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The Bible uses the word “heart” primarily to refer to the ruling center of the whole person, the spring of all desires. The heart is seen as the seat of the will, intellect and feelings. “Character”, “personality” and “mind” are approximate modern terms for the Bible’s meaning of heart. We are to allow the rivers of living water will flow from the heart of those who believe into the lives of others so that we can serve as a living testimony and witness to those who are within the body of Christ as well as those we serve within our communities. Remember, it is the mountain stream that carries fresh, life-giving water because it flows out. The word heart can mean different things depending upon the context. Most often, the heart refers to the soul of a human being that controls the will and emotions. The heart is the “inner man” “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV). The prophet Ezekiel makes several references to a “new heart.” “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 18:31 (NKJV). “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God” Ezekiel 11:19–20 (NKJV). This is why you need an undivided heart (concentrated on or devoted completely to one object) and put a new (already existing but seen) spirit, in order to remove ( move out or take away) from their heart of stone (hardened in wicked nature) and give them a heart of flesh (conditioned and easy to manage).
As Christians we are to let blessings flow through us and on to others. When we hoard and dam the blessings in our lives, we are in danger of becoming spiritually stagnant, emotionally detached, and intellectually pessimistic. Resolve to break up the dam and let blessings flow like a river. The freshness is in the flow. We were designed to love Him, love righteousness, and walk in harmony with God and others. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 (NKJV). However, too often we go through life unaware or unmindful to the good that comes flowing into our lives, whether through God’s grace or blessings from others that He allows to happen. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV). The purpose of this 21–Day Matters of the Heart Challenge is to help you seek the Lord to grow and immature your inner man so that you can become more effective, fruitful and productive in your personal development, professional strength and spiritual maturity. It will also help teach accomplish spiritual growth, in which to nurture, heal, rejuvenate, restore, and renew the inner man.
During this 21–Day Challenge you should become more creative with language, by speaking words that will uplift, encourage, inspire, and bless other people. As you build them up, your own spirit will get stronger and your faith will grow deeper. Throughout this challenge make time to help heal a wounded heart, to extend kindness to someone who really needs a friend, or to help gather up pieces of a broken dream. You should use each day of this challenge to empower and encourage others through positive words and deeds, do whatever you can to radiate God’s unconditional love. The human heart was created to mirror God’s own heart. “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” Acts 13:22 (NKJV). But part of God’s design of the human heart is free will. That free will carries with it the opportunity to abuse it, God desires that we choose to love and serve Him. When we stubbornly refuse to follow God, our hearts, which were designed to communicate with God, are hardened. God offers us a heart that is clean, true, tender and warm.
A heart of stone finds it impossible to repent, to love God, or to please Him. “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” Romans 8:8 (NKJV). The hearts of sinful humanity are so hardened that we cannot even seek God on our own. “There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God” Romans 3:11 (NKJV). And that’s why Jesus said no one can come to Him unless the Father first draws him. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” John 6:44 (NKJV). This challenge will help you build and increase your love, as you begin to line your heart with God’s heart through the Word of God. Just keep in mind, that a gentle hearted servant will also experience some suffering from carrying their cross. However, Jesus made a promise to those who can carry their cross compassionately. “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” – Matthew 5:8 (NKJV). Are you a compassionate servant? A loving servant devotes yourself to studying and understanding God’s mysteries. You must not get caught up with the daily affairs of the media, so keep in mind that sympathetic servants study God’s Word so they can understand its truth and live lives that are pleasing to God. As well, as being prepared to bring ours into the Kingdom of Righteousness.
We desperately need new hearts, for we are unable on our own to soften our hard hearts. A change of heart toward God requires a supernatural transformation. Jesus called it being “born again” “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3 (NKJV). This is the perfect season to start expressing and showing more unconditional (agape) love. We will be incorporating the 21 Day Faith Challenge from November 1st – November 29th. God’s unconditional love gives us a chance to walk in victory with heart that is compassionate, forgiving and loving. Over the next 21 days you will have an opportunity to ask the Lord to recondition, regenerated and renewed your old heart and give you a heart that has been transformed with a kindhearted nature. knowing that God compares rebellious hearts to stone. “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts ”Zechariah 7:12 (NKJV). How do you know that you are a compassionate servant?
Listed are some key characteristics:
Compassionate servants live to please God through their daily living.
Compassionate servants engage in empowering and encouraging others to live lives that are full of purpose.
Compassionate servants seek to understand God’s mysteries and revelations to aid others in their journeys.
Compassionate servants understand that they are unique and peculiar instruments of God.
Compassionate servants use Godly influence to build others up.
Compassionate servants are kindhearted, submissive and sympathetic.
Compassionate servants are generous and self-sacrificing.
Compassionate servants suffer willing for Christ and others, especially in the household of God.