“He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” Psalm 10:6
“But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” Psalm 13:5
“The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses!” Psalm 25:17
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart…”Psalm 34:18
“When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2
“So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels.” Psalm 81:12
“For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.” Psalm 109:22
“Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.” Proverbs 6:14
“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. ” Proverbs 12:25
“Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear!” Isaiah 35:4
Last week, I said we were going to pick apart the innermost parts to help us prepare for attacks from the enemy. You can read about it HERE.
Notice how many emotions come from our heart? These are just a few. Now, technically, in ancient times, people believed the seat of emotions were…wait for it…the kidneys. I have another lesson about that for another time.
But in today’s world, the seat of emotions lie deep within our hearts. Look at how much we feel within our hearts? Ever heard any of these lines?
“Follow your heart.” “Wear your heart on your sleeve.” “Trust your heart.”
Truth is, we can’t afford to do any of these. Not without the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect our hearts. Without it, we’re at risk. Roxette got it wrong with Listen to Your Heart. (I do like that song, though.)
Our hearts take us places we don’t belong. Our hearts are shaky. And wearing our emotions for everyone to see is ridiculous and a fast way to become like lepers. (There’s a difference between wearing your heart on your sleeve and being transparent. Yes, yes there is.)
What we feel is fickle. And the enemy knows it. That’s why he consistently attacks our emotions. He’s got it down to an art.
God made us to feel…to feel deeply, passionately, tenderly, generously. He made us sensitive. To Him. To His glory.
The enemy twists the emotions of the heart to veer us away from God and His will. Some of the above scriptures are ways he messes with our hearts. For today, I’m picking the top 2 ways he strikes our hearts. In my opinion, of course.
FEAR
Fear keeps us from moving forward. Paralyzes us into the mundane. Or even worse–into doing nothing. Jeremiah didn’t want to prophesy because he was afraid he was too young. Moses was afraid to speak. God’s people were afraid to cross into a glorious promise. Peter was afraid to stand up for Jesus at a crucial time.
And God told each one of them, I AM with you. That’s enough. You can’t. I can. God is always moving us forward. He has an agenda and it includes me. It includes you.
What do you fear? Failure? Success? Uncertainty? The unknown? A person, place, thing…a circumstance that could occur? Maybe it will. But, maybe it won’t. Here’s one: God? Growing closer to Him? Ever taken strides toward Him and everything seems to go to pot.
Do you fear the enemy more than you trust God?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10
DOUBT
I did a series on Doubt using an acrostic. If you’re plagued with it, you can read Part 1, HERE and Part 2 HERE.
Doubt is really a lack of trust in God. I think everything that keeps us from moving forward can be peeled back layer by layer to one thing. Lack of trust. Don’t believe me? What are you doubting, what are you afraid of? Peel it back asking why. Too afraid? Don’t believe it? Our hearts can deceive us. That’s why God tests them. Not for His sake. For ours.
The enemy throws fiery darts of doubt straight to our hearts. He wants us to doubt our identity in Christ, His love for us, doubt what God is asking us to do. He likes to use a double-headed arrow with this one: Fear/doubt.
Nothing puts you into cardiac arrest like an injection of fear or doubt.
If he can get us to doubt, he can put us at a standstill. Drop us like a fly. And chuckle while he does it. It’s not even his most fiery dart. It doesn’t take but a spark.
“And He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” Luke 24:38 Parentheses mine.
“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”” Mark 9:23
“God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.” Hebrews 4:12-13 MSG
When you can’t trust your emotions (heart) and your faith is shaky at best, you have to go with the facts. You can’t argue with truth. And you can’t afford to go a day without the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect your heart.
God is God alone and there is no one besides Him. Psalm 86:10 Isaiah 45:5
He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
He has great plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11
You have nothing to fear. Nothing to doubt. Luke 24:38
He is doubtless about His ability. Isaiah 50:2
What are other ways the enemy attacks the heart?
I’m hosting at Living By Grace, an online devotional community for women. Come by and chat or encourage someone who needs it!
**Next Wednesday, we’ll talk about the lungs: the seat of praise
I have always found it interesting were different culture say their emotions come from. Many Arab nations express love 'from the bowels.'
It makes me wonder what some of these places use for terms of affection. Imagine some of the pick up lines.
"Baby, you make my liver quiver!"
It just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Oh my word, these posts are fantastic. My heart is one bloody (hear English accent) mess. Ba dum dum. Seriously though, it changes its mind far too often.
(On another note, I think I'm finally going to break down and vlog. I'd love to know more about your experience…ah, heck…I'll just send you an email or fb message.)
~ Wendy
Fantastic post, Jessica! Definitely needed this post today. Will be meditating on the scriptures. 🙂
Loving this, Jess. Oh fear, oh fear – it's always my Achilles. I know it, God knows it, and satan knows it. Fear of success and failure all at once. Fear of God – did you nail that one! Yep, each step I take I get nailed with more darts, and when I keep moving forward, those darts get aimed at the ones around me causing distraction…thanks for all the back-up verses today:)
This is an awesome, awesome truth: "I think everything that keeps us from moving forward can be peeled back layer by layer to one thing. Lack of trust."
I think my head does a lot better at trusting than my heart…which is why your post rings with such truth. "Follow your heart" sounds so sweet, but doesn't always work out so well… 🙂 I think it takes the Holy Spirit's help to take our heart's feelings and our head's facts and find the wise balance.
Such good stuff as always!
"Do you fear the enemy more than you trust God?"
Fabulous, fabulous question. So much of fear comes down to believing Satan's lies instead of God's truth.
Jess, your devotions are the best!
Struggling with that familiar friend "doubt" can paralyze us. I remember attending the ACFW conference last year for the first time and being a wee bit overwhelmed initially. There was really no need–everyone was so warm and welcoming that those feelings quickly fled. God placed the most generous souls in my path!
(Now, if I can just conquer my fear of flying. ;0 Kinda a long drive from my neck of the woods to Dallas for the next conf. I'm praying that God will raise up a flying buddy.)
Wow, wow, and WOW! Such needed words of wisdom you have shared here, Jessuca. It struck me as truth personified when you wrote, "Our hearts take us places we don't belong." I'm filing this in the reference folder for future use. You're a blessing!
Fabulous post, Jessica. I needed to hear it this week. I was watching the news and jumped to conclusions about something military-related and got scared for my husband. Instead of praying and leaving it with God, I fretted unnecessarily. Turns out my husband was just fine. The devil played tricks with me and I let him.
I think your post today is a way God is telling me not to fear.
Outstanding post.
We need to guard our heart at all times.
Doubt and fear used to be my worst enemy until I learned to trust.
Fear and doubt, yep! The enemy tries to plant those seeds, and sometimes we let them grow. Good to keep on guard against those emotions!
Beautiful post. Thank you, Jess.
Great post, Jess! I love the part about fear and doubt putting us into cardiac arrest mentally/spiritually – so true. Too often, in the day-to-day things, I forget to let those go and trust the Lord.
I'm super late to respond, everyone. Sorry! I didn't have a spare minute–much yesterday.
Brett: If someone told me I made their liver quiver, I'd probably kick him in the jimmy. LOL
Wendy: Thanks and I most certainly did hear your English accent. Well done, my lady. Well done, indeed.
Susan: I'm glad to help load up your quiver (not the kind Brett mentioned) with back up ammo for fear! 🙂
Victoria: You're welcome. I've been meditating on this awhile too!
Tagg: I agree! My mind knows a lot and tells me the truths all the time, it's getting my heart to sync up with the brain! Good point!
Lindsay: True! It's so easy to believe those lies, especially when he twists them so eloquently. I wonder if we'll get turns to kick him in the gut when it's all over? LOL
Cynthia: Thank you so much for the great compliment! I can relate on so many levels with you! I'm not afraid of planes it's the alone, not knowing where I'm going feeling that seizes my courage. I'd fly with you if we were closer! It would be so much fun!
Donna:Ditto on the blessing! You always cheer my heart up! 🙂
Brandi: I loved to be used by God! So that statement you made was very encouraging! I've been in situations similar. Grabbing those lies and running with them before handing it over to God. We all do that.
Loree: The key is definitely trust! 🙂
Carol: Right you are! It's a tough thing to conquer. 🙂
Martha: You're welcome and thanks!
Stacie: Ain't that the truth! It's hard to stay conscious about what's going on, with the enemy's lies and tricks, when our heart is running wild with fear and doubt!
Well, the kidneys are, er, sort of heart shaped!
Great post, Jessica!
That's so nice, Jessica – and I really like Psalm 61. duo
You lifted me up today with your truth and words! Thank you Jessica!