Sorrow of Heart by Rebecca..

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” ~ Proverbs 15:13, NKJV

It's true that “attitude determines outlook” (Warren Wiersbe) and that believers are to “rejoice always,” knowing what the Lord has done for us, but this proverb is not one of those impotent platitudes that insist you “cheer up” but do not give you any means of doing so. Rather, Solomon is expressing a truth regarding the human state, and implicitly pointing to the goodness and power of God. Out of the heart spring all the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23), so if one's heart is merry, so is one's countenance and the rest of one's self. Likewise, if one's heart is sorrowful, that sorrow will inevitably affect the whole of your being. It may even go so far as to break your spirit, crushing your soul and sapping the very life from your body. In such a state you cannot “cheer up” - not alone. Just as the power of God can revive a desperately wicked heart that is dead in trespasses and sins, so the power and grace of God can heal a broken spirit and restore life to a dying soul. Believers do sorrow - Jesus Himself, knowing He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, still wept over His friend's death - but they do not sorrow as those who have no hope. Our spirits are sustained by God's own Spirit, a powerful, unfailing current of certain hope and everlasting joy that runs beneath the sorrow and pain of our hearts. We do indeed “rejoice always,” because all reason for despair has been taken away from us forever. And a day is coming when my God shall wipe every tear from my eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. The curse will be gone and the former things will have passed away. All things will be made new. Whatever my sorrows may be in this life, I know this - they will only last the night. Joy is coming in the morning!

Behold What Manner of Love!!!

Having predestined us unto adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.--Ephesians 1:5

We have been predestined according  according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His will.  God has predestined us to be His Sons and daughters and takes pleasure in our willing, faithful obedience as his adopted sons and daughters...just as He is well pleased with His Son, Jesus.  Our God takes delight in us, His sons and daughters in Christ, as we walk in humble obedience before Him.  Romans 8:29-30 says this:


For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.


The term predestinate, as used in God's word, refers to the purpose He has for those who are His children.  Nowhere does the Bible teach that God predestines anyone to hell.  God's predestined plan for our lives as His elect or chosen, is that we should be adopted as His children by Jesus Christ to Himself.  He has a plan for each one of us and works all things together for good in our lives according to His purposes and for His good pleasure. The book of Romans tells us that He conforms His sons and daughters to the image of His Son.  Our God, Ephesians says,  has prepared works ahead of time for us that we should walk in them.  As adopted children we have all the rights and privileges of sonship as well as the responsibilities therein.


But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.--John 1:12-13


For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.--Romans 8:14-17


But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.--Galatians 4:4-7


I am chosen in Him before the foundation of the world...before I could do anything...when I was yet His enemy...I was chosen.  I cried out to Him by the grace that God gave me and was saved and became a child...a daughter of God!!!  I am called after His name!!!   He gives me a new nature..a nature like His and sends His Spirit to dwell in my heart.  He is with me always guiding me and directing me into all truth.  Such grace is truly unfathomable and incomprehensible to my human mind.  Me, who was once by nature a child of wrath...He has adopted as His child...

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.--1 John 3:1-2

It was the good pleasure or delight of my God to choose me, to save me and to make me His child!!  Think about what it means to be someone's child.  This should not be too hard for any of us because all of us have earthly parents and many of us know what it is like to be a parent.

My children are my heirs...when I die everything I have will be theirs and what I have now I share with them.  My children know that I love them and trust me to do what is right by them even when they do not understand what might be happening in the moment.  They know my heart is one of love for them and that I desire only their good. I have compassion on my children and pity them when they are ill or are going through a difficult time.  I hear and am compassionate to all their sighs and groans.  My desire is to intercede for them and come to their aid. Even when I rebuke them it is because I love them and desire to keep them safe from all kinds of ills that befall us in this life.  My children are under my roof..they are under my protection and care.  As a mom I do what I can to keep them shielded, protected and safe from harm...even to the point of laying down my own life for them.  When they are in trouble or in need, they come to me knowing that what I have for them will be good, right and pure...as much as that is possible from a human perspective.  As a Mom I teach my children and guide them in the truth of God and His word.  I lead them down His right paths.  I encourage them as they grow, shower them with good gifts and by example, I teach them about loyalty, love, faithfulness, courage...etc.... Beloved, how much more does our Father in heaven do these things for us, His beloved children in His Son, Jesus?

To know the love of Christ is to be filled with all the fullness of God!  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?  Christ died for us when we were yet sinners...still his enemies...dead in trespasses and sins.  How wonderful it is that we, as His children, can put our trust under the shadow of His wings. His loving arms encircle me and His mercies surround me!  He hears all my sighs and my groanings and counts and bottles every tear that I shed.  How wonderful as His child to trust Him knowing that His purposes and plans for us are good and that they come from His heart of love.  My God is for me!!!  Who can stand against me???  What security and hope we have in Him...our sins forgiven in eternity past, the ability to come boldly before His throne of grace to find mercy and obtain grace to help in our time of need in the present and our future assured in heaven with Him.

 The Lord, my God and my Father is in my midst.  The mighty One has saved me!!! I am His chosen one...His adopted daughter. My Daddy is God!  I am blessed with all the riches of the heavenly places in his Son. My God loves me with an everlasting love.  He fights for me.   He shelters me under the shadow of His wings and places over me His banner of love.

My desire is to live for Him in grateful obedience to His word...to walk in His Spirit here on earth and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  My God has shown me through His Son what is good and what He requires...I am do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with Him.  My heart is to be wholly united toward Him.  My life is to reflect the beauty of my God and I am to shine His light  not only to bring those who are still in darkness to Him, but also to encourage other believers.  When I end my journey here on earth and go home to be with Him forever, the Lord my God will rejoice over me with joy and singing and will quiet me with His love.  In Him will I rest...

for next study in Ephesians go here