Thoughts for Life: UNTIE MY HEART

Laura Taylor- " The day we waited for had arrived. Blue skies and a gentle breeze enhanced the excitement as I loaded my four young sons and their new kites into our van. Finally, kite flying time was here. (Google image, Kites)

I knew an excellent spot for our adventure, a short drive away. Upon arriving, the boys tumbled over each other, grabbing their kites and making a mad dash for the field.

I caught my youngest just in time. Four-year-old Ethan might have trouble holding onto his kite string. So, I made a loop and slipped it around his wrist, giving it an extra tug to ensure it was secure. He raced to catch up to his brothers.

Before long, four kites soared on the heights as the boys laughed. My heart smiled. This was the perfect day. Then it happened. An unexpected gust of wind tugged at the kites, and the loop on Ethan’s wrist slipped off. His kite really soared then. I knew he would be heartbroken, but he cheered and jumped joyfully. “Look, Mommy. It’s free. Now it can fly everywhere!”

That evening, as I settled in to read my devotion, I came across this verse in Psalms. At the end of verse eleven, I read, “Untie my heart to fear Your name.” That seemed odd, so I reread it aloud: “Unite my heart to fear Your name.”

Laughing at my mistake, I thought back to our kite misadventure. I realized my heart is often tied to things like worry, doubt, insecurity, or sin. Being tied to those things keeps me from experiencing the freedom a united heart brings.

I thanked God for the practical lesson and asked Him to show me any ungodly thing that tied up my heart. Perhaps your heart is tied to something, keeping you from experiencing absolute freedom in Christ?

Ask the Holy Spirit for a fresh gust of truth to blow across your heart and untie it so you can soar with Him."

"Teach me your ways, O LORD; I will walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." Ps 86:11 (NKJV)

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Let's pray-

Father, as the day for flying kites was special for this family, the breeze enhanced the excitement of loading the kites. Knowing the special spot for this adventure helped to make the trip exciting. When an unexpected gust of wind carried one kite upward, it was free to soar where the wind took it.

There's a verse in Psalms that reads, "Unite my heart to fear Your name." [Check Ps. 86:11 NKJV] (It doesn't say "Untie my heart," though we might have read this the first time.)

May we examine our hearts to see that we are often tied to things like worrry, doubt, insecurity or sin. Being tied to those things will keep us from experiencing the freedom a united heart would bring.

We thank You, Lord, for the practical lesson here, and ask that You to show us any ungodly thing that has tied up our hearts. We ask for Your Spirit's fresh gust of truth to blow across our hearts and untie us so we can soar with You.

We ask for Your help to reveal anything that has influenced us from obeying You completely today. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

#6 Testimony- Dori

She dreaded going back to check if cancer had returned, as she was sure it had! But after a full scan, she learned that there was no cancer in any part of her body!

Recommended reading-

THE AWE OF GOD by John Bevere

"HolyAwe unlocks life as God intended. Only in developing and clinging to this virtue do we find the peace, safety, and joy that many find unattainable. Rather than cowering before our creator, embracing the fear of God will raise us to a higher level of living that forever changes us."

1056-1060 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1056- Ecc. 9:1b "The righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God."

1057- Is. 52:12b "The LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward."

1058- Eph. 1:12 "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."

1059- Ps. 99:3 "Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy."

1060- Is. 8:18a "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders."

#6 Hymn- I Need Thee Every Hour