Keeping Your Heart In Tune

"They said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." —Exodus 20:19

“We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I am certain that you know already how it is that God speaks to us.  By His Spirit, through prayer, the Word, circumstances, and other believers (the Church).  Of the four ways, the common point is the Spirit.  Our relationship with the Father is a spiritual one not a physical one.  I know, I know, tell you something that you don’t already know.  The problem is not in the knowing .. it’s in the remembering and after the remembering in the obeying.  To receive what the Spirit says to you, you must be in tune with the Spirit.  In other words, your heart must be right.  You must be ready and willing to hear.  Some years ago, a friend of mine and I were preaching at a revival at a small church in Mississippi. He was also responsible for leading the singing.  He had brought his guitar and his two sons with him.  Unbeknownst to him, while he was speaking, his sons detuned his guitar .. not maliciously, but out of curiosity and innocence.  All was well until he played the first chord.  A strange noise came from the guitar that did not sound at all like a “C” chord. There are 6 strings on a guitar.  His fingers were in the right place on the fret board.  But the guitar was mis-tuned.  Being fast on his feet, he announced that we would sing acapella that night.

In the same way, you can be on the right place … in church, Bible study, quiet time, prayer closet .. wherever, but if your heart is out of tune … if you have unconfessed sin … if you are self-focused, when the Spirit speaks … you won’t hear a “C” chord.  Your heart will resonate something else.  

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:24-25

Before a performance musicians check the tuning of their instruments.  It sounds like a jumble of sounds if there is more than one instrument.  But then, the conductor gets their attention, and everyone focuses on the conductor and they play together in harmony.  What was noise, cacophony I think is the word, becomes a thing of beauty.  When we obey the Spirit .. when we are living in tune with God, our lives become a thing a beauty and shine like the morning sun in a dark and desperate world.  So, tune up my friend … this world needs to hear your song.

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