Heart

Heart

My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises!

Psalm 57:7

God has given us responsibility to choose what we invite into our hearts. We can choose to focus on God and take in messages of beauty, hope, joy, and courage. Or we can choose to take in messages of pessimism and cynicism. Whichever direction we lean will determine the type of heart we grow. Only a heart that trusts in God can praise him and reflect his glory to others.

God is the author of beauty. We see it each day, but we don’t always notice it. We see it in flowers, snow, colors, the features of our child, or music. We have little opportunities to celebrate the beauty of God’s creation each day.

God is the author of hope. As the classic hymn reminds me, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

God is the author of joy. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

God is the author of courage. Psalm 27:14 (NIV) teaches, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Courage is surrounded like two bookends by waiting on the Lord.

If we want to have full hearts for our families, we will frequently run to God, who is the source of beauty, hope, joy, and courage.

Father,

Thank you that you are the author of all these qualities of the heart. May you enlarge our hearts for the roles you have given us. Amen.