True Grit Christian

Follow Your Heart

Have you noticed how often the encouraging words "follow your heart" is given in life changing situations? When relationships are on edge, Just follow your heart. When a ethics at work are on the line, Just follow your heart. When naming your new born child, just follow your heart. In many more ways that I can say that advice is often given. In one sense it's given to not take any responsibility for someones actions. In another sense it makes someone depend on their own life experiences to make a drastic call. Follow your heart.

God tells us that the heart of man seeks out wicked ways.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 (New International Version)

⁵ This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

⁶ He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

⁷ "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

¹⁰ "I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."

So now why would anyone dare suggestion that someone follow their heart?

Listen to Paul as he spoke in the book of Philippians.

Philippians 4:4-7 (New International Version)

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Listen for guidance and have faith in Christ alone for only He can guide you on the narrow path.  Read your Bible the wisdom of timeless ages speak living words for today. You can then follow the right heart.

The Challenger

Usain Bolt is the worlds fastest man in the 100m dash at 9.69 seconds setting a new World Record. Beating out Richard Thompson (9.89), Walter Dix(9.91), Churandy Martina(9.93), Asafa Powell(9.95), Michael Frater(9.97), Marc Burns(10.01), and Darvis Patton(10.03).

Churandy set a national record for Netherlands Antille. While Thompson, Dix, and Frater set personal best records. Commentators say that if Bolt would of pushed himself through the line he would of smashed the record. Instead Bolt did a show boat finish coasting out the final few feet holding out his arms and beating his chest as he broke the tape. Some say he could of easily beat a 9.6 second run time.

Either way this guy is fast, very fast. If he was to maintain peak performance he would be hard pressed to find anyone that could beat him. The worlds second fastest came in at 9.89 and that .2 is like a mile at the speeds they are running. For a person in competitive sports they need someone to challenge them. They need a rival to square off against. But what if there is no challenger and they have only themselves to face?

For anyone the toughest challenger we face isn't our best friend, our coworker, our family. It's ourselves. Usain Bolt probably now realizes that after he read the morning paper. Now he's older and more worn down from the stress of his running. Chances are pretty good he'll never be able to beat or even match his old record. Had he continued to push, his record would remain untouchable for decades. But like Usain we go every day limiting ourselves to substandard task or mess it all up by showboating to draw a little attention to ourselves.

If we push hard, let no obstacles stand in our way, seek nothing but the satisfaction for a job well done, God will bless us.

This applies to many aspects of a Christians life. We feel the need to talk to someone yet we put a dampener on our self and don't do it. Kindness given to someone in need isn't given because we don't want to get embarrassed. Greed tells us not to help the homeless man who is starving out on the street because I want to super size my meal. Prejudice makes us look away from people of different color with out knowing the strength they hold in Christ. Envy makes us shy away from someone with a nicer house or car because we think we're not good enough to talk to them. And the shame of our sins keeps us stuck in dispare when there is a hand right there reaching out to us.

These are all limitation WE place on OURSELVES. Overcome these limitations by letting Christ be your coach and letting him break the bonds that tie us down. Confess it to God. "God I'm weak and I can't stand against these challenges by myself. I turn it over to you Jesus and I turn over my sins to you. I've been a liar, blasphemer, I've cheated and stole. I know you paid my fine for my sins and I accept that. With your help I will stay away from these sins. I only do so my life will bring honor and glory to you."

There is something you must understand though. A true Christian does not come to God seeking happiness and joy, money or fame. A true Christan seeks nothing but gives everything to God. You will be blessed, good things will happen. It's when you give it to Christ that you will be able to overcome your problems and with that the joy will be sweeter than when you didn't deserve it. The happiness will be everlasting when it wasn't warranted. Yes there will be challenges and it's something you should be seeking out to better yourself and to give glory to God and Jesus Christ. But now you have the Father to lead you on to victory.

If you need assistance please don't hesitate to contact me through the forums on miraclereports.org

God Bless