Lift up our hearts!

O Lord, lift up our hearts!

Study the book of Philippains

 

            Seems everywhere you look or every time you turn on the news, there is something that brings tears to our eyes and burdens on our hearts. From school shootings, drunk drivers, suicides, divorce, abuse, cancer, to devastated weather events, the list can go on and on.

            Lately, it seems here, where I live we have suffered loss of several people. Not one of them do I count any less than the other, but it seems we have lost several of our young adults and children lately. The other day as I was at work and receiving calls of the news that our community had just lost another child, all I could think was, O Lord, just lift up our hearts! We have had so much pain lately. I can’t even begin to imagine how a grieving parent feels of losing a child, but I do know the whole community hurts when a tragedy of this sort happens. All of our hearts ache, especially our children and that’s even harder on us parents and teachers to see our children mourn over another friend!

 

Please O Lord, lift up our hearts!

 

            I set and think about all the heart breaking actions going on around me. From suffering marriages, businesses going bankrupt and unemployment to seeing children being passed around from home to home, to a couple who aches to have a child, or single mother who gives in to the world cause the weight on her shoulders are so heavy for her to carry alone, to another life diagnosed with cancer. It just hurts my heart!

 

O Lord, lift up our hearts!

 

            We must remember sisters, yes the Lord is still in control and we are to seek Him in all things (Luke12:31). We are to be like Paul in Philippians, one of my favorite books of the bible. Paul, being transformed into a great witness for Christ, he suffered a great loss. In Philippians he gave thanks to the believers in Philippi for seeking to his needs. He writes to the church to seek God and be of unity. We see that Paul counts of the things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 3:8 (NKJV) 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

 

Paul may have suffered many things while he was seeking after the Lords work, but you see, he knows he gained so much more.

 

           

 

 

 

 

 With all the suffering he may have endured, just like us when we look around at all the sadness on this earth, Paul continued to press toward the goal, just like we should each and everyday. You see Paul knew and we should understand also, that if you are a born again believer of Christ Jesus my Lord, sister you have gained so much more than this world will ever provide for you! You have so much more to celebrate in this place of suffering!

 

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

            We may see sadness, or even experience it ourselves, but sister, hang on don’t look back, lift up your heart and press forward because we have a loving God!

 

Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 16 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God: 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

            All I can say is Thank you Jesus! I am able at the end of the day through a heartache, disappointment and fear of what this world is coming to, I know that I am able to find peace in my Savior. He will still be here for me no matter what I face through out my day. He lifts up my heart!

 

             Finally sisters, to the part I could not wait to get to. The verses that I have read many times to get thru a tuff day of hurt feelings, let downs, and discouragement. As I sat here wondering what am I to say to those that are just worn out from a day at work or to a heart broke parent. I recall this…

 

            Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you.

 

            I want you to know sisters that I seek to write what the Lord lays on my heart not only to help another sister but for Him to speak to me also. He knows my heart and what I need to hear and study, that I may walk for Him the way he desires me to. I am not a bible scholar, just a sister in Christ that hungers to know him and to do his will. I desire to know him on a deeper level and writing what I feel seems to help me learn what God is trying to tell me. So sisters my prayer is, is that you will use these verses in your life everyday and that your heart will be lifted up no matter what you may face.