This morning in my quiet time, I had a fun, kind of "aha" moment as God was teaching me through his word. My question to you is this? Have you ever had times where you opened up God's word, and you just seemed to get nothing out of it? Or you pray, and your prayers seemingly just hit the floor? This morning, I was reading Matthew Chapter 13...and it says this...
10The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?"
11-15He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it.
Have you ever felt like that...like you could stare til doomsday, and not get it? I have. Jesus says that if our heart is "ready", insights and understanding will flow freely...BUT if there's no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears..
Let me liken this for a moment to satellite TV. When there are no obstructions, so to speak, between the satellite, and your television...the picture you see is crystal clear. But as soon as a storm comes in, your television reception either goes out completely, or becomes very fuzzy and unclear.
If we're not hearing God clearly, or understanding His word clearly, it may be time for a heart check. What, in my heart, is keeping it from being ready to receive all that the Lord has for me? Am I harboring bitterness, am I being unforgiving toward someone, is my heart full of pride? Those are just some of the things that could be messing up our reception.
Let's say that you have NO idea why you're not "getting it". I've been in that situation too. What's neat is that's exactly how I went before my Heavenly Father. I said to Him basically, "I'm not gettin' it...and I don't know why." and guess what? He met me there at that place, and revealed to me why I wasn't receiving a fresh word from Him. If that's where you're at, I encourage you too, to take it to the Father. It is His heart's desire that we operate as one with Him...He wants us to have clear reception...Have Him do a "heart check" on you, and give you the diagnosis.
3 comments :
Amen! I think sometimes I fall into inactive mode and just wait for enlightenment and revelation to fall (and praise God, sometimes His grace allows that!). But you're right...we can't expect God to lavish insight on us if we're not vigilant about where our heart is.
Also as an aside--I understand why Barbara's link is on your website, but what I want to know is why YOURS isn't on HERS!!! ;-)
Ps 139:23-24
"23-Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24-And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."
This is a great example of how we're ("we" being our spirit)constantly battling the flesh for control (Rom 7:14-25). Paul writes that it is a war battling for control between the old heart (carnal man) and the new heart (inward man)Rom 7:23). When our spirit is in control, the Holy Spirit will bear witness w/our spirit (Rom 8:16)...He will direct our path and pray as we don't know what to pray....in other words, WE'LL HEAR HIM CLEARLY when we're "In the Spirit". I often wonder why, as a church, given how necessary this is, we don't study this concept, what it means, how to battle the flesh, how to "walk in the spirit", etc. When we're in the Spirit, we'll have the fruits of the Spirit...seems something to dig in on and pursue this spiritual relationship between the warring entities?? I know I am searching. Dear God, please lead us into your understanding of this scripture. Lord show us how to overcome the flesh and put on the Godly heart so we can always hear you.... in Jesus name.
I could go on but it's getting way late. God Bless!
I'm so glad that I read this...I can't tell you how many times that I have had to do a 'heart check'! I often struggle with my readings because I find my mind drifting in too many different directions. I have to ask God to absolutely clear my mind, so that I am ABLE to be 'receptive' and really grasp what he has for me. I'm so thankful that he is a forgiving God, so full of grace...since I think I have 'A.D.D' sometimes when I study his word!! LOL =)
I know exactly where you are coming from - Thanks for this!
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