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From
the February, 1997 edition of The Doulos monthly
newsletter
by
Joe Fitler
If
there is one thing that the month of February is known for
(besides snow), it is most likely
Valentine's Day. Heart-shaped items
of all kinds are exchanged in the
form of candy, cards, floral
arrangements, jewelry and more. We follow
our heart and openly express our deepest feelings for
that special someone with the timeless symbol of love, the
symbol of the heart.
In
our day-to-day situations, we often depend solely on our
minds, our intellect, for guidance. Our culture and certainly
our pride proclaim that we can handle things ourselves.
Similarly, when we turn to prayer, we sometimes
find ourselves reluctant to follow the leading of
the Holy Spirit when that leading doesn't seem reasonable
or logical to us. True, our reasoning abilities are
God-given gifts, and we are expected to use them to His
glory. In the book of Matthew, Christ was asked, "What
is the greatest commandment of all?" Jesus replied: 'Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind.'" (Matthew
22:37)
Scripture
also tells us, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (II
Peter 3:18) Clearly our hearts
and minds were created to work in harmony. Josh McDowell,
in his book, More Than a Carpenter, says this: "We've
been given a mind innovated by the Holy Spirit to know
God, as well as a heart to love Him and a will to choose
Him."
We
must always be careful not to let intellectual pride blind
us to the Holy Spirit's leading. Keep in mind the old adage,
"People don't care how much you know until they know
how much you care." The Bible illustrates time and time
again the heart as the vessel of the Holy Spirit, who touches
us on a level different than that of reason or calculation.
It
comes down to a transaction of the heart; a truly "heartfelt"
level at which we put our trust fully in Christ. As
Paul writes in Romans
10:10, "For it is with your heart that
you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
So,
as you are signing that special Valentine's card or picking
out that huge heart-shaped box of candy, please let
these things be a reminder that our hearts are our gift to Christ.
"Do
not be afraid, little flock, your
Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell
your possessions and give to the poor. Provide
purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven
that will not be exhausted, where no
thief comes near and no moth destroys. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke
12:32-34
In
Christ,
Joe
Fitler
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