Spiritual Sundays

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 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.

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

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

LL&L's two cents:

A person, who depends solely on themselves or on other people, will eventually turn away from God. We are suppose to work hard for the things that we need and want out of life, but each person is very limited in their strength and resources. God is without limits and has infinite strength. Without trusting Him we will eventually become lonely, desperate and blind. Have you ever met someone who to you seems rich, talented or beautiful but they can’t seem to see it themselves? I’m sure we’ve all been there. We work hard to aquire things that we've already attained, and we don’t take time to celebrate our accomplishments; even when we are surrounded by love from our families or friends we can still feel alone.

Without confidence in God’s love and power you can be happy, but happiness is circumstantial and fleeting. Happiness comes when something new and exciting comes into your life, but soon its value and excitement depreciate and you need a new and shinier thing. Joy comes from your soul and never wanes. Joy happen when we connect to our true selves, when we experience the presence of God and we look at the world and appreciate the beauty in all things. Joy comes from trusting and God and through mindfulness.

If you want to trust God more you should pray more, asking for his help on specific matters and keep a prayer journal. Highlight a prayer every time God comes through and you will understand why you should trust him. To experience mindfulness, meditate more; start with breathing meditations and read books that will help you understand how to sit with your thoughts, feelings and perceptions. A joyful man is a faithful man; when troubles come you will be confident that everything will work out and that you are already equipped with everything you need.

“The heart is deceitful above all things”; more deceitful than the mind, the eyes or the tongue. Your heart tries to convince you that all of your motives pure, and it dictates what your only option when it is time to make a decision. Can you ever think of an incident where listening to your heart got you into a lot of trouble? 

No your heart is not evil. It also possesses honesty and sincerity. All I ask is the you make sure you are also trusting God as much as you trust yourself. You will hear people say, “God knows my heart” and they are correct. God is the only one that knows your heart completely. Our job is to guard are hearts so that it stays as pure as possible, and to trust God with your life: trust that he loves you, trust that he will answer your prayers, trust that he wants you to have an incredibly fulfilling life, trust that he will guide you towards your purpose, and trust that he knows you very well. 

Jeremiah 17:10 states that God examines our hearts but rewards us by what we do. Don't worry about what is hiding in the shadows of your heart. Instead focus on the good deeds; when you don't feel like doing the good you know you ought to do, DO IT ANYWAY, and your heart will catch up eventually.