Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Lead your heart or it will lead you

 

Today, two different studies I am going though talked a lot about the heart, one with Robin and the other here in Romans 6. In the NIV translations, this chapter is titled Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ. But are we living our lives like we are dead to sin? Have we buried it, walked away from old sinful habits, or are we still trapped by sin? Romans 6 is a compelling read, dive in, and unpack all its goodness. Today, I am only going to talk about the heart.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” -‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Here we get two different messages and stories of the heart. We must guard it because everything we do flows from it. Second, the heart is deceitful and beyond cure. Well, this doesn’t sound very encouraging.

I read these and understand that without direction, intentionality, and the Holy Spirit, we will follow our heart right into a disaster and find chaos all around us. Proverbs drive this home, where there is no prophetic vision, no direction from God's Word we all perish. It’s the unbroken wild horse that can not be ridden, that's our heart in its natural state. 

But, our hearts can be led and guided. It does not have to be in the driver's seat, and it can take instruction and direction if we are intentional and lead it. Check out Jesus words in Matthew:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. Where are we leading our center? What are we doing with our time, our effort, our energy - what do we treasure? If we desire to love our spouses more each day, are we treasuring them? This doesn’t happen on accident, and we must bring intentionality and focus! Let me put it another way, a quote from one of the greatest business leaders of all time;

“What's measured improves.” ― Peter Drucker.

Drucker understood that what we focus on, what we measure and track improves. This is focus, dedication, intentionality, and top of mind. This is why most people who do Weight Watchers weigh in each week...what is measured improves. It brings focus, attention, and accountability. 

Our hearts need to be focused and lead. In doing this, we then can understand Pauls words in Romans 6;

“And thanks be to God, for in the past, you were servants of sin, but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to.” - ‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

It is stepping away from being a servant of sin,  now becoming slaves to righteousness. Our obedience is “heart deep” - it is in us and drives us, and modeled buy the truth. But before I wrap up, one thing to point out here in 6:17. On leading our heart again, you see that “the teaching you are devoted to” it referenced. This is leading, what teaching are we devoted to? This makes all the difference with our hearts. 

We do not have to be slaves to sin; we have a choice with the grace of Christ in us. We must step into today and lead our hearts, guide this in the way that honors God. Time to lead. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch