Knowledge Rules Our World.
We live in an information age. The more we use our tools of technology to sift and sort the mountains of information that flood our senses every day, the more greatly we value our minds over our hearts.
Evidence shows that the more we engage in “social media”, the more disconnected our hearts become. There are a lot of lonely people in this world despite the tools we have for instant communication. Some recent research shows that some of the greatest problems that human beings have, those based on addiction, are caused by lack of heart connection.
Adam and Eve Chose Knowledge over Heart Relationship with God
The Bible tells us the names of only two trees in the garden of Eden: the tree of knowledge (of good and evil) and the tree of life. Life is knowing God.
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
You know the story. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God because knowledge looked good. And in their minds they really believed getting knowledge would be a good thing. Satan’s lies helped, but they followed their minds not their hearts. Knowledge brought them death. They separated themselves from God.
Jesus came and offered us life, heart connection with God, again. And today, every day, we choose to go the way of Jesus, and his kingdom, or the way of Satan and his kingdom.
The way of Jesus is relationship: abiding heart connection. Jesus uses knowledge, such as scripture, to confirm what our heart already knows. The way of Satan is just knowledge. He uses knowledge to confuse us and replace heart connection with God.
Christians Continue to Choose Knowledge over Life
The result is that born-again Christians, children of God, can get caught up in learning more, doing more, pushing and striving when none of those things is connected to the heart of God. And we can do it thinking that we are doing this to please God. We can even go completely wrong in our decisions.
Jesus was so clear on this point. “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Not one thing. He was saying, if your heart is not connected to mine, if my heart isn’t in what you’re doing, thinking or saying; it has no value in the kingdom of God. With him we can do all things (Philippians 4:13), together – heart connected.
Practically, how can I do this?
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Let righteousness, peace and joy be the guardians of your heart.
God has given us three guardians to keep our hearts connected to him and to help us live this out in our lives.
For the kingdom of God is … righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 4:17 (NIV)
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
1. In all of your thoughts, your words and in everything you do ask:
- “Is this right? Does it feel right?”
- “Do I have peace in this?”
- “Is there joy in this?”
2. With our hearts connected to Jesus, we have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us into all truth (John 16:3 (NIV)) He reveals to us the things of God. Listen. You will hear Him.
3. If something is not right we have a “check” in our spirit. It doesn’t feel right. We lose our joy. And we have no peace about it.
Look for the Lie
4. When you sense something isn’t right, go back and look for the lie. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. What did I believe that led me to think say or do something that resulted in losing the inner knowing of being right, having joy or losing my peace?
5. When you have found the lie, look for the truth. Then realign your thoughts, your words, and your actions to the truth.
Lead with your heart. Confirm with your mind.
Is this heart connection tool helpful to you? How will you use it?
About Dave Milford
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