Integrity- People of God

The good heart is one that receives the word of God and is softened by allowing the word to remove the hate and bitterness that has caused the heart to be hardened. It takes time to know and fellowship with God through His word and prayer. The time we spend communing with God allows us to understand His word and His ways, so that we can remove those stony places that have developed over past hurts and failures. 

The more we know about Jesus and the fellowship of His suffering, the more we will understand that life is full of troubles. In knowing God’s word, we are able to better deal with our problems according to His ways, so that we will be able to process them, deal with them and move on from them. We will recognize that earth is not our forever home and that we are just passing through it as we prepare for our eternalhome. So, when persecution, tribulation and chaos come into our lives we are not easily offended. We do not allow our circumstances to be our focus but we let the love and the forgiveness of God cultivate our good heart soil. 

Matthew 13:8-9 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” NKJ

Philippians 3:10-11 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

There are many things that vie, contend and struggle for the time and attention of our hearts. It is our will, be it a conscious or unconscious decision, that will determine the state and condition of our heart. Life is difficult and for those who refuse to forgive and choose to live in anger and resentment theyharden their hearts to the seed of God’s word. These hardened hearts cannot receive God’s word, so the enemy will come and steal the seed of truth from them. 

A good heart receives the word with joy and will let go of thoseharden stones of hate and bitterness that was in their hearts. A good heart receives the truth of God’s word and allows it to spring up, to have depth and to take root. When the heat of life,persecution and tribulations blaze on them, they are not easily offended nor will they wither away. Because they allowed the depth of God’s word to remove the hate and pride and allowedthe word to take deep root in their hearts.  

Colossians3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 

A good heart receives the word of God as truth and will not let the worries of living life, the desires of this world or the pursuit of its riches to choke the seed of God’s word from of their heart. They are able to trust God with their life and their future,learning to be content in whatever situation they are in and understanding that this is God’s will for their life. Having faith in God, believing and trusting that He will be faithful to His word and provide a way of escape out of every situation. 

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:   I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Every child is born with an innocence, a state of being without guile, corruption or hate but because of this fallen world, sin has changed and deformed us all. An innocent heart is turned into one of hate, full of pride and bitterness because of the evilness of mankind. This can cause the good heart God created to be twisted into a heart that is hardened, stony and full of thorns and will not allow the love, forgiveness and compassion of God to grow. 

A good heart is one that will produce much fruit and is one that knows the promises of God, trusts God and rests in His love and faithfulness. Though hard times come they do not loose faith because they will pray about everything, rejoice in all things and give thanks to God that He knows their situation and circumstances. They believe in His word and believe the problems they are going through; God will change and allow them to be used for their good. These problems will also will reveal and reflect His glory and divine will for their lives on the earth. 

Matthew 13 18-23

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

A good heart will live in God’s Shalom peace, which surpasses natural human understanding. A good heart will rest in the knowledge of God and allows them to be restful and peaceful. Good heart soil is capable of producing and reaping thirty, sixtyand a hundred times more than what was sown in their lives and the lives of others. 

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJ