Knowing And Resting In The Heart Of God

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways." - Psalm 119:11-15

To know the heart of God you must know the Word of God.  I often quote Psalm 119:11 in the light of how to combat temptation. Do you recall Jesus being tempted by Satan when the Spirit led Jesus to the desert? Jesus, the Son of God, could not be tempted, but Jesus the man, could be. Three temptations were recorded in Matthew chapter 4. We are told in Hebrews that Jesus was tempted in all ways, yet did not yield to the temptations.

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." - Hebrews 4:15

John wrote that there are essentially 3 points in which we are tempted.

"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16

Those are the three ways that Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4.  In each case Jesus rebuffed Satan with the Word of God. Satan even tried to use the Word - misapplied - to make the temptation attractive.  Jesus is the living Word (John chapter 1) as you know. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It shows us the way we should go. 

Not only does the Word provide a counter to temptation, as if that were not enough, but it reveals the heart of God. His great love and intent for mankind. 

Someone I was talking to yesterday was sharing about her doubts about her faith. That perhaps she had wandered too far. That when she died she was going to hell. I asked her a few questions to determine if she was a Christian. (That is important by the way, because the lost cannot understand spiritual truth because they lack the Spirit of God who is necessary for that understanding)  Then I encouraged her with the Word of God. I reminded her that the Spirit of God was in her and nothing could separate her from the love of Christ. That struggling with our faith is not uncommon. I reminded her of the man who told Jesus that he believed but need help with his unbelief- his doubt.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" - Romans 8:35

That is the heart of God. That He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone