The Heart Speaks

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

  Our heart speaks ... if only we would pay attention. Our heart communicates through high emotion, strong words and even in silence. Our heart speaks its depths and learning to pay attention to it takes time, discipline and a willingness to hear.

  We can also learn to listen to the heart of others. Listen for what is the deeper issue going on, the deeper desire and the deeper struggle. The first step in this is listening for the heart of God.

  Take time today to ask God what is His heart. Ask Him to show you through his word - the Bible. As you see God's heart, you will see yours and be able to see the heart of others.

  The heart speaks. What is yours saying today?

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Take Part

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    There are times when our hearts are heavy, burdened by sadness and a deep sense that things are not the way they are supposed to be. Our hearts are weighed down as the reality of sin, the reality of evil and the reality of pain fill the headlines. Even if these realities aren’t in the headlines we see them in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

    A heavy heart is a sign to us that things are not as they should be. And as our hearts are heavy so is even greater the heart of God. So tell him about your sadness, vent your anger at injustice, ask him if there is anything you are called to fight for. And if you are, fight well. We get to take part in the good in the world.

    So take part in the world. Take part because you follow a God who desires justice, peace and wholeness.

    Take part because you love as God loves, in grace and truth.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

My Heart Hurts

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    My heart hurts for the parent who is unsure whether his/her baby will survive the next 24 hours. My heart hurts for the one who has watched their child self-inflict painful gashes on their forearms. My heart hurts for the parent who has desperately prayed for their child and watches that child walk towards pain and destruction. My heart hurts for parents whose children have lost hope in anything good.

    My heart hurts and so does God’s. God is not unfamiliar with pain, mockery, betrayal, children who self-inflict, who have lost hope. God is not unfamiliar with the parent who is desperate for their child to be healed, restored and redeemed.

    God is not unfamiliar with the parent’s desperate heart that so loves their child and would do anything for him/her. God is not unfamiliar and He is not far.

    Grace upon grace to you if you are a parent in pain for their child.

**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**

Relentless Pursuit

**Sit quietly, eyes closed in silence for one minute before reading.**

    God is on a relentless pursuit of your heart. He does not give up. He does not throw in the towel. God relentlessly pursues our hearts, wherever they may be.
    Whether you feel near or far from Him, He pursues. Whether you are angry or content with Him, He pursues. Whether you have left Him or are coming back to Him, He pursues. Whether you think He is disappointed in you or proud, of you, He pursues.
    He will not stop pursuing us with His love and grace. He will not stop pursuing our transformation into the likeness of Jesus. God is a relentless pursuer.
    How does the image of God as a relentless pursuer encourage you?

**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**

Peace and People-Pleasing

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    I confess that I often care too much about what people think, whether they will be hurt by something or whether they will like me. I like being able to influence what people think of me. This is a form of people pleasing because I want everyone to like me! There are often times in life when we have to make decisions that will upset others. We have to make decisions that are not looked upon favorably or sometimes the direction we go is met with disappointment by others.
    Often when I am trying so hard to make sure everyone is “okay” I miss what God is calling me to. I miss what the Spirit is whispering in my heart. God’s voice is clouded out by my thoughts of my image. Everyone may be happy around me but I am unsettled, there is something that does not sit right with my soul. Oh, that’s right, I sought man’s approval and not God’s. As I received one set of approval I did not receive another and I can feel it. I do not have peace.
    Peace comes when God has captured my heart not when I have captured the heart of man. Peace comes not when I have won the approval of men but followed the call of God.
    How can you seek to please God rather than others? How have you sensed God’s peace in a difficult decision lately? If you have not sensed much peace lately, remember God’s great love and seek to do whatever He has called you to.

Have more than two minutes? Read Galatians 1:10 and process this challenging verse with God.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Hearing God

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    It is the season of Christmas where unfortunately all things start to move faster, there is more on the to-do list and things are more crowded (literally). We tend to be more frustrated, less patient and lose sight of Jesus. This is the perfect opportunity to choose to slow down and hear what God wants to speak to our hearts.
    Slowing allows us to hear more clearly things that would not have heard the first time around. Chances are if we are running around busy, or concerned about our check list we often have not heard correctly the first time anyway! Slowing down allows me to hear more clearly what another is saying to me and also what God is saying to me.
    To sit and listen to God takes time, it takes discipline and it clarifies things.
    In the times I have practiced slowing I have sat down with a cup of hot tea (which almost automatically causes you to slow down), no agenda, possibly read something short and just waited. I am tempted to get up after about 10 minutes and read more or go do something productive. For me, I have found that after about 45 minutes of sitting and sipping hot tea that something comes forth. Either a truth pierces my heart or I recall something and God brings light to it. If I do not slow down and sit, I miss this.
    Consider making time to sit with God. Drink whatever warm drink you’d like and sit with Him, alone. Read a passage of Scripture and talk to God, but spend most of your time listening. Ask Him to speak to your heart. Pay attention to the things that come up and listen for God.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Being Boss

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    All of us have had bosses, people in authority over us, supervisors, etc. Most of us have been bosses to a person or persons. We have all experienced some sort of authority structure and often in these structures there are those who think they can do things better than the boss. Those who submit to the boss and at the same time think they can do things better than the boss. Children think this of parents often and this is often found in the workplace. Personally, my three year old is already telling me things I am doing incorrectly (at least in his eyes).
    Reflecting on this it caused me to wonder how I treat the boss over all of us – God. The following exploration questions are heart questions. How does your heart respond?
    Do I follow God with grumbling, thinking I can do things better or know a better way? Do I resist following God because I do not understand why He is asking what He is asking? Maybe His request is a bit absurd from my perspective? Deep down do I think I could be better at being the boss?
    How do you respond to the boss?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Pull Yourself Together

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    Who can you pour your heart out to? When is the last time you poured your heart out? Do you stop yourself, telling yourself to pull yourself together? There is probably a fine line between a healthy grief and unhealthy grief. What I have found is that many of us do not even let ourselves grieve and part of grieving is being able to pour our hearts out. We think that for some reason our emotions must be restrained and controlled. We need to pull ourselves together.
    Reading a few lament Psalms encourages me because God wants to hear our hearts. He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him. Can you pour your heart out to God? Do you allow others to pour their hearts out to you? Slow down and pour out. Let God pull you together in His time. You might be messy for a while.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Have more than two minutes? Read Psalm 62 and consider verse 8 in particular.

Our Hearts

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

  What is my heart wrapped around? What is your heart wrapped around? What will your heart not let go of? These were the questions that God prompted in me recently as I had some time alone driving. These questions led me to tears and to a prayer. This was my prayer for myself and is for all of you.

  God, help us see and to be able to let go of that which we hold onto so tightly. You know us. Search us and show us. As You dig deep and show us be gentle and gracious to us. Help us to trust you in all things and to wrap our hearts around You. May we allow you to “fix things”. Amen.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**