Steve's Blog

The fourth attribute of spiritual leadership, I would attest, is for a leader to know their true selves. This comes more naturally to a leader who takes seriously the previously suggested traits: practicing the spiritual disciplines, honoring Sabbath rest, and listening well by noticing God, others and even oneself in an ever-deepening fashion. Therefore, knowing one’s true self before God will become a by-product of the above.

In general terms, knowing ourselves begins with an acceptance of our two-fold blessedness as beloved children of God, as well as our inclination toward brokenness, as evidenced in our self-absorption, sinfulness, and residual idolatries that occupy our hearts. Blessedness and brokenness are the two sides of our human coin of life this side of heaven.

Our belovedness as sons and daughters of God is a much affirmed truth throughout the Scriptures. The biblical text is replete with examples of God’s unconditional, generous, grace-filled, lavishing, affectionate, cherished, personal, intimate, magnificent, glorious, unreserved, amazing, incredible, joy-filled, inconceivable, miraculous, eternal love (the list could go on and on!). Over and over again, the Lord is shown to be merciful, trustworthy, loving, and gracious. As the prodigal son discovered, even when he was afar off, the Father has His eyes peeled in the son’s direction. So, when he “comes to his senses” and turns toward home, the Father is running toward him with arms outstretched to lovingly welcome him home. He places a kiss on his cheek, a robe on his shoulders, a ring on his finger, new sandals for his feet, and kills a fatted calf as the feast is prepared to celebrate his joyous return. That’s belovedness-in-the-Father’s-eyes at it’s finest!

God not only initiates toward us in times of joy, but His unfailing love is a 24/7 reality even in our times of brokenness and disobedience. The Father was standing on the porch of heaven watching and waiting for the prodigal to finally awaken to the reality of his piggish lifestyle. The Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is there for us no matter the circumstances or situations of our lives. Our times of brokenness are like a magnifying glass lens over our need for God. We are desperate for God especially when we need Him the most. What awareness do you have today about your propensity to lean away from God and entertain the temptations of the enemy of your soul? Give voice to that in prayer and invite the Spirit to empower you to say “no” to such pulls away from God, and invite the Lord to reorder your loves today.

One final note: if you haven’t already taken some of the self-awareness instruments available online and in person, such as the Myers-Briggs, DISC inventory, Strengths Finder, Enneagram, etc., then I strongly suggest you do so. These helpful assessments will enlighten your pathway toward a deeper self-awareness and will be an aid to greater relational health and emotional vitality. They are no substitute to the powerful transformation that occurs when we are in the Word and prayerfully postured before God in our spiritual formation process, but they can certainly assist you as a leader in the body of Christ in all aspects of your personal vision and mission.

As the “true self” leader goes, so goes the “true self” team and all who are impacted by leadership in the organization. Always remember: the truth (yes, even about you) will set you free!

As a result of a leader’s prioritization of the care and nurture of one’s own soul, through the practice of spiritual disciplines and the honoring of Sabbath rest, a third focus of prayerful intention is “to listen.” Listening first and foremost to God, through His Word, creation, community, life experiences, disappointments and joys, the leader develops a heart for listening and noticing God. But, when a leader emerges from the prayer closet and enters the world of service, it’s important that a leader listen to those s/he serves. An additional person to listen to is oneself…self-awareness comes from internal listening and the “aha” of the conscience.

Listening to the joys, hurts, and needs of others is an acquired skill. We aren’t naturally inclined to listen to another. Instead, most of the time we’re actually not very focused on anyone but self. So much of life is about self-protection and self-promotion, that to earnestly listen to others we must put aside our own selfish needs and attend loving and compassionately to others. This requires humility of heart and openness of mind, attributes of our personhood that we only acquire through prayerful intentionality. When distracted by our own inner compulsions to self-reference, one can whisper a simple prayer, “Lord, help me to listen with empathy at all times and with all persons.”

Listening to oneself is by far the most challenging. We may consider ourselves self-aware, but in fact most of us are pretty skewed in our self-perceptions. We may think of ourselves as loving, kind, and gracious (for example), but it’s not up to us to evaluate – what does your spouse, children, or significant others have to say about you? Have you ever asked and truly listened? And, in your own personal time with the Lord, are you free to inquire of Him regarding an attitude or action, such as “Why did I respond that way, Lord?” Showing interest in your own responses will enlighten you for the way forward. Practicing healthy self-examination is good for the soul.

Leaders who choose to increase their attentiveness quotient in all areas of life will undoubtedly be the healthiest spiritual leaders. Begin by noticing God in His Word, His still small voice in prayer, through times of corporate worship or service, and in the beauty of His creation. Notice God in your everyday experiences with others, seeking to develop an ever-deepening awareness of those around you. Then, don’t forget to stay attuned to your own joys, needs, aspirations, and frustrations, and seek greater clarity to the “Why’s?” of your reactions and responses to all that life delivers to you.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” James 1:19.

I believe it’s vital for spiritual leaders to first and foremost develop rhythms of Scripture, Prayer and Reflection in their personal prayer closets. Here we enter holy spaciousness to listen attentively to the fresh movement of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in a delightful place of silence and solitude. Practicing these means of grace on a regular basis opens us up to a lifestyle of spiritual renewal and transformation.

Equally important to the first priority is the second…to honor and maintain Sabbath as a holy day set apart for rest and reflection, worship and relationships. Sabbath as a day of the week set apart for rest underscores the Sabbath-lifestyle of the spiritual rhythms we seek to embrace throughout our week. Of all the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20), this is the one that God Himself modeled and practiced before us after his first full work week of Creation! After the sixth day of creation He looked back with fondness on all of His work, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array and “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:1-3).

God worked hard, he saw that what he had done was very good, and then he rested. Spiritual leaders are invited to embrace that same rhythm: working hard, enjoying the fruit of their labors, and then resting deeply and refreshingly. I recently heard a pastor say “Exhausted Christ followers trying to justify themselves outside of Christ have nothing to offer an exhausted world trying to justify themselves outside of Christ.” I was struck by the power of this comment, especially in light of the essential priority of Sabbath. Without Sabbath rest, we exhaust ourselves working from our own human strength. As a result, we have little to offer the world we live within, which is filled with people working 24×7 in hopes of keeping their heads above water in all aspects of their full to overflowing lives.

Spiritual leaders understand and embrace the joy of Sabbath rest – as a day of the week, and as a lifestyle. Marva Dawn, Mark Buchanan, and others have written about Sabbath. The major movements of Sabbath are as follows: first we cease what we normally do throughout the week, then we rest with the delight of the work we’ve accomplished. Ceasing and resting are complemented by celebrating the life we enjoy in Christ and then embracing the call of God on our lives to continually contribute to building up the Kingdom of God in all areas of life and service. Cease – rest – celebrate – embrace. Sabbath rhythms that are restorative and rejuvenating for the soul.

Will you reconsider your view and treatment of Sabbath rest? Your heart, soul, body, work, church, community, and relationships are crying out for it…be encouraged today to explore this topic further and then watch how your life changes as result. Guaranteed!

This week a group of leaders will gather for three days of retreat together. We’ll exegete the term “spiritual leadership” and assess our own life in reference to that calling. One of the primary ways we lean into becoming leaders who reflect the Spirit’s priorities is through the means of grace known affectionately as the spiritual disciplines. The main practices we will discuss surround the Scriptures, prayer, and reflection. Our focus will be on how we can receive from God through the gifts of His Holy Word, His tender voice, and His abundant life. “True, whole prayer is nothing but love” writes St. Augustine…spiritual leaders embody and emulate the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Richard Foster, in his marvelous book simply titled “Prayer: Finding The Heart’s True Home,” articulates the invitation of God to come close, draw near, and follow Him…

“Today the heart of God is an open wound of love. He aches over our distance and preoccupation. He mourns that we do not draw near to him. He grieves that we have forgotten him. He weeps over our obsession with muchness and manyness. He longs for our presence. And he is inviting you – and me – to come home, to come home to where we belong, to come home to that for which we were created. His arms are stretched out wide to receive us. His heart is enlarged to take us in. For too long we have been in a far country: a country of noise and hurry and crowds, a country of climb and push and shove, a country of frustration and fear and intimidation. And he welcomes us home: home to serenity and peace and joy, home to friendship and fellowship and openness, home to intimacy and acceptance and affirmation” (p. 1).

Spiritual leaders know how to follow God’s invitation home…where love reigns. Nothing but love, pure love.

For the third week in a row, I’m happy to welcome a guest blogger, Dr. Kathy Johnson, for the final part of her delightful three-part series. Kathy is a former D.Min. Student of mine at Gordon-Conwell and wrote her doctoral thesis on “Scripture Based Reflective Prayer.” As a result, she is a person we need to listen to in our desire as spiritual leaders to go deep with God in our prayer closets. Enjoy these three very practical, personal, and biblical reflections.

In this final post in my series on Scripture-based Reflective Prayer (Reflective Prayer) I will expand on the final two stages: Responding and Resting.

Responding

“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me.”  ~ Psalm 17:6

The third stage of Reflective Prayer is Responding. At a certain point, our prayer moves from being centered in the intellect to being prayer from the heart. Prayer happens as the living Word touches our hearts and we respond to him at a deep inner level. Praying with Scripture draws us into a deeper encounter with the Living God through his Word. In this stage, we turn the Scripture passage into a dialogue with God, taking time to speak intimately with him about what he has shown us in our reflection. We may ask the Lord what he is saying or how he wants us to apply the truth of his Word to our specific life situation.

Listening is Key

Listening is an integral part of prayer. We move from reflection to responding as we, with open hearts, make ourselves available to the Spirit of God so that he is speaking and we are listening. Many times we think that prayer is supposed to be us talking and asking for things while God listens. In Reflective Prayer, we learn to listen and to be comfortable with silence.  Take time to wait for him to respond to your prayer and speak to your heart. Many times he is just waiting for us to open ourselves to hear him and to give him time to commune with us.

Resting

“Be still and know that I am God.”  ~ Psalm 46:10

The fourth stage of Reflective Prayer is Resting in God’s presence. This stage gives us the opportunity for an intimate time of communion with the Lord. Resting is the point in our prayer experience where the living God infuses his love into our hearts. We simply rest in the presence of the One who loves us and invites us into his transforming embrace. God himself calls us into this silence of heart, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). David longed for times of being in the presence of God and gazing upon his beauty (Psalm 27:4). There are times in all loving relationships when words are not necessary. In this stage we stop speaking and, in silence, simply enjoy being in the presence of God. This is a place where deep transformation of our hearts and lives occurs. Just take time to be with him and let him love you and refresh your soul.

Action

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit.”  ~ John 15:8

One of the results of encountering the Lord in prayer is that our lives are changed and we become more like Christ. As we draw close to him and his Word transforms our hearts, we will begin to live more and more like a fruitful disciple of Jesus. Our desire to obey him will grow stronger as we spend time with him. The process of Reflective Prayer is not concluded until it arrives at action. This is why it is helpful to ask, “How is God calling you to act in response to what he has shown you?”

Try it for yourself

I would encourage you to try the four stages of Reflective Prayer with one or two verses of Scripture. Have a pen and paper so you can write down any insights that the Lord gives you. Remember to begin with a few moments of silence.

1. Read – Read the verses slowly and prayerfully several times (out loud if possible), savoring the words and letting them sink in. Write down any words or phrases that seem to stand out.
2. Reflect – Now begin to think about the words or phrases that stood out to you. Come in faith with the expectation that the Lord will speak to you. Ask him a question such as “What does this mean?” to help you reflect more deeply. Write down any insights that God gives you.
3. Respond – Prayer is a two-way conversation with the Lord. Respond from your heart to what he has been revealing to you in his Word, especially taking time to listen to what he may be saying to you personally. You may want to write out your prayer to God and anything he says to you.
4. Rest – At any time, when you begin to sense the presence of the Lord, stop any mental effort you are making and just rest in and enjoy his presence.  This is the time to savor the special moment of connection between you and God. Treasure God’s Word in your heart.

Katherine Johnson is a lover of God, wife, mother, ecstatic grandmother of two, life-long missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, author, teacher, scuba-diver and Girl Scout. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas. Find Katherine’s blog HERE and her series of Scripture-based Prayer Guides at www.scriptureprayerguides.com.

Katherine Mills Johnson © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Once again, I’m happy to welcome a guest blogger, Dr. Kathy Johnson, for the second part of her delightful three-part series. Kathy is a former D.Min. Student of mine at Gordon-Conwell and wrote her doctoral thesis on “Scripture Based Reflective Prayer.” As a result, she is a person we need to listen to in our desire as spiritual leaders to go deep with God in our prayer closets. Enjoy these three very practical, personal, and biblical reflections.

In this second post in my series on Scripture-based Reflective Prayer (Reflective Prayer) I will expand on the first two stages: Reading and Reflecting.

Need for Silence

It is always good to take a few moments to prepare ourselves to encounter God through his Word. In the silence of our hearts we turn our thoughts and attention toward God and invite the presence of the Holy Spirit, acknowledging our need of him and our willingness to hear him speak to us though his Word.

Reading

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”  ~ 1 Samuel 3:10

Near my home is a traffic sign that makes me chuckle every time I drive by. It says, “Slow Duck Crossing.” For years I looked both ways to see if I could spot a duck, but I never did. Finally, one day I slowed down, parked, got out of the car, and was rewarded with the sight of several ducks swimming in a nearby pond. In some ways, the first stage of Reflective Prayer is like looking for a duck that we may miss if we drive too fast. If we take the time to slow down and give our full attention to God, he will speak to us through his Word.

The first stage of Reflective Prayer is reading. We approach reading with the knowledge that we are listening to the living Word of God. Slowly reading a short passage several times, we savor the words and let them sink in deeply. This is the opposite of reading quickly in order to finish a certain amount of material. Fast reading only lets the words go skin deep. In Reflective Prayer, we read for depth, not breadth. The goal is to listen to the Word of God, cultivating the ability to attend deeply to what God is saying whether it be through a sentence, phrase, or single word. St. Benedict calls it attending “with the ear of your heart.” We follow the example of Samuel, who said, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10).

This kind of reading and listening involves our intellect and at the same time is a prayerful and reverent act. We are deliberately and consciously turning to God with our minds and hearts. Listening to the voice of God involves being attentive to his sometimes still, small voice. Like the prophet Elijah, we may hear God, not in the earthquake or fire but in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12). As we realize God is beginning to speak, our reading begins to move into the second stage, reflection.

Reflecting

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” ~ Psalm 119:97

The second stage of Reflective Prayer is reflection. As we read, we naturally begin to reflect or meditate as we savor the truths that God is revealing. An example from Scripture is Mary, who pondered in her heart what she saw and heard of Jesus (Luke 2:19). The Psalmist knew the delights of meditating on Word of God: “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (Ps 119:97). It is a natural progression that as we read and immerse ourselves in the Word of God, we begin to think about it and consider its meaning.

Reflection can take the form of whatever is helpful. Some may use their imagination to view the passage through the eyes of the author or someone mentioned in the verses. Others may use a journal to reflect on what they have read. We may ask a question such as “What does this mean?” A monk named Guigo once said, “Reading, as it were, puts food into the mouth, meditation chews it and breaks it up.” The word ruminate has a similar meaning as the word ponder or meditate. Just as a cow chews the cud in order to gain the most nourishment, so we chew the words in order to gain spiritual sustenance.

A Word on Meditation

“The word of Scripture should never stop sounding in your ears and working in you all day long, just like the words of someone you love. And just as you do not analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did. That is all. That is meditation. Do not look for new thoughts and new connections in the text, as if you were preaching! Do not ask ‘How shall I pass it on?’ but ‘What does it say to me?’ Then ponder this Word long in your heart until it has gone right into you and taken possession of you.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Next time I will write more about the third and fourth stages: Responding and Resting. I will also provide some practical ways you can begin exploring this spiritual discipline yourself!

Katherine Johnson is a lover of God, wife, mother, ecstatic grandmother of two, life-long missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, author, teacher, scuba-diver and Girl Scout. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas. Find Katherine’s blog HERE and her series of Scripture-based Prayer Guides at www.scriptureprayerguides.com.

Katherine Mills Johnson © 2013 All Rights Reserved

I’m happy to welcome a guest blogger, Dr. Kathy Johnson, who is offering us a delightful three-part series. Kathy is a former D.Min. Student of mine at Gordon-Conwell and wrote her doctoral thesis on “Scripture Based Reflective Prayer.” As a result, she is a person we need to listen to in our desire as spiritual leaders to go deep with God in our prayer closets. Enjoy these three very practical, personal, and biblical reflections. Welcome, Kathy!

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ~ Luke 24:32

Do these words of the disciples on the Emmaus road describe your personal time with God?

Do you long to experience a deeper relationship with God in prayer?

Prayer is centered in relationship. Deep relationship with God and prayer have key elements in common. They are both a two-way communion between God and his beloved children. Intimacy of relationship is fostered by time spent together; true communication happens when both listening and speaking occur. When a Christian experiences intimacy of relationship with God in prayer, then prayer becomes a delight rather than a duty.

Research Shows

My recent research among a group of Evangelical and Catholic Christians who had been practicing their faith for 20 years or more showed that the vast majority were dissatisfied with their prayer life. Most believed that 2-way communication with God was important but, in reality, few practiced it. Scripture-based Reflective Prayer can, by its very nature, be a powerful tool and spiritual discipline to help Christians deepen their relationship with God and grow in their prayer life. This happens by encouraging thoughtful reflection on God’s Word, listening to him speak, responding to his voice and delighting in his presence.

This blog entry will be a very brief introduction to Scripture-based Reflective Prayer. I hope to whet your appetite for this kind of prayer and to give opportunity to practice it right away.

What is Scripture-based Reflective Prayer?

Since the early centuries of the church, Christians have encountered God through praying with the Scriptures. Scripture-based Reflective Prayer, or Lectio Divina (literally, “sacred reading”) as it is sometimes called, involves reading, pondering, praying, listening, and ultimately encountering Jesus, the Living Word of God. This tried and true way of praying with Scripture encourages intimate encounter with God. In it, we read the Word with an openness of heart, allowing it to penetrate our hearts and transform our lives though the work of the Holy Spirit. We converse with Jesus much as the disciples did on the Emmaus road when he opened the Scripture to them.

In Scripture-based Reflective Prayer (“Reflective Prayer,” for short), we enter into a conversation with God. It is very different than Bible study done for the sake of gaining information about God. The aim of Reflective Prayer is to nourish and deepen our relationship with God through Scripture and prayer. This intimate encounter with God should lead to the genuine transformation of our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this process we are also empowered to become more fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Four Stages of Reflective Prayer

Reflective Prayer consists of four prayer-filled stages:  Reading, Reflecting, Responding, and Resting.

1. Read – Read the verses slowly and prayerfully several times (out loud if possible), savoring the words and letting them sink in. Write down any words or phrases that seem to stand out.
2. Reflect – Now begin to think about the words or phrases that stood out to you. Come in faith with the expectation that the Lord will speak to you. Ask him a question such as “What does this mean?” to help you reflect more deeply. Write down any insights that God gives you.
3. Respond – Prayer is a two-way conversation with the Lord. Respond from your heart to what he has been revealing to you in his Word, especially taking time to listen to what he may be saying to you personally. You may want to write out your prayer to God and anything he says to you.
4. Rest – At any time, when you begin to sense the presence of the Lord, stop any mental effort you are making and just rest in and enjoy his presence.  This is the time to savor the special moment of connection between you and God. Treasure God’s Word in your heart.

What I have described is a very brief and introductory explanation of Reflective Prayer.  The beauty of this type of prayer is that it is really very simple. I will explain more in my next two blog entries but you can jump right in and try it for yourself today! One very important thing to remember is to slow down and take your time. Choose one verse (two, at most) of Scripture and use the 4 steps to lead you in praying with these verses. Have a pen and paper to record your thoughts and prayers.

Katherine Johnson is a lover of God, wife, mother, ecstatic grandmother of two, life-long missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, author, teacher, scuba-diver and Girl Scout. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas. Find Katherine’s blog HERE and her series of Scripture-based Prayer Guides at www.scriptureprayerguides.com.

Katherine Mills Johnson © 2013 All Rights Reserved

The convicted, broken, contrite heart that’s receptive to the will of God is a sweet offering sure to be blessed of God.  To offer our brokenness to God by way of a contrite spirit is showing sincere remorse, regret and/or sorrow for our daily sins or offenses. Literally meaning, “worn out, ground to pieces” the word contrite is ideally suited for the image of a heart broken open for a deeper work of forgiveness and sanctification to occur.

For those who are more pliable to the Spirit, a contrite attitude toward our brokenness and our desperate need for God is trustingly displayed. You may have heard about the sculptor who after finishing his work of art sees that there’s a crack in it. Knowing that it was imperfect, he decides to start over. He breaks the sculpture into pieces and then adds water. Once he does so, the sculpture became clay once more and he is able to re-create his work of art.  So it is with our lives…imperfect and flawed, needing to be broken and forgiven, we become whole once more by the gentle and loving hand of God the Master Artist.

For many, however, the genuine nature of a contrite heart meets internal resistance due to our pride and stubbornness. A contrite heart requires mourning over and regretting remorsefully our sinfulness and disobedience to God’s commands.  The essence of the gospel is that once admitting our arrogance and pride and submitting our lives into the hands of the Sculpture God, we are baptized as the water of His grace softens the hardened clay of our brittle hearts.  When we encounter defiance in our heart toward the need to become malleable to God, a spiritual wall is erected between God and our soul.

King David had a hard time coming to recognize his need for a broken, contrite heart after his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, his sin of murder toward Uriah her husband, and his sin of lying to God and others about his multiple offenses (read 2 Samuel 11 for the detailed story). It wasn’t until he was confronted by Nathan the prophet (2 Sam. 12) that he finally was convicted of his sinfulness, and was broken and contrite before the Lord.  Here was the shepherd boy turned king, leading the people of God, his army and officers, a musician and psalmist unlike any other, suffering from the struggle of running away from the most important response of all: repentance.

Psalm 51 is considered his tome on confession, forgiveness, and faithfulness – all ensuing as a result of his broken, contrite heart.  It’s the way we too must think and feel about our own sin, and our desperate need for God’s merciful touch of healing. He owns his sin and turns to God, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your compassion blot out my transgressions” (vs. 1). He prays for cleansing, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean” (vs. 7).  He pleads for renewal, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (vs. 10).  He delights in his restoration, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (vs. 12).

Psalm 51 proclaims the goodness of God and the righteousness of the people of God, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (vs. 17). Yes, a contrite heart is what pleases and honors God and brings about His favor (cf. Isaiah 61).  This is foundational to everything in life. Being a Christian means being broken and contrite – for this is the flavor of deep unending joy, peace, praise, and witness. Jonathan Edwards said it well, “All gracious affections that are a sweet aroma to Christ are brokenhearted affections. A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble brokenhearted love” (Religious Affections, p. 339). Will you open up yourself to God with a contrite heart today?

To speak of God, His Word, and the life He invites us to fulfill would be incomplete without the shear mention of the word love. Love is the heart of the gospel, and a loving heart is what the Lord wants of us more than anything else. His love toward us is almost indescribable and yet the Scriptures remind us that it’s unfailing, unconditional, and everlasting. It’s wrapped up in the personhood of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And, His love is made manifest in His creation, among His people, and through His life-changing transformation from darkness into light.

The most declarative statement of God’s desire for us to have a loving heart is found in the Great Commandments…to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Deut. 6; Matt. 22).  Upon these two commandments hang all other imperatives to love and serve in Jesus’ name. To miss this focus is to miss the very heart of God. And, to ignore this directive is to walk in disobedience. “Listen!” says the Lord…to the Beloved Son, Jesus, recalled both at His baptism and at the transfiguration (Matt. 3 and 17). The message of Jesus is summarized in one word: love. That’s the message we are to receive in our hearts and offer generously to others in Jesus’ name.

On the Mount of Beatitudes, we listen in on one of the most loving sermons to come from the voice of Jesus. It’s here where Jesus outlines the ways in which He longs for His disciples to live a life of love and to express a heart of love.  In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives a picture of the heart of the true people of God, those who are a part of His Kingdom and have the full blessings of the Kingdom.  A heart full of love embodies these attributes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matt. 5: 3-12).

Elsewhere Jesus invites His followers to remain in His love and fulfill the mandate: “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15: 9-13).  Jesus demonstrated this kind of love first and foremost to his closest disciples, but also to those who daily crossed His path. The Apostle Paul reiterates these truths by stating with clarity what a loving heart looks like: it is patient, kind, rejoices with the truth, always trusts, hopes and perseveres. It’s not envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, nor does it delight in evil (1 Cor. 13: 5-8).

None of these passages require much commentary. All are very self-explanatory.  Meditate on these few passages and a heart full of love will be revealed and offered to you today. One either has a heart of love based upon and motivated by the love of God, or one has a heart that’s directed selfishly toward interests contrary to God. What is your choice today? Will you receive the love of God into your heart and invite His Spirit to create within you a loving heart toward others? May it be so!

As a child I was fearful of the dark. Leaving a light on in the hallway and bathroom helped me feel safe. As an adolescent I developed a fear of fire. This most likely came from two house fires, which were devastating for families we loved. Living with fears can be debilitating, and people with fears and/or phobias are not to be ignored or ridiculed. No matter how fearful a heart can become, God understands and stands ready to heal. He’s done so in many hearts and lives throughout the generations.

Having a fear-filled heart is different from the “fear of the Lord” that the Scriptures encourage. Developing a healthy fear of the Lord means that the believer is in worshipful awe at the magnificence and majesty of God, trusting wholeheartedly in the promises, protection, and peace of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” we read in the Psalms (Psalm 111) and Proverbs (Prov. 9:10).  To fear God in this regard is good for the soul. A healthy, reverential fear of God leads one to a deeper trust in and a greater conviction about the Lord…it’s where wisdom begins.

Fears that aren’t led toward awe and reverence are those that hinder a vital relationship with God. When we hold onto our fears, either willfully or inadvertently, the fear itself can become at minimum a distraction, and can possibly become an idol in our soul (growing larger and more all consuming than God). The fear can cripple us from moving forward. It can damage relationships and diminish one’s effectiveness.

Fears come in multiple shapes and sizes. The list of phobias from A to Z numbers 100 or more. Some of the fears include the fears of flying, of crowds, of being touched, of thunder and lightening, of failure, of being alone, of clowns, of speaking in public, of needles/injections, and of strangers, just to name a few.  To grip onto our fears and not let them go is to allow them to reign captive in our hearts. Hope is the antidote to fear, and hope is what needs to be proclaimed to those captivated by their fears.  Disclosing one’s phobia to trusted family and friends is the beginning of the healing process. God uses His people as His hands and voice of hope of renewal.

For the less than incapacitating fears (those that don’t require psychological treatment or therapeutic attention), there is certainly hope for those who struggle with a fearful heart. To begin with, God isn’t the source of our fearful heart. Instead, He longs to give every believer a spirit of power and love and self-control (2 Tim. 1:7).  God’s great gift to all members of His family is love, and since God is love, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4: 18).  This is followed by one of the most significant truths of all…”We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It’s because of God’s first love that our fears can be driven out of our hearts and replaced with loving and gentle peace.

Is there a fear in your heart that you’d like to have removed by God and replaced with His love…love that is filled with confidence and contentment? Invite those you trust into the story of your fearfulness.  Ask them to give you the courage to pursue grace and healing. Embrace the freedom to confess your fear and entrust it into the gentle hands of God to redeem and transform for His greater glory…first in your own heart and then in your daily witness to all who cross your path.  May your fearful heart be radically transformed into a trusting heart today.