The HEART of it all

So, last week in class we learned about the heart. The heart is where your unique God-given personality stems from and when we live from the heart, we are aligned with God’s spirit in us and we have wisdom that is from Him. When we make decisions from the heart and not our brain, we have a subjective “knowing” in our gut that we can’t explain but just feels right. Our spirit just senses what is true and we “just know” what to do, even if it doesn’t make logical sense. We are learning how to become more in tune with our heart and to live from the heart. How to maintain a wide open heart and guard it but not let it become closed or hardened. 

You see, we’ve been trained in western societies from a very young age to prize the brain (the rational, logical part of us) and to use our mind to make decisions. We are taught that if it doesn’t make sense or can’t be logically explained, then it’s foolish and we should discard those thoughts. We’ve been instructed that showing emotions and weakness is wrong and that we must be strong and rational. That if we can’t reason out the answer/solution, then it’s rubbish and we shouldn’t pay it any mind (pun intended). But alas, God gave us both a mind and a heart. Knowledge comes from the brain but wisdom is from the heart. Wisdom: a supernatural knowing and discernment from the Lord.

So, I’ve been learning how to live from the heart. To filter things from my head to my heart, where Truth reigns, and take my thoughts captive and replace them with the Truth from God that is in my heart, even when my mind doesn’t believe it. To love people wholeHEARTedly even when they’ve hurt me or my rational brain says to give up or they’re not worth it. To be so in tune with the Spirit that I love myself and others purely with a love from the Father. To keep my heart open to people even when they’re toxic but also to draw healthy boundaries to protect myself. 

I’m switching gears now.. bear with me. 

In most religious upbringings, we are taught to rationally explain the gospel to others and that once they make a decision to follow Christ, our work is done. That all they have to do is follow the logic we’ve set out for them, pray a prayer, and then their salvation is secure. It’s a decision of the will and the mind, a rational one. In some sense, this is correct. You must eventually decide for yourself that Jesus is Lord of your life and surrender your heart, mind, will, and life to Him. You must count the cost and then give your life to Him, knowing full well that your life is now lived for Him and Him alone. 

However, I think we push people to come to a “head” (rational) decision to follow Christ too soon. That, instead, we need to love them so well that their experience of the Father’s love, through us, allows the Holy Spirit to move their heart and their mind to accept His love, as they’ve experienced it so profoundly that they want more, even if they can’t rationally explain it or put words to it. Because, y’all, let’s be serious, this sacrificial, servant-hearted love between one believer and another is so transformative that people who experience it can’t help but be changed and drawn closer to the love of God and the Father’s heart. Even If they don’t profess to follow Jesus, you can be assured that God is working in their heart. Jesus said to his disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) 

People know if you’re followers of Christ when they experience His love through you. It’s that subjective knowing in their hearts, because everyone was created in God’s image to be loved by Him and it’s what their spirits long for.  Even if they don’t logically realize that, their spirits know. 

Honestly, I think we make it too complicated. Really, we receive the Father’s love and then we love others from the heart and invite them into that love (most effectively by inviting them into our community of believers where they can see the Body and the love of Christ tangibly in how we love each other) and they are transformed by an encounter with the love of God and then we disciple them and they in turn spread that love and invite others into that and the cycle continues. It’s a reproducing and multiplying of love. You experience God’s love in your heart and spirit in a way that you can’t rationalize it away because your spirit is finally satisfied. Then, you give that love away. And on and on. Simple yet profound. 

1. Receive God’s love

2. Become that love as Christ is formed in you and you live for Him 

3. Love others in the Body and in the world with the love of Christ 

4. Others are brought into the fold and the cycle repeats 

So, my challenge for you today is to live from the heart. Listen to God’s voice and obey, even if it doesn’t make sense. Especially if it doesn’t make sense. By obeying even when it doesn’t make sense, you activate your faith and demonstrate your love for God. Receive His love and then give it away. All day, everyday. Be the church, instead of just attending church. Be in community with others running as hard as you are after the Lord so that you can build each other up and do life together.

Invite others into your home, community gathering, or out for a meal/coffee. Share the gospel by how you live your life: loving everyone in your path with the love you receive from God. Use your gifts and time to serve others in the Body of Christ and to invite others into that culture of love so they too can experience God’s love firsthand. Abide in Christ in your individual relationship with God and get filled up by Him. Then, you will be ready everyday to pour out His love on all those you encounter and to make the most of the opportunities He places before you. Love and be loved. Simple as that. 

Thanks for sticking with me throughout this blog. I know I may have rambled but it’s from my heart.

Love y’all!

Raina