Latest / First15 Devotional / An Open Heart
Transcript
- 0:04[SPEAKER_00]: In the middle of our week, looking at how God is after our hearts.
- 0:09[SPEAKER_00]: In today's devotional, we're going to focus on what it means to live with an open heart.
- 0:15[SPEAKER_00]: Every day, every moment is an opportunity to live with an open heart.
- 0:21[SPEAKER_00]: or to live with walls up around our hearts.
- 0:25[SPEAKER_00]: And God's pursuit of us, His steadfast love affords us a pathway to open ourselves with confidence and security.
- 0:34[SPEAKER_00]: May He fill us with courage and grace today as we experience His nearness together.
- 0:41[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
- 0:58[SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 4, verse 23, Scripture says,
- 1:24[SPEAKER_00]: In order to experience all the fullness of life God has in store for us, we must live with an open heart.
- 1:34[SPEAKER_00]: Oftentimes, whether it be from wounds or simply bad teaching, we live closed off and self-focused.
- 1:43[SPEAKER_00]: We go throughout our days with walls up around our hearts and rarely allow ourselves to receive the reality of God's nearness moment to moment.
- 1:56[SPEAKER_00]: But God is calling us deeper.
- 1:58[SPEAKER_00]: He's calling us to a lifestyle of encountering him.
- 2:03[SPEAKER_00]: He's calling us to tear down the walls we've built up and trust that living openly and receptively will bear life, peace and joy.
- 2:17[SPEAKER_00]: John 15 forces, abide in me and I in you.
- 2:22[SPEAKER_00]: As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the fine.
- 2:28[SPEAKER_00]: Neither can you, unless you abide in me.
- 2:35[SPEAKER_00]: God longs to be with you.
- 2:38[SPEAKER_00]: He longs to speak to you, guide you, pour out His love on you, and remain with you throughout your day.
- 2:46[SPEAKER_00]: He's not just a God of Sundays.
- 2:51[SPEAKER_00]: His presence isn't only available at conferences, worship services, or monasteries.
- 2:59[SPEAKER_00]: He is God of every moment.
- 3:02[SPEAKER_00]: He is the Lord of all
- 3:05[SPEAKER_00]: and he longs to give you good gifts all the time.
- 3:11[SPEAKER_00]: He longs to bear wonderful life-giving fruit in you.
- 3:16[SPEAKER_00]: But you must be willing to abide in him.
- 3:20[SPEAKER_00]: You must receive all he has to give.
- 3:25[SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 4 verse 23 says, Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.
- 3:35[SPEAKER_00]: Life comes from the heart, both physically and spiritually.
- 3:41[SPEAKER_00]: Just as the heart pumps blood out to the rest of your body, your heart pumps out spiritual life.
- 3:48[SPEAKER_00]: Your heart is the place where God is constantly speaking.
- 3:53[SPEAKER_00]: Your heart is what he cares about.
- 3:56[SPEAKER_00]: It's not enough to just give him your mind for understanding or your hands for good works.
- 4:03[SPEAKER_00]: He wants you at your core.
- 4:06[SPEAKER_00]: He wants your life to be wrapped up in his.
- 4:11[SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to open your heart to your loving Heavenly Father.
- 4:17[SPEAKER_00]: Look for any walls you've built up around your heart.
- 4:21[SPEAKER_00]: Stop believing any lies or misconceptions that would keep you from experiencing God's love moment to moment.
- 4:30[SPEAKER_00]: May your time and guided prayer be filled with a new life as your heart is open and receptive to the freedom of God's presence.
- 5:07[SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance of having an open and receptive heart to God.
- 5:23[SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 423 says, Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.
- 6:10[SPEAKER_00]: next.
- 6:12[SPEAKER_00]: Do you have any walls up between you and God?
- 6:16[SPEAKER_00]: Are you living at times as if he isn't with you?
- 6:21[SPEAKER_00]: Are you fully open and receptive to the things of God throughout your day?
- 6:45[UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
- 7:06[SPEAKER_00]: Cast down any walls you've built up at the feet of Jesus and open your heart to Him.
- 7:14[SPEAKER_00]: Receive a revelation of His nearness and spend some time simply resting in His presence.
- 7:22[SPEAKER_00]: Ask Him to give you eyes to see all the good gifts He has given you today.
- 8:10[SPEAKER_00]: God is constantly blessing us.
- 8:14[SPEAKER_00]: He constantly has good gifts to give us.
- 8:18[SPEAKER_00]: James 117 says, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.
- 8:25[SPEAKER_00]: Coming down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
- 8:34[SPEAKER_00]: God longs to demonstrate His love to you by giving you good and perfect gifts.
- 8:41[SPEAKER_00]: Cultivate a lifestyle of noticing and receiving God's blessings.
- 8:47[SPEAKER_00]: Look for all the ways he is providing for you and give thanks to him.
- 8:53[SPEAKER_00]: Live your whole life in light of the reality of his nearness and experience all his goodness throughout your day.
- 9:03[SPEAKER_00]: May you be filled with abundant blessings as you seek to live with an open heart.
- 9:25[UNKNOWN]: you
- 9:33[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with first 15, thanks for listening to today's devotional.
- 9:39[SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, try and take note of when you feel your heart closing up.
- 9:45[SPEAKER_00]: And when you notice it, take a moment to allow God to meet you there.
- 9:50[SPEAKER_00]: The more we can let God in, to say yes to His pursuit of our hearts, the more freely will be able to live in and through His presence.
- 10:00[SPEAKER_00]: If you have just a moment, I could really use your help.
- 10:03[SPEAKER_00]: If you are someone who loves the journal, would you be willing to take just two minutes to share your experience with me?
- 10:09[SPEAKER_00]: You can reach me at podcast at firstsisteen.org and tell me how God is using firstsisteen to impact your life.
- 10:18[SPEAKER_00]: And if you have any other feedback to share, I'd love to hear that as well.
- 10:22[SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you see Kim.