The Preparations of the Heart…

The preparations of the heart belong to man,

But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.—Proverbs 16:1

The Lord rules and overrules in the kingdom of men. This is such a gift to my heart.  Even this morning as I contemplated what to write, I was overwhelmed.  My mind sees so many trains I can take…all of them going a mile a minute and to 100 different places at once.  I have learned to be grateful for this because in it I see my mind without God…darkened, lost and rudderless.  Truly there remains for me no other choice but to cry out to Him in grateful surrender and allow His Spirit to direct my heart and my steps.  I am NOT sufficient for life WITHOUT Him. In my self-sufficiency I am in distress..every hand of misery comes against me.  My sufficiency is from God WHO IS ABLE to make all grace abound toward me, so that I, having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work. 

So what does this “preparation” of my heart look like for me?  It looks like, as I said above, a grateful surrender.  Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 2:13 paints the picture well.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs3:5-6

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.—Philippians 2:13

Beloved…God hears the desire of the humble. He will prepare your heart and cause your ear to hear. 

Jesus speaking…

4 "The Lord GOD has given Me

The tongue of the learned,

That I should know how to speak

A word in season to him who is weary.

He awakens Me morning by morning,

He awakens My ear

To hear as the learned.

5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear;

And I was not rebellious,

Nor did I turn away.—Isaiah 50:4-5

He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;

When He hears it, He will answer you.

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

"This is the way, walk in it,"

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left.—Isaiah 30:19a; 21

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,

And He who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

3 For I am the LORD your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;—Isaiah 43:1-3