Tag: heart

The Burden In His Heart

“The Burden In His Heart” By Kirk Hunt

 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

 

It was 1990-ish and I sat alone in a room of white men and told the story from my heart.  “White cops do not stop to help black men.”  I was there to learn about how to minister.  Instead, I discovered a burden in my heart I did not know I had.  A hurt I would have otherwise kept hidden.

 

My Christian brothers listened carefully to a viewpoint they did not expect to hear.  They could not reject my story without rejecting me.  So, for a little while, they helped me bear my burden.  Their obedience to Jesus helped begin healing an infection that could have disqualified me from ministry.

 

I did learn a lesson about ministering to men and women during that day.  Whatever you think, a man’s experience is his experience.  He is correct about what he felt.  You may not understand or agree, but you cannot reject the story that comes from his heart without rejecting him.  And it may be appropriate for your heart to ache with him.

 

I struggle when men and women tell me hard, painful stories about their earthly fathers.  My memory of Poppa Hunt remains my most valuable possession.  Still, I believe the story they share from their heart.  I then lead that hurting soul to Jesus, our Healer.

 

In the coming days and weeks, God’s people will be ministers of healing, reconciliation and restoration.  It starts with a willingness to accept the heart the story comes from.  Then lead them humbly and graciously to Jesus.  Bear their burden, for a while, so that healing can begin.

 

Think:                Reconciliation and healing begin by bearing someone’s burden.

 

Pray:                   “Lord, help me to bear someone’s burden, as Your instrument of healing.”

 

Copyright © July 2016, Kirk Hunt

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This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Rend Your Heart

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“Rend Your Heart” By Kirk Hunt

 So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.

Joel 2:13 NKJV

 

Confession is the simple declaration of something you have done. “Career” criminals sometimes confess, but often repeat their crimes. Repentance begins with confession, but ends with a heart that refuses to do wrong again. You will have to rend or tear your heart.

 

Ancient Hebrews would tear their clothes, as a sign of grief or mourning. The “notches” in your suit coat are a relic of that custom. Tearing your shirt is one thing. “Tearing” your heart is another.

 

True repentance is painful. It will require you to face the muck and stench that too often stains human lives, especially your own. You have to come clean with an all-seeing, all-knowing God. While the return to God may be less than pleasant, His restoration will make it worthwhile.

 

His blood will wash your soul. His grace will refresh your spirit. His mercy will rebuild your heart. He is waiting for you to return to Him.

 

He wants to pour His grace over your life like a waterfall. His mercy will carry you over the deepest chasms of your existence. Like any loving father, all He needs to see is your repentant heart.

 

Return to Him. Let His grace and mercy restore you. No matter what happened yesterday, He loves you today. If you repent, you can live your tomorrows in His Presence.

 

Think:             If I return to Him, He will restore me.

 

Pray:                “Lord, I repent. Please restore me in Your Grace and Mercy.”

 

 

Copyright © August 2015, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Here I Am To Worship

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“Here I Am To Worship” By Kirk Hunt

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1 NKJV

Song: “Here I Am To Worship”
Original Psalmist: Tim Hughes
Covering Psalmist: Israel Houghton

 

Why did you come? To worship God? To (re-)acknowledge Him as Lord of your life? Really?

 

Isaiah was performing rituals. His tasks and actions, standing in the middle of the original Temple, were intended to be devotion to God. Instead, somehow, he slipped into real worship and made true contact with God.

 

Your actions may be officially sanctioned. Your activities might be correct and proper. That does not make them sincere or authentic. Going through the motions is not the worship that God wants or deserves.

 

Momentum may carry you, but can be insincere. Ritual and habit can hide the authentic. God wants what you give to be from your heart.

 

He does not want the glossy, polished version, if it lacks heart. God wants the real article that comes from the bottom of your heart. Your worship should smell and taste like the real you.

 

Close your checklist. Stop in the middle of the sequence. Push the official and authorized to the side.

 

Look up and see Him. Let your heart fill with Him. Look past the things and people around you and reach out to the God you love and serve.

 

Authorized and sanctioned have their place. Rituals and ceremonies have their meaning. What God really wants is you.

 

Think:             Is this really worship? Is this really why I came?

 

Pray:             “Father-God, You are the reason I came. Really and sincerely.”

 

 

Copyright © June 2015, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Abba, Father

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“Abba, Father” By Kirk Hunt

 

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

 

Galatians 4:6 NKJV

 

During my visit to Israel, the Tour Leader and his son suddenly started discussing money. The son, twenty-something years old, wanted extra money (no surprise) for an event. The discussion started in English, but switched to Hebrew, as son and Father “negotiated.”

 

The switch in language was effective, until we heard that tone. Son was using that imploring, almost-whining voice that every father in the group (if not the planet) knew too well. On top of the tone, all but one of us, recognized the word, “Abba.”

 

We laughed. We started to talk about taking up a collection. No real father is completely cold to the sound of that plea and cry from a son (or daughter). No matter what the child deserves, a father’s heart wants to give him (or her) more.

 

The son did not hesitate to implore his Dad. Because he knew his Dad loved him. Even if it mean compensation or sacrifice later, Son, understood his Dad would only do good things for him.

 

Your heavenly Father, Abba-God, Daddy-God, loves you. Your heavenly Father’s heart wants to give you more, because He loves you. He loves you more purely, truly and completely than any flesh-and-blood mortal can love anyone.

 

You are sons and daughters of the most high, God. Let your heart cry out to Him, no matter what the subject. I guarantee you that His heart hears you as a only a Father can.

 

Think:             Abba-God, Daddy-God loves me.

 

Pray:               “Lord, help me to rely on and trust Your love.”

 

 

Copyright © June 2014, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.