Christianity Oasis Forum

[Mackenaw]

Hello Everyone

God bless you this day.

Recently I listened to a portion of a teaching by Beth Moore that really inspired me. Ya know...one of those messages that you feel your spirit leap inside ya, with a confirmation from The Holy Spirit?!!!

The following is my take on what Beth was sharing, as well as where The Holy Spirit took me.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (KJV)

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (NIV)

issues = wellspring

When I read the word wellspring, for some reason I think of something positive; whereas, when I read the word issues...well, I think more in terms of trials and tribulations or flaws in one's character. Like when ya hear someone say "oh, that person has lots of issues" -- it normally has a negative connotation to it.

But, what if it can be either, or, or both: negative and/or positive. Our heart -- our spirit -- where both the human emotions are housed, is also the conduit whereby the fruit of The Holy Spirit flow through.

Oh cool, mental image. Imagine the arteries have all this good blood full of oxygen and stuff, flowing from out from our heart to the rest of our body, but then all this plaque buildup stops and/or hinders the flow of healthy blood. Our own human emotions such as anger, fear, jealousy, etc. can represent the plaque buildup which can inhibit the flow of the fruit of The Holy Spirit.

But, I want to get back to verse 23. The word "issues" in KJV, and the word "wellspring" both represent a flow, something coming out of one thing and going towards another. In some cases, it could be quite forceful -- ...I'm thinking of a geiser and how the water just shoots out from within with turbulent force.

Beth suggested that our hearts/spirits are spraying forth, even if we are not speaking. So, anyone within a certain distance of us are essentially being sprayed by whatever is coming out of our hearts. I liked that imagery.

Chuckle: The phrase "say it, don't spray it" comes to mind.

We know that what we speak are seeds. What we think on, are seeds planted by someone: either from us, someone else, the enemy, God, TV, teachers, parents -- the list goes on and on.

While thinking on the portion of Beth Moore's sharing, and meditating on the verses of Proverbs 4, and talking with The Lord, I got another mental image, and that was of a seed spreader -- one of those lawn and garden tools that you push around the yard that you pour seed into it and it has some type of rotary thingy on it and it disperses the seed -- spraying them. I was telling my hubby about it, and he said "Oh, a broadcast spreader." WOW!!! Exactly!!! Broadcast. Wow!!! Our spirits broadcast what is within our hearts. Oh, we may try to hide our feelings and our thoughts, but no matter how hard we try to disguise them, our hearts are emitting an energy that others will be impacted by. Most people are not aware of it, but we do pick up on the energy of others. It is one of those spiritual things.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The word "Keep" in the KJV, is "Guard" in the NIV. Interesting word(s) and interesting statement. Keep/Guard your heart. I immediately think of protecting it from something -- some outside force. But what if it also includes maintaining what is coming forth from The Holy Spirit -- guarding it -- insuring that what is going forth from out of our heart is not polluted but is pure? or should I say, plaque-free, free of our corrupt human fruit?

When Moses asked God to show Himself to him, The Lord did. But first, The Lord hid Moses in the clift of the rock and covered him with His hand as He passed by. And while doing this, The Lord said the following about Himself:

Exodus 34:6-7
(6) And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
(7) Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

I highlighted 2 words in the 7th verse..."Keeping mercy"

"Keeping" is the same word used in Proverbs 4:23. And "mercy" in the Hebrew is "hesed" of which Strong's Concordance defines as: unfailing love, loyal love, devotion, kindness, often based on a prior relationship, especially a covenant relationship.

God, Himself, guards His own heart to maintain Love's perfect flow.

Pretty awesome, huh!!! God is so Good.

In closing, I guess if we are all seed spreaders of sorts, we should be careful what type of seed we're spreading.

God bless you all.
Love,
Mack

[mlg]

Hey Mack...I think this Psalms kinda goes right along with it...talking about cleaning our own hearts so that we can then in turn teach other transgressors His way...and they will be converted unto Him

Psalms 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

[Mackenaw]

Hello Mlg

Awwwww, Amen!!! Thank you.

God bless you, Mlg. Enjoy your weekend Revival.

Love,
Mack

[JCsmediator]

I dont know if ay one else feels this way but I just got thru prayin this scripture Words were not to the exact but were everything it reads and has become a daily regimen for me ...

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

ty for sharing luv yaz both JCs

[Dora]

Oh I love it!

Thank you for sharing!

Thank you all!