From the capillaries of the heart

There are so many instances in life that produce an instant response or reaction. We hear about a situation--we react. We are invited to go somewhere or do something--we respond. When introduced to someone new--we react. In every day interactions and encounters, we in turn respond with our every day reactions. Every passed day infuses our new days with either wisdom or bitterness. Old experiences taint the new, we find each fresh experience laced with something familiar, either sweet or sour flavors from our past.

Sometimes reactions and responses can happen so naturally. We don't stop to consider the Lord or the scriptures. Our past experience starts to justify our current response rather than aligning ourselves up with God.

Since I work with Women's Ministries and have been involved in more than one church over the years, I have noticed a trend. Women are afraid to get close or interact with other women. Our life history has taught us that women can be cruel and unpredictable. They can be gossips and back biting. They can be full of complaints and talk bad about their husbands and men in general. For some women, (more than you may think), spending a day or a weekend with a bunch of other women sounds like torture.

There is no denying it, women are horrible sinners. We often find ourselves succumbing to torrents of emotion, and letting the hormones loose on those around us. Others of us allow the green-eyed monster of envy to ruin relationships. For some an absent or unstable mother has taught us to keep our distance. And for many the betrayal of a good friend has turned us from opening our hearts up to anyone else.

This is just one example of how our automatic responses can stop us from evaluating each new situation through the lens of the scriptures. Our past does not lie, it is really true, there are times from our past that hurt and were not good experiences. However, a wonderful question to ask the Lord in the present is: "Lord how would you like to redeem that past situation today?"

Sometimes the answer is simply, to let it all go! Sometimes there are valuable lessons that you can learn from bad experiences to help you be part of solutions or prevent a similar event from replaying itself.

Let the Lord examine your heart. Every reaction stems from a source in your heart. Where is this response flowing from? Does it stem from a well of bitterness and resentment? When you respond to others are you splashing cold and bitter water on those around you? Or does your response stem from a joyous spring that is fed by the Word of God? Is the water flowing out of your soul bringing tides of encouragement and nurturing growth in those around you?

Jesus taught that our hearts are where evil thoughts come from. In Matthew 15:18 He said, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (NKJV) The Amplified version of the Bible puts it this way: "But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles (him)."

The wonderful Psalm of David offers a perfect prayer to invite Jesus to come and search your heart and cleanse it out. Invite Him in, let Him dwell in you and change you from the inside out. Test each reaction and opinion with God's word to make sure it is true. May the Word of God flow from your heart as naturally as breathing.

Psalm 51

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
         And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 ¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence,
         And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
   
 ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
         And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
 ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
         And sinners shall be converted to You. 

**( Mark 7:18-23 and in Mathew 15:18-20)