Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Listen With Your Heart

What I'm about to say is really special to me. And this may seem like a long, rambling post but I really would like everyone to read what I have to say, take in the quotes and ponder the message. What is your heart telling you to do?
Listening to Your Heart:

(all quotes un-attributed are from the novel, Willpower is not Enough)

"God often speaks in the language of the heart"
"The heart is the seat of the emotions and a conduit for revelation" -James E. Faust

1. Pray from the Heart


"The words most often used to describe urgent prayer are wrestle, plead, cry and hunger. These words certainly describe a prayer of the heart, not of the mind."

"Do we really picture an actual father when we pray? Do we think of him--do we truly think of Him-- as our father?"


2. Recognize the Spirit in Your Life



"In an epistle to the Galatians, the apostle Paul identified the fruits of the Spirit as 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance"
"When do you feel peace, love, joy and gentleness in your life? What kinds of things are you thinking and doing at those times?"


3. Feel the Love of God

Personalize the scripture: "For God so loved me, that he gave his only begotten Son, that if I believe in him, I should not perish, but have everlasting life." No greater love.

"Understanding, on an intellectual level, that God is a gracious and loving being is quite different from feeling--truly experiencing--that love for ourselves."

4. Tune in to the Emotional Message of the Scriptures



Ponder these specific scriptures for a moment:
"But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love."
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
"Do you realize that you are loved by the Lord so much that his is willing to undergo such suffering? It is his love for you that provided the reason and the motivation to do so."


5. Enjoy Good Music
"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

"If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful."

6. Heed the Whisperings of Your Heart



"When we listen to our heart we pay more attention to the big picture, not becoming too wrapped up in the details. We respond based on a holistic feel of events and circumstances rather than on their dissection and microanalysis."

7. Pay More Attention to Relationships



"Have you ever responded to a feeling that you should call a friend or family member- only to be told that you were the answer to a prayer?"

"We often create lengthy to do lists under the direction of our rational minds. While the items on those lists may seem urgent at the time, our hearts may perceive needs and motivate us to actions that are far more important in the long run."


8. Calm the Storm
"As thoughts come into your mind, simply allow them to drift in and out again at their own pace, like a cloud drifting into your vision, across the sky, and then out of sight again. You may be surprised at how easily some previously overwhelming thoughts drift away- once you no longer choose to engage them and dwell on them."

"Whatever the method you use, turning from your thoughts to your feelings can allow you to tap into the wisdom of the heart and learn wisdom that would otherwise be out of reach."

I know that each one of us has such beautiful wisdom hidden within the depths of our hearts.

1 comment:

Miss Amy said...

love this post!! you're right on sweetheart. <3 <3