For about a year now, I’ve been working out at the gym anywhere from 2 to 4 days a week. I’m up to 35 minutes on a cardio machine and about 20 to 25 minutes weight lifting. I do the fat burning mode on the cardio machine, and when the bars spike, I amp up my heart rate. When the activity bar is flat and low, I lower my heart rate by decreasing the speed of my movement. For 30 minutes I am revving up my heart rate and letting it settle then I cool off the last 5 minutes. I sweat like a boar hog. I take a rag with me on that machine because I’m just pouring sweat.
My heart, your heart is a muscular organ that needs exercise. It needs activity. A fatty, lazy heart doesn’t do anyone any good. It’s amazing what can happen when there’s a healthy heart, a heart that beats for Christ.
In Exodus 35 – 36:7, the word heart is used 6 times in my Holman Christian Standard Bible translation.
35:20 whose heart was moved
35:22 had willing hearts
35:26 whose hearts were moved
35:29 whose hearts prompted them
36:2 whose hearts the Lord had placed wisdom
…whose heart moved him
Do you know what the hearts of the Israelites prompted them to do? GIVE. They gave to the Lord. The gave to the Lord from their resources, their time, and talent.
And do you know what God gave them? They were given the ability to do the work laid out ahead of them in building the tabernacle. Some received the Spirit from God. Some received wisdom and understanding and ability to do any craft necessary in building the tabernacle. He gave some the ability to teach and instruct others the skills necessary for the job at hand.
Do you know what the result was? MORE.
Every morning the Israelites were bringing offerings, and in Exodus 36:4 it says, The people are bringing more than is needed. The children of Israel had to be told to stop giving. They had to be TOLD to stop giving.
Exodus 36:7 says, The materials were sufficient for them to do all the works. There was more than enough.
If you notice, the willing heart, the prompted heart, and the moving heart were all compelled to act in according to God’s will. These hearts freely gave to the benefit and glory of God and His mission. They weren’t focused on themselves, how they’ve been done wrong, harboring sin, ….
But it started with a willing heart, a heart that was moved, a heart that was prompted. How can God prompt your heart if you are bitter, negative, angry, or simply don’t care. You, my friend, have a heart of stone. If you don’t feel God’s presence, don’t see His hand moving, don’t have a desire to be used by God, there’s a good chance you have a heart of stone. But don’t worry. There’s a fix for that. I love this verse and have prayed it over loved ones. Ezekiel 36: 25-27, “…I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.”
So, what kind of heart do you want? What kind of results do you want in your life? Our Heavenly Father is in the heart transplant business. He is the original pacemaker of your heart. Are you allowing Him to work in it?
Father God,
Thank you so much for loving us regardless of our weaknesses, our stubbornness, our pride, our hardened hearts. Please give us a heart for you. Give us a heart transplant. Give us a willing heart, a moving heart, a heart that beats after you.
We love you,
Amen.