The testing has been pretty fierce lately because I am working to put together the contents of a three part session on being " wise hearted". My mind says, how can I speak on being wise hearted when I have been everything but wise lately with my attitude, my words, my thoughts? While in my pit of despair I looked back to some notes I know God gave me concerning this issue. Maybe you can help me with this list.
A proud heart is not a wise heart.
A strong willed heart is not a wise heart.
A fearful heart is not a wise heart.
An anxious heart is not a wise heart.
A forgetful heart is not a wise heart.
An unforgiving heart is not a wise heart.
A weak willed heart is not a wise heart.
A materialistic heart is not a wise heart.
A stubborn heart is not a wise heart.
An angry heart is not a wise heart.
A cold heart is not a wise heart.
A comparing heart is not a wise heart.
A boxed heart is not a wise heart. (When we try to put God in our box we limited Him and limited ourselves from seeing God's ways.
What would you add to my list of what keeps us from having a wise heart.
I think we need to cut ourselves a break ... we are not perfect and Heavenly Father loves us, he is more then willing to forgive us... we need to try our best ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think if we fill our hearts with the fullness of God, we will have a wise heart. God's desires in us.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a nice day sister!
Launna, I think you are right about us not being being perfect and Him willing to forgive us. Yeah I am all for cutting ourselves a break. Thanks for comment.
ReplyDeleteJoy, you nailed it...filling our hearts with God is exactly how we have a wise heart. It does away with all the other hearts. Blessings my sister.
ReplyDeleteA heart that thinks it's self-sufficient is not a wise heart.
ReplyDeleteCHRIST....ian (I Am Nothing)
"Apart from Christ, it's nothing..."
A self sufficient is not a wise heart...good one Rozelle. How often I have worked out of that kind of heart, self sufficient, yeah that kind of heart will not make wise choices or give wise advice. Thanks sister.
ReplyDeleteHi Betty! I know that a lazy heart is not a wise heart. Wisdom needs constant refreshment, an open heart and a keen eye.
ReplyDeleteGreat question!
Ceil
Thanks Ceil, a lazy heart for sure is not a wise heart. I am speaking at a ladies retreat in Oct. on the subject of being "wisehearted" so all these comments is helping me build a platform on what is not a wise heart leading into what a wise heart is. I so appreciate all your comments. It's always good to get input from others.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnythings that pulls us from the character of God lacks wisdom. It's challenging because our nature is self-focused, but the wise thing is to faithfully seek to know as much as possible about God's character. Wisdom comes in knowing Him and His truth. Great post Betty. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI know it falls under "angry heart", but a vengeful heart is not a wise heart.
ReplyDeleteI know you're going to be under attacks for doing this, but keep it up, none of us are perfect and we all need the encouragement right where we're at. I needed this today, for my heart. Thanks, Betty.
Deb...thanks for your wise words. I am looking forward to working on the second part of the retreat, on forgiveness. IN fact my sister you had some wise words I put in a file to later be digested as I write out that session. Bless you
ReplyDeleteFloyd my brother your words hit a spot in my heart. Vengeful is a step down from an anger heart. An angry heart will sure lead to a vengeful heart if we let the sun go down on our anger. Thanks...I just added this to my list.
ReplyDeleteI know God forgives and we are not perfect...but here are a few that creep in and rob of us of having a wise heart.
ReplyDeletea Grumpy heart
a decietful heart
cheating heart
sloppy heart
procrastinating heart
critical heart
complaining heart
judging heart.
Great post! Have a great weekend sweet friend. :)
Thanks Cathy for your input, just finished writing your points down. It is our imperfections that shows us our need for Him and His new mercy that is there every day. For every one of issue named there is mercy and forgiveness to cover them. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteYour list looks pretty full already! Great. I think you're already proving you are wise just by doing this. Seeking the Lord is always the wisest thing we can do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa for the encouragement. The list would be over whelming if we did not have the hope of God working in us. In my head I can picture Him taking my list and crumbling it up and saying, I died for this list. It's a great visual based on a great truth. (Actually I just thought what a great visual to do at the retreat after we have went through all the unwise hearts. This is where you all give me inspiration...thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm posting this Sunday morning so haven't taken time to read all the comments. So if repetitious then please forgive: I would add "Bitter" or "selfish."
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill for your input. My list is getting pretty long which shows how wicked our heart can be. Which shows why we so badly need Him to give us a new heart to act out of. As I type I realize you have already are probably in the middle of your sermon this morning. Prayed for freedom as you speak, prayed for hearts to be receptive as you speak.
ReplyDeleteHi Betty,
ReplyDeleteThis is a good list. What came to my mind as I thought of what hinders me from having a wise heart is when I believe the lies that think my way (over God's way) is best in any particular situation. While I can know in my head how dumb that is, sometimes my actions say differently. Humbling, huh?
Striving with you to hold on to our God's hand who carries us and gives us his will and power to obey him, and who floods us with joy and unconditional love! He is soo good to us.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Oh Jennifer, I could do several session on just what you wrote. Believing the devil's lies will keep us from acting, responding from a wise heart. Thanks God for His grace that draws us back when we have listened to those lies. Thanks God for His Word that calls him out for who he is, the father of lies. Thanks sister for the wise words.
ReplyDeleteI would add unkindness to your list. And I know that God tested job. But I believe Jesus removed us from all things like this, and that many tests are of our own making. If I believed this, then I would think that I am constantly being tested, when God really knows my heart. I would also add that our goal is to be disciples, but we are not perfect, that is when the abundant grace of God covers us.
ReplyDeleteYup, sometimes we go through periods in our lives when it feels like the heavens are saying, "Testing, testing, testing!" I was reminded of God saying He tested the Israelites to see the state of their heart. Maybe that's what He does for us sometimes, too. Refining isn't always easy!!
ReplyDeleteHow about these additions?
A judgmental heart is not a wise heart.
A selfish heart is not a wise heart.
A lazy heart is not a wise heart.
And Betty, I know that God will give you exactly the words He wants you to say. And your session will be just right.
GOD BLESS!
Ginny, you right,we bring some of the testing upon ourselves. Others issues brings testing. I am reading great book by Bob Sorge titles, The Fires Of Delayed Answers that has a lot of good points on the subject of testing. It is to refine us no matter where it comes from. It shows us how frail we are so we will turn to Him who is not frail. Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I was hoping you would come by, read and comment. I enjoy your wisdom on your post. I am always reminded of truth, in this world we will have troubles. Like you I know without the testing there would be no gold coming out of the refiners fire. Appreciate your prayers for my upcoming retreat. This is my first time being the main speaker at a ladies where I had three sessions, it's a little scary. It was not something I sought out, it was something they sought me out for. Interesting I knew for about two months before they ask me God was up to something. I sensed my spirit the need to prepare to give out. so when the pastor wife ask me I knew the why I was preparing. Love how God covers all parts of our life, the before, the present and the future. By the way your post have given me some good material to use, thank you.
ReplyDeletea critical and complaining heart is not a wise heart. A fearful heart is not a wise heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your lovely post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Thanks Hazel for adding to my list. Amazing all that comes out of an unwise heart. A reminder of the need to keep our heart right before the Lord so we can exercise wisdom.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a list. Really great list. As you know this is a topic I've been pondering lately as well, Betty. Thanks for this. I'll be using it as a template for me to pray through.
ReplyDeleteA hopeless heart - every now and then I fall into a ditch of hopelessness. Not to deep I can't pick myself up out of,though. Thank you for your encouragement. Just what I needed to heft myself out! I am looking forward to reading your series. It is bound to be heart-fulfilling if the devil is trying to divert you!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, seems to be a lot of testing going around, Betty! I'm right there with you. I keep holding on to Him, frail as I feel at times. I really like your list. Couldn't think of anything to add, but blessings to you in your preparations.
ReplyDeleteMicah, I hope you add those who added to my list. It's been encouraging to read so many thoughts...I think brother we are not alone in this quest for a wise heart and my list is nothing new, same one that caused the fall. Anytime our hearts area about us impossible to make wise choice. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteBluecotton, a hopeless heart...yes I have had that kind of heart before especially in the past two years concerning our son. I thought he would never get his life straighten out. Oh me of little faith, God was working the time on has back slidden heart. Praise God He never gives up on His children. Thanks for the addition to the list. I will certainly use them all.
ReplyDeleteJason, I have enough on my list to speak for three day...now to condense it to about fifteen minutes. Only God can do that for each point has a memory to it but each one took only one thing to bring me back to a wise heart...Jesus and Jesus alone. Joy put it well, when our hearts are full of the Lord we will have a wise heart, she gave me the final point. Thanks brother for the comment.
ReplyDeleteI can say, in some ways, looking around and about the sinfulness of my/our present-day world, that the word "Frustration" is not part of a wise heart. I'm TRYING to focus only on my/our Father. Your word choices were very good! And it's always good to hear from you in some way. Bless you, Betty.
ReplyDeleteCaryjo, it's always good to hear from you too. Yeah, a frustrated heart would not be a wise heart. I love your missionary heart. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! I love your list.
ReplyDeleteA sheltered heart is not a wise heart. We have to be willing to risk for the sake of Christ.
Thank you so much for joining our little family at Recommendation Saturday!! <3 Heart Hugs, Shelly
Shelly, thanks for adding to the list...so right...a sheltered heart is not a wise heart. It's a risk to strive to live like Christ on this earth. But it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.
ReplyDeleteBetty,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have covered most of what I could think of...and someone else pointed out a heart that is self-sufficient vs not dependent on God...I think growing in wisdom is a lifelong task so maybe a wise heart learns to be patient with oneself and others as we learn to grow in wisdom..praying God continues to give you His wise words as you prepare for your talk.
Dolly, thanks for the comment. I was just thinking along the same lines today as I wrote out some notes. Often we lost patience with ourselves and others when our frailness shows. One of the points I want to talk about is what understanding can bring wisdom into our lives. One must understand they are lost, separated, headed to an eternal hell and if not for the love of God for us we would have no hope. Understanding will make a heart wise and open to receive the good things of God. I am going to write something on this and throw it out there for comments. Blessings my sister.
ReplyDeleteHow 'bout a self-absorbed heart, Betty?
ReplyDeleteToo busy thinking about me, myself, and I.
That'll stop wisdom right at the door ...
Linda, a self absorbed heart...yes...several on my list if not all could fit into this kind of heart. For life is either about us or about Him. Thanks for the addition. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteBetty~~
ReplyDeleteWe physically Live with our Hearts, and definitely FEEL from our Hearts! I can't begin to imagine how GOD must have SMILED when HE gave us a HEART!!
My heart has led me through all the "negatives" one can feel from the Heart~~~and then a tiny "Moment" of Life will come along and I feel the true glory of "Love" as it surges forth....
Maybe its a JOURNEY for all of us to find the way to being "wise-hearted"--and along the path of that Journey, we are so BLESSED to meet Women of Heart--YOU!!!!
Hi Betty,
ReplyDeleteStopping in to say hi. :)
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Martha, I have missed you my blog friend. Just knowing some of your struggle makes me want to sit with you a few hours and hear all God is teaching you. It is a journey...always a process of three steps forward and two steps back. Thankful God took that extra step for us to Calvary which gives us hope it will be worth it all when we see Him. And what ever we struggle with is not a waste.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, how sweet of you to stop by and say hello. Hope all is well my sister.
ReplyDeleteVery comprehensive list! I would add selfish heart and covetous heart. Praise God that even though our hearts are deceitfully wicked, He not only forgives us but has indwelled us with His Holy Spirit. God bless you and your ministry!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, thank you for adding to my list, amazing how may ways an unwise heart is manifested. I developed a survival heart when I was very young due to the horrible home life and kept it till I found Jesus. I actually thought I could survive hell since in my mind I had lived it on earth. What I could not survive was the unconditional love of God for me. He melted the wall I had put up around my heart to survive. There is no abundant life when you just trying to survive. Again thank you for your contribution.
ReplyDeleteAn unlearning heart is not a wise heart!
ReplyDeleteOh good one Caleb...unteachable heart. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteBetty,
ReplyDeleteYou've got a pretty solid list. Each one of these is a volume on their own. But perhaps you could add: "A bitter heart is not a wise heart." Most people understand the concept of ulcers, and where they usually come from. Resentment, anger, and holding on to grudges—simply isn't wise.
Good post,
Robb
Hi Betty, this post is such a good one to keep going back to - and I want so much to be a woman of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThe list is almost complete - and as I am seeing this post only now, August 7, you must be done with your teaching by now.
But anyway just wanted to tell you, I thought of an unrepentant heart, or an offended heart as being unwise.
So glad I dropped by today.
Blessings!
Lidia
I would add that "our hearts are wicked" (according to Jesus)
ReplyDeleteNot that we are 'all bad'. We certainly are not. But we are mixed bags…when the standard is perfection…purity.
That's why Jesus is not interested in fixing up our old heart.
He just gives us a new one. His.