surrender control to the One Who holds our breath in His hand and owns all our ways. (Dan. 5:23)

a.     Humble: the word in the Greek means to assign a lower rank or place to; to abase; to have a modest opinion of one's self; to behave in an unassuming manner; devoid of all haughtiness. If we are walking in a state of anxiety, we are in fear, a state of painful uneasiness because we have ceased looking to the All-Sufficient One and we have begun to look to ourselves for answers.

b.     Humility requires us take our eyes off our circumstances and place them on the One Who is Lord over all of our circumstances. We must acknowledge that He is in control, not us.  

c.     We are casting our anxiety upon the Lord because He cares for us! We must believe this and if we do not, we must renew our minds concerning Who He is and how He views us. Remember the God of Psalm 91. Psalm 91:1-2, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High (El-Elyon—the sovereign ruler of all the universe) shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Shadday or Shaddai—Most powerful God; the All-Sufficient One). I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God (Elohim--mighty, power; the Creator), in whom I trust (to have confidence, to be bold; be secure; to feel safe, be CARELESS) !"

d.     God alone is able to unite a heart to fear (stand in awe) and trust Him rather than placing one’s trust in one’s self. In Psalm 86:11, the Psalmist, beseeches the Lord, "Teach me Your way (manner, habit, way; of course of life (fig.); of moral character (fig.), O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart(inner man, will, heart, soul, understanding, midst (of things),mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, inclination, resolution, determination (of will), conscience, heart (of moral character), as seat of appetites, emotions and passions, as seat of courage) to fear (to revere, to be afraid, to stand in awe, to honor) Your name.” The Psalmist asks the Lord to unite his heart---to bring every area of his heart, including his mind, into unity to fear Him. This reveals that the heart can, indeed be divided; most commonly, through the presence of anxiety.

e.     Humility assumes God is in control and God has His will and our best in His heart. In Mark 12:30, Jesus answers the scribe, “and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you mind, and with all your strength.'" We learn here that we have a choice as to whether or not to assume goodwill toward the Lord in every area of our heart, which includes our mind. When we are divided in any area of our heart, this leaves room for unbelief and fear.

2.    Anxiety prevents us from being fruitful. Matt. 13:22, "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry (care; anxiety) of the world and the deceitfulness (concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading) of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”  The thorns of anxiety growing in any area of our heart will obstruct, hinder, and impede Truth; anxiety prevents the truth from settling into the soil of our heart to take root, grow, and expand to a flourishing “tree of life” that bears fruit. That’s why Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 4:3, “For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among the thorns”

3.    Anxiety causes depression. Proverbs 12:25, "Anxiety (anxious care) in a man's heart (inner man, will, heart, soul, understanding, midst (of things),mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, inclination, resolution, determination (of will), conscience, heart (of moral character), as seat of appetites, emotions and passions, as seat of courage) weighs it down (to bow down, to depress), but a good word makes it glad.”  When we are in a state of fear, a painful state of uneasiness, or confusion as to how to respond in a situation, it creates oppression in that area of our heart affected by the anxiety. Before I became a Christian I was in a constant state of anxiety and very much weighed down in my heart. I can’t think of much of anything that I did not experience anxiety over, from school work to friendships. I was uneasy about virtually everything that I did not feel I had control over. Unfortunately, when I became a Christian, this anxiety-stricken way of life and the heaviness that accompanied it, did not magically disappear. I controlled my life in order to feel safe. Sadly, I was a dismal failure. It wasn’t until I began a passionate pursuit to understand Who God is according to His Word (the Bible), how He views me, and who I am in Him that the anxiety that had sucked the life from me and weighed me down began to dissipate. It was not until I began to surrender my heart, daily, to the Lord that I was able to experience some relief from anxiety. It was strange at first, because anxiety had become a constant companion; it was familiar and therefore brought a strange sense of comfort. I remember when I first began to cast my anxiety on the Lord and when I first began to acknowledge that He cared for me and would take care of me, I almost felt guilty that I wasn’t worrying because that made me feel as if I actually cared. Do you hear the “me, me, I, I?” I had to learn to surrender to the One Who is sovereign over all. The One Who loves me and would take care of me. As I continued to practice casting my anxiety on God, anxiety not only became an enemy, but the Lord became my beloved friend.

B.    How do we combat anxiety? 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober (to be calm and collected in spirit; to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect), be vigilant; because Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

1.    Realize the devil roams around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

a.     Lions usually hunt at night when the moon is not visible or at dawn. Ever notice that anxiety seems most pronounced when you are trying to fall to sleep or manifests in your dreams? The devil is a bully, and bullies tend to inflict the most damage when their victim is vulnerable. But take heart! God has promises apply to each and every one of His children: Psalm 91:5-6 says, “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence (deadly disease; something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil) that stalks in darkness…” and Psalm 4:8 declares, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

b.     Lions have excellent acceleration, but they are unable to chase their prey for long distances.  They stalk their prey; they become extremely adept at getting very close to the prey they intend to kill. The ability to hide and intently watch the animal as the lion slinks its way closer is vital to foraging success. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are admonished to “be sober, be vigilant,” in other words, we are to take an offensive position against the enemy. In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are encouraged to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles (cunning arts, deceit, trickery) of the devil. We discover that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. We are then instructed to put on the full armor of God, taking up the shield of faith with which we are able to quench the fiery darts of the evil one and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. In believing God is Who He says He is according to His Word, and believing His Word is Truth, we defeat the devil.

c.     When stalking its prey, the lion changes its posture by lowering its head and body staying low to the ground while keeping a visual lock on the target prey.  Whenever the prey looks away or looks down to eat, the lion creeps closer, and if the prey is to look in the direction of the lion, the lion will cease its movement and remain still.  This interplay continues until the lion gets within striking distance.  After the lion has entered the striking distance, it pounces and ends the chase rather abruptly. Have you ever felt stalked by the enemy and then the next thing you know, he pounces and you are caught? 1 Peter 5:8 instructs us to be vigilant. The Greek word used for vigilant means to watch; give strict attention to, be cautious, active; to take heed lest through remission some destructive calamity suddenly overtakes you. In other words, we are to take a defensive position against the enemy. In Ephesians 6 the Apostle Paul encourages us to stand, having adorned ourselves with the defensive aspects of the armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and the shield of faith (both offensive and defensive). Believing God is Who He says He is, believing He keeps His promises, believing Who we are in Christ, and believing How He views us is key in defense against the enemy’s lies. Because the only power the enemy has is in a lie. If we choose not to believe his lies, we walk in the liberty that is ours in Christ.   EXAMPLE: You blow it. You lose your temper, you yell at the kids, you watch something you shouldn’t have, you said something your shouldn’t have…the list goes on…and the rest of the day you walk in condemnation. You forget that you serve a God Who paid the price for your sins and by His blood you are justified before Him—you forget that if you repent of your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). As long as you stay in that condemnation, you are placing yourself on the throne as your Savior; you are requiring yourself to pay for that sin. That is pride---just fall upon the Rock and be broken---He already paid the price.

Believe Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Repentance is a choice to walk according the Spirit rather than according to the flesh. Receive God’s forgiveness and move forward in His grace.

2.    Resist the Enemy. 1 Peter 5:9 Verse we are admonished to resist the devil by standing firm in the faith knowing that our brothers and sisters in Christ, throughout the world, too are standing against the schemes of the enemy.

a.     Stand firm in our faith. The conviction that God exists and is the Creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ---stand firm in knowing that God is Who He says He is.

b.     Know that we are not alone. A tactic of the enemy is to convince us that we are the only one who is going through what we are going through, that we are the only one who is thinking what we are thinking, the only one who is suffering. We are not alone. God is with us and has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5)

c.     Believe God. Daniel 6:3-23—Daniel distinguished himself above all the governors and satraps because he had an excellent spirit. The satraps and governors become jealous of Daniel and hatched a plot to have him executed. So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! In Verses 7-10,  we see that all the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisers,  consulted together to establish a royal statute and decree that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days except the king, would be cast into a den of lions. After the decree was signed, Daniel went home, knelt down and prayed, giving thanks to God, “as was his custom.”  Daniel’s enemies report him to the king and Daniel is thrown into a den of lions. God miraculously shut the lions’ mouths, preserving Daniel’s life.  Verse 23, “ Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed (to confirm, to believe in; to trust) in his God.” Daniel was delivered from the mouths of the lions because he believed that God is Who He says He is, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Ps. 18:2)

II.      How do we walk free from anxiety?

A.    Pray with thanksgiving. Phil. 4:6-8, “Be anxious (to be troubled with cares; to seek to promote one’s interests) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard (protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble (deserving of honor or respect), worthy of reverence), whatever things are just (upright; righteous, and virtuous), whatever things are pure (venerable (excites reverence), sacred; pure from carnality, chaste, modest), whatever things are lovely (acceptable, pleasing), whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue (moral excellence; modesty, purity) and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

1.    Prayer: talk and listen to God.

2.    Supplication: seek God’s heart, make requests, and discourse with God.

3.    Thanksgiving: Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definition, the act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.

4.    Requests known to God: freely express our hearts’ desire before God.

5.    Peace: the meaning of this word in the original Greek is: security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous); the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. Ephesians 2:14 reminds us, “For He Himself is our peace…”

6.    Heart guarded by peace: this verse assures us that our heart will be kept as a military guard keeps watch, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight. God’s peace guards against anxiety, fears, and the other fiery darts of the enemy. His peace also keeps truth safe in our hearts.

B.    Dwell on Good Things, Philippians 4:8

1.    True: sow the Word of God into your heart! Sow truth concerning Who God is, how He views us, and who we are in Him.

2.    Noble: dwell on that which is worthy of honor, respect, or reverence. The Lord, first and foremost!

3.    Just: dwell on that which is upright, righteous, right, and virtuous.

4.    Pure: dwell on those things that excite reverence, that inspire you to worship in purity, free from offense.

5.    Lovely: discover what is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord and dwell on that.

6.    Good Report: think on those things that are pleasing, happy, and encouraging.

7.    Virtuous: take a virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action. Think on those things that are of moral excellence; modesty, purity.

8.    Praiseworthy: dwell on anything that is worthy of praise or approval.

C.    Surrender daily to God’s heart and will.

D.   Receive His love, mercy, and grace daily.

The Paths of the Lord: Mercy and Truth

“All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” Ps. 25:10

The Hebrew word for mercy in this passage means: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.

The Hebrew word for truth means: firmness, faithfulness, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance; truth as spoken; truth of testimony and judgment, of divine instruction, as a body of ethical or religious knowledge.

If we stray from mercy and/or truth, we stray from the path of the Lord. 

When we discover we have strayed from His path, the compass which leads us back to His path is found in the very heart of God (revealed in His Word) as we bow before His throne:

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16

May we run to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The Winepress

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations (a pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaph: oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits), knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (steadfastness, constancy, endurance; in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; a patient, steadfast waiting; a patient enduring, sustaining) and perseverance, character; and character, hope (expectation of good; joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; the Author of hope or He Who is its foundation; the thing hoped for). Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

In these passages, we learn that tribulations (a pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaph: oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits) produce perseverance, perseverance, character, character, hope and hope does not disappoint.

When I ponder the nature of tribulations, what comes to mind is the ancient art of wine making. In Ancient Rome, for instance, a wine press was a device used to extract juice from crushed grapes. The press exerted carefully controlled pressure in order to free the juice from the grapes. The wine maker was careful to apply just the right pressure to avoid crushing the seeds and releasing a great deal of undesirable tannins—bitter plant chemical, into the wine.

Does it ever feel like you are in a wine press? If you have placed your heart in the hands of the Master Vinedresser (John 15:1), do not despair, He knows just how much pressure to apply to avoid crushing you to the point of bitterness. 

Ancient Roman wine making involved treading the grapes by foot quickly after harvesting. The treading process released the sweet juice from the grape--the juice which was most prized. Only through brokenness could the sweet juice be accessed. The Master Vinedresser sovereignly allows experiences and circumstances into our lives to facilitate a pressing and subsequent brokenness in order to produce the sweet aroma of Christ in our lives.

The construction and use of Roman wine presses was specific, labor intensive and expensive. The wine press was comprised of horizontal beams placed across a basin attached to a rope and heavy weights. The crushed grapes were placed between the beams, pressure was applied by winding down the heavy weights, allowing the pressed juice to run down between the beams into a basin. in a way in which the wine maker would have easy access to the newly pressed juice. The wines were often exposed to high temperatures and "baked" or boiled to concentrate the sugars. 

Jesus was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and crucified. During this intense time of pressing, Jesus responded, "...saying, 'Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.'” (Luke 22:42) Jesus was broken and crushed. He died and was buried. Three days later He rose from the dead. In His surrender to the Master Vinedresser, God's perfect will was accomplished. He paid the price so we could live. Jesus' sacrifice makes it possible for us to enter into life and an intimate relationship with Him.

In the estates where pressing was used, the grapes were pressed several times. The juice that came from last pressings were coarser and more bitter. Being crushed beyond the divinely controlled pressure, releases a great deal of tannins (bitterness) in our lives. If we are emitting bitterness, it is a sure sign that the Master Vinedresser had no part in that particular process.

Whether it is due to life’s devastations, disappointments, trials, trauma, etc., or an all out attack from the enemy, if you feel crushed to the point of bitterness, this is not the result of the pressing done by the Master Vinedresser. “For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands” (Ps. 145:3-5).

He only presses to the point to which He extracts the sweet juice He is after…anything else is not of Him. “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (1 Cor. 4:8-10).

After pressing, the grape must--freshly pressed juice that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit--was stored in large earthenware jars. The jars were then partially buried into the floors of the barn (from two to four weeks) to ferment before the wine was removed and stored in vessels.

For each of us, there is a time after the pressing when we are “stored away” in order to "ferment," enhancing sweetness. This final process is necessary in order to create the wine (life) which is mature, ready for pleasurable consumption (influential in the lives of others). 

The pressing (trials, tribulations, “baking,” and “boiling”) and hiding away is purposeful. James 1:2-4 reminds us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Once the process is finished, we are then mature, ready to reflect the sweetness of the Master Vinedresser in a profound and influential way.

You see, the ultimate goal in the pressing process is for the Master Vinedresser to see His image reflected in us, allowing us to reflect His beauty to those around us. If you are feeling broken due to the pressure, know this: “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18). “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- these, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). Your brokenness is precious in His sight.

The Lord has us in the palm of His hand. He gently guides us, He does not press to the point of crushing. 

Remember: “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Is. 42:3-4).

Be Transformed!

In Romans 12:1, we are called to no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Shrouded in God’s mercy through Jesus Christ, we are called to offer up our bodies as living sacrifices to God, we are called to set ourselves apart from the ways of the world. The word used for conform in the original text means: to conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to). We are cautioned against fashioning our mind and character after the ways of the world.

The Greek word used in this passage for transformation is the word "metamorphoo," which is where we get our word metamorphosis. A metamorphosis occurs when there is a complete change of form, structure, or substance as seen in the life cycle of the butterfly. In other words, we undergo transformation as we are faithful to renew our minds by the washing of the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26).

The word used for renewing in the original text means to renovate. Renovation is the process of making new after decay, destruction or depravation. Renovation is a time consuming process, requiring a stage of deconstruction which precedes the actual reconstruction.

When we purchased a home in California, the kitchen was in such disrepair we were compelled to renovate. We met with a designer and drew up the plans for our new kitchen, choosing cabinets, countertops, appliances, etc. in order to reconstruct our new kitchen.

We hired a carpenter, but before he arrived, we spent a day clearing out
cabinets, the refrigerator, and the pantry to prepare for the renovation.

On the appointed day, the carpenter appeared, laden with tools, and renovation commenced. Dust flew and debris accumulated as Mr. Carpenter tore down old cabinets (in such decay they were unsalvageable), hauled out old appliances, and sledge hammered old countertops. He toiled until the kitchen was just a skeleton of its former self. The deconstruction was complete. The next phase of renovation began; the task of reconstruction.

Mr. Carpenter went to work rebuilding the new kitchen, installing new cabinets, appliances, and counter tops we had selected. Several days later, the project complete, he swept up the mess, calked the last hole, applied the final trim and gave us the bill. We then were able to enjoy our beautiful new kitchen.

Just as in the case with our dilapidated kitchen, God calls us to a heart renovation. He calls us to tear down the decaying, destructive, and depraved thought patterns of our minds (deconstruction) in order to reconstruct patterns of thought (which produce feelings, emotions, and actions) which are consistent with His Word and with His way.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

God’s Word is the primary tool necessary for the renovation process of our minds. God’s Word acts as a carpenter’s knife that cuts through lies we have embraced, it pierces us with conviction, separating what is of the Spirit from what is simply of the flesh, and His Word distinguishes between and separates out the thoughts and intents of our heart.

It is by His Word we are transformed! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) and the Word is in us (Rom. 10:8). The Word cleanses us (Eph. 5:26-27), sanctifies us (John 17:17), keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:9), directs us (Psalm 119:105), delivers us from destruction (Psalm 107:20), revives us (Psalm 119:25), tests us (Psalm 105:19), and gives us life (Psalm 119:50)! The Word is a person and His name is Jesus (John 1:1; Rev. 19:13)!

As we renovate our minds through the washing of the water by the Word, we are changed from one form to another (metamorphosis)—we are transformed!

(excerpt taken from "In Pursuit of God's Heart," by Rachelle Crawford)

GRACE

“FOR THE GRACE (that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness; grace of speech; good will loving kindness, favor; thanks; reward) OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN, TEACHING US, THAT DENYING UNGODLINESS (impiety—ungodliness; irreverence towards God; contempt of the divine character and authority; neglect of the divine precepts) AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY (with sound mind, temperately, discreetly; calmly), RIGHTEOUSLY (just, properly, uprightly, agreeable to the law of rectitude—rightness of principle and practice; uprightness of mind; conformity to truth), AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE, LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE AND GLORIOUS APPEARING OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM EVERY LAWLESS DEED AND PURIFY, FOR HIMSELF HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.” Titus 2:11-14

PONDER: Grace is an actual substance (poured out upon us by a benevolent God!) that enables us to walk in a way which is pleasing to God. It is by grace we are saved (through faith) and it is grace that enables us to walk free from contempt toward our Maker, to walk free from cravings of those things which are forbidden, and to walk uprightly with a sound mind.

Why Worship God Alone?

“And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them (worship: bow down; prostrate one’s self) nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.’” Ex. 20:1-6 (1st and 2nd Commandments).

Why does God demand supreme honor, respect, and veneration? Why does He demand exclusive worship? 

Noah Webster in his 1828 dictionary definition of worship: to adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration. Thou shalt worship no other God. Exodus 34. 2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. 3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover. God is the Creator and based on that fact alone, He deserves exclusive worship—adoration, divine honors, reverence with supreme respect and veneration; extravagant love and extreme submission.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines honor and veneration: 

Honor: 1. The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation.

A prophet is not without honor except in his own country. Matthew 13:1. 2. A testimony of esteem; any expression of respect or of high estimation by words or actions; as the honors of war; military honors; funeral honors; civil honors. 3. Dignity; exalted rank or place; distinction. I have given thee riches and honor 1 Kings 3:1. Thou art clothed with honor and majesty. Psalms 104:1. In doing a good thing, there is both honor and pleasure. 4. Reverence; veneration; or any act by which reverence and submission are expressed, as worship paid to the Supreme Being.

Veneration: the highest degree of respect and reverence; respect mingled with some degree of awe; a feeling or sentiment excited by the dignity and superiority of a person, or by the sacredness of his character, and with regard to place, by its consecration to sacred services. 

We as human beings are God's creation, His workmanship. Michelangelo created a masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He deserves honor and the highest degree of respect and reverence for his workmanship. It would be ridiculous to give honor, respect and reverence to Rembrandt for the Sistine Chapel master work, as he did not produce the beautiful masterpiece. God created human beings in His image, therefore the Creator deserves honor, the highest degree of respect and veneration for His creation. 

God is a loving, relational God as reflected in the Trinity~~Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons Who share the essence of their being: LOVE (God is love, 1 John 4:8). God lovingly created human beings as relational beings, created, first and foremost, to share in a relationship with their Creator God. Setting aside God as Lord in our hearts (honor and the highest degree of respect and reverence) through Jesus Christ is the foundation of our worship and our relationship with Him. 

In Genesis chapter three, we discover the devastation that occurs when we deviate from our original design. Adam and Eve chose to deviate from God’s command concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said, “Don’t eat.” They ate. In essence, Adam and Eve chose to exalt themselves and their desires above those of their Creator. Their worship was displaced. They chose to give honor and submission to the devil (and their own desires) rather than to God alone. The result: devastation and death. 

A clothes dryer is designed to dry clothes. If I decided one day that I wanted to make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and chose not to use the stove, but instead used the clothes dryer to cook my dinner what do you suppose would happen to my clothes dryer? Yes, indeed, the dryer would be destroyed. The dryer was not designed to cook dinner.

In Romans 1:20-25, explains the consequences of misplaced worship: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile (devoid of truth) in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell). Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Worshipping the creation (idolatry) rather than the Creator prevents us from knowing truth, creates ignorance of divine things, and binds us to the lusts of our hearts. The consequence: separation from God and lack of liberty of heart. We were designed to freely worship Him, to share in a relationship with our Creator God. 

"The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.'" ( Jeremiah 31:3) God loves us with an everlasting love. His heart is that no one is separated from Him. His heart is that we walk at liberty in His love, according to His Word. "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" (John 8:32) 

So, how do we live according to God's design for us, to worship God exclusively? We consecrate our hearts before God through Jesus Christ, surrendering our  hearts to Him, then positioning our hearts in alignment with the prayer found in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way (pain, sorrow, idol) in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

This prayer is an invitation for God to sift through every recess of our heart, to uproot anything (unresolved pain, sorrow, or idols) that may stand in the way of exclusive worship and intimacy with Him. As we open our hearts to Him, He is faithful to heal, restore, and liberate our souls from the ravages of sin, pain, loss, and sorrow.

Some idolatry of the  heart is obvious. Various vices such as alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, etc., or placing something first and foremost in our heart such as a person, career, pleasure, our own way, etc., may be self evident, but there are times when our complex hearts hide idols. That is when we need the spotlight of the Holy Spirit shining in the hidden recesses to expose any and all things that stand in the way of exclusive worship of the One Who alone is worthy: Creator God. 

God is faithful to reveal anything that stands in the way of exclusive worship because He is a good, loving God Who desires a relationship with His most precious creation—mankind. In His sovereign love, God designed us to worship Him alone which produces life! And most importantly, the result is intimacy (a sweet relationship) with the One Who created us in His image, for His glory.