Check Your Heart

If there’s one thing that needs a constant check up, it’s the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as being deceitful and desperately wicked. Perhaps this explains why David cried out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). There’s so much the Bible cautions and says about the heart, however, I would like to briefly talk about the heart in relation to ones prayer life. Let’s look at this Biblically in James 4:1-3 for insight: What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:1-3 reveals the importance of praying with right motives. Motives are clear indicators of what’s in the heart. Although scripture tells us that if we pray and have faith we’ll receive what we’ve prayed for (Matthew 21:22), James 4:1-3 shows us there’s a prerequisite to praying and receiving – your motives must be pure. It’s a matter of the heart. It’s important to assess why you’re asking God what you’re asking Him for. Are you seeking self-pleasure or the will of the Father? Don’t allow flesh, self-centeredness or an unclean heart to become hindrances to your prayer life. Prayer God I pray that you cleanse the heart of the brother or sister reading this. Father, I ask that you would remove every unclean spirit and ungodliness lurking around in their heart. Just like David, I pray God that you would create within them a clean heart and renew within them a right spirit Oh God! Lead them by your Holy Spirit to pray prayers that stem from pure godly motives in Jesus name! Lord I thank you for the blood of Jesus that cleanses away all our debts and sins! I thank you for the Blood of Jesus that cleanses away the filth in our hearts! We receive you’re cleansing oh Lord! Help us Lord to pray your will and not our own will in Jesus name! Keep the Faith Elder Bertrina

First things First

“They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.” (2 Corinthians 8:5) Do you ever look at the needs around you and wonder where to give yourself first? In this chapter of 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is talking to the believers about grace and generosity. In verse seven Paul says, “see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” This verse is particularly challenging because this past season has been quite busy in our home. There was a whole host of needs that needed to be met and I wasn’t sure how it would all work out. As I read the words “excel in this grace of giving.” I instantly thought, because my house needs then we need to give a seed. Sowing financially, sowing your gift/talent or even your time will open tremendous doors. We must excel in this grace of giving. Then, the next moment my eyes fell again on verse five. Here it reads, “They gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to others.” I was shocked at how incredibly simple this truth was! First I give myself to the Lord. I dip into the well of all He is and draw up all that I need for this moment and this day. Then I go and give out of that to others. When I get the order wrong that is why I get so tired. My job is first to please the Lord and not run around meeting everyone else’s needs while not being connected to Him. His presence has all I need. I will embrace His presence in this moment. I will engage in His presence by drawing on His resources and I will enjoy His presence as He enables me to excel in this grace of giving far beyond my own limited resources. Lord God, You are so good! You give us all we need as we need it. You simply call us into Your presence to receive. Forgive me when I rush past You and try to do it all in my own strength. Remind me always to first give myself to You as I dip into Your deep well. Then I can go and give generously out of all that I have received. What joy You give! Thank you Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen. To join our email listing, send us your email at infor@nowfaithministries.org Keep the Faith, Elder Bertrina Hebrews 11:6

Flowing with God!

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Some time ago, two university students in Moorhead, Minnesota painted a mural on the wall outside their dorm room. It was of a school of fish all swimming in the same direction except for a single fish heading the opposite way. That one fish going the other direction was meant to be Jesus. Included in the mural were the words, "Go against the flow." Sadly, university officials argued that the mural might offend non-Christians, and told the students to paint over it. God has called us, as believers, to do things that sometimes go against the flow of the flow of the world around us. It’s not always easy, either. Noah built an enormous ark at God’s command. Abraham took his only son to be sacrificed. Gideon went to war against thousands of enemies with only three hundred soldiers on his side. The disciples left all their possessions and followed the Lord. And there are countless other examples we have to follow! Let's choose to start swimming in the other direction today! Do that thing that God has been putting on your heart! Hug that person who’s been on your last nerve! Give away something you have to someone who needs it more! There are many mighty and miraculous victories that God desires to demonstrate in our lives, if we would only be willing to go against the flow!