The Desires Of My Heart

Psalm 37:4-6
Isaiah 58:13,14

In Psalm 37:4 it says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

It says to delight in the Lord. How do we delight ourselves in God?

Isaiah 58:13,14 says,
"If you turn away YOUR foot from the Sabbath, from doing YOUR PLEASURE on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and will honor Him, not doing YOUR OWN WAYS, nor finding YOUR OWN PLEASURE, nor speaking YOUR OWN WORDS: Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;"

So if we honor God and turn away from doing what we want to do, we can and will delight ourselves in the Lord.
Psalm 37:4 also says if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart.
So if we turn from our own ways and honor God, we will be delighting in Him and He will give us our hearts desires.
When the Bible talks about God giving us the desires of our heart, it doesn't mean that whatever we desire will be given us. It means if we are delighting ourselves in God (turning from our own ways to His ways), He will place the desires that He has for us into our hearts.
Think about it this way. What would be the point in denying our own ways (flesh) to delight ourselves in God, just so He could in turn give us our own desires and ways back in exchange? When we delight ourselves in God, He will give us the desires, dreams, visions, and ambitions that our hearts should have because we are pleasing God. We are denying ourselves of carnal pleasures and our own ways.
The desires that we may have in our heart may not be evil, wicked, perverse, or prideful but the heart holds many things.
David asked the Lord to, ".....cleanse thou me from secret faults." (Psalm 19:12)
Here David was talking about secret sins.
And in Psalm 90:8 Moses prays, "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." Moses here was saying that our hearts are being read.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 20:9, "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"
The human heart aside from the direction of God is full of evil, pride, and fleshly desires. It is only til we deny ourselves and delight ourselves in the ways of the Lord that we will see Him give us the desires of our hearts and then see them come to pass.

I Get So Emotional

Our emotions can be our friend or our enemy. Our emotions allow us to feel certain ways when something in our life has affected us negatively or positively.
In order to know there is something wrong we have to feel emotion. Anger, sadness, fear, and other emotions which are similar are just as important as let's say joy, happiness, peace, and love. As humans if we do not feel negative emotions but we feel positive ones, there is something wrong. If we only feel negative ones but no positive emotions there is something wrong or if we have no feeling of emotions period. In order to be "balanced" in life we must be able to feel all emotions. If there is an unbalance in our emotions, it means we are disconnected in some way.
If we were standing at a stove cooking and all of a sudden our hands slips and touches the hot pan, if we did not move our hand by feeling that the pan was hot, we would probably burn our hand badly. The nerves within our hand sends our brain a message that says, "HOT AND THIS HURTS, MOVE YOUR HAND!" So we jerk away quickly. And depending on how hot the pan is, you might feel the pain for a while afterward.
This is similar to how our emotions are. They allow us to know when something is wrong in our life. If we never felt sadness or anger how would we know something is wrong or not right? How would we know that something needs corrected? If we never experienced happiness or joy how would we feel or know good things or something we've done right. Emotions allow us to know whether or not there is a problem.
However, there is another side to be considered about our emotions. Emotions can be a good thing but they can also be our enemy as well. Our emotions become our enemy when we begin to allow them to control us. Instead of us controlling our emotions, we allow them to control us, and they determine our actions.

Proverbs 16:32
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Proverbs 25:28
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

Romans 6:12
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."

1 Corinthians 6:12
"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."


An example of our emotions ruling us would be, let's say, you get angry. The Bible says to be angry but sin not. We are to have a righteous indignation about us but the Bible specifically says to sin not. So if we do not have our emotions under control they begin to control us and cause us to act upon them. So if you get angry and can't control your anger then you may end up cussing or doing something else that you may not normally do. And this is just an example but it can and could happen if we do not control ourselves.

New Level. New Devil.

There is a war being waged in the heavens. The angels of God are fighting against the rulers of darkness. This war is going on but there are no news broadcasts to announce it or cover the story.

However, I am sure that you can go to talk to one of your brothers and sisters in the Lord and they can share with you the battle they are going through right now. And share with you the wounds that they have received.

The Lord has spoke and told the church that miracles are coming. This has built up our faith and hope in the Lord (I know it has mine). Looking forward to the blessings of God and hopes that lives are forever changed and souls are saved. This is good news for us who have been praying, fasting, and seeking for a move of God. But for the devil and his evil kingdom this has set him in a rage. He knows that he cannot stop a move of God. What God has spoken will come to pass. His Word will not and cannot return unto Him void. His Words will be fulfilled. And although Satan can't stop a move of God, he can try to hinder one. And he will come up with anything and everything he can to do it.

As Christians and children of God, we start out as babies. And as babies we fight in little battles and we overcome the enemies tactics and devices at the baby stage. But as we grow we will face a new devil with each new level. The enemy will continue to use his same tactics and devices as long as he knows they are working. If you know something is working why change it? But when he sees his tricks are not working he comes up with bigger and new things to try. That is usually where we as Christians get threw for a loop when we enter into a situation that we have never encountered before. Something that hits us hard and at the time we cannot see any way out. Or the situation looks hopeless.

In a game of basketball the object of the game is to keep your opponent from making a basket. You'll notice that the opponent is not interested in their side of the court when you have the ball. The opponent is already moved into position on your side of the court. Plotting,planning, and waiting for you so they can trip you up and make you lose the ball.

That is exactly what the plans of the enemy are. He knows that when we see God move in our circumstances and the things and people in our lives we have prayed for, when our prayers are answered our faith will rise and then not only can we speak that we have the victory but we will see victory.

The job of the devil is to wear us all out and to make us weary.

Daniel 7:25 says

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

We are going to suffer persecution as Christians in many ways. The devil will come at us with everything he has. But we should keep in mind "this too shall pass."

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Paul said, "our light affliction." Paul was a man who went through and had endured many things.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23 Paul talks about how he was, "in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Then verses 24-27 he goes on describing other things he had went through. But even though he went through all that he did, he still called them light afflictions.

And in 2 Timothy 3:11 he says, "....what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me." Hallelujah!!!!

Circumstances and situations will arise in our life but as long as we are walking with the Lord, He will help us through them all.

Proverbs 3:5,6 says

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I love that word shall. Shall is a future tense word. It means will or it will be done. So not only has God directed me on the paths I've walked in the past, I have the promise of my future paths being directed by Him also.

With Jesus leading and guiding us we do not have to fear about whether we are on the right path. I know that when things arise and come at us we begin to wonder if we did something wrong or if we are in the Lord's will or not. That is when our faith and trust must really kick into gear. Paul said the Lord had delivered him from all persecutions. He didn't say the Lord had delivered him from all tribulations, trials, or testings.

We have to remember God will not allow us to be tempted or tested more than we are able to go through. And He will always provide a way of escape that we can bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). We are mighty and victorious through Him.

The devil and his imps want us to become burdened down and weary. He would love for nothing more than for each of us to throw our hands up and say, "I QUIT." But praise be to God we have a Comforter and Helper who is always there. In the darkest of nights we always hear that small still voice saying to not give up and not to lose hope. Help is coming, it is on the way.

It may look like we are surrounded by the army of the enemy. It may look like he has us out numbered 2 to 1. But I just want to say that God says we have more for us than those that are against us.

In 2 King 6:16 Elisha and his servant were encamped about by the enemy. Elisha prayed that the servants eyes be opened. It says in verse 17 when God opened his eyes he saw, "the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

My prayer for each child of God is to have our spiritual eyes and ears opened. For us to look past the pain, hurt, offense, trials, disappointments, abandonment, abuse, rage, bitterness, and any other feeling we may have. To look past it and see Jesus. To see that just as Elisha was surrounded by horses and chariots of fire, we too are surrounded. Only we are surrounded by the arms of God. The Lord has us covered and He will never allow us to fall as long as we are serving and walking with Him. Yes, we may stumble at times but Jesus is there to catch us and pick us up and straighten us out again. We will really never fall from His grace. For His grace is sufficient. (2 Cor. 12:9).

I pray we can hear the Words of God telling us to grow not weary in well doing for we shall reap in our due season only if we persevere and faint not (Gal. 6:9).

Now is the time if ever there has been for the children of God to rise up against the enemy. To rise up and fight even with busted noses, broken arms, and bloody knuckles. To know that it is time to fight or be killed. The devil will show no mercy and this "game of life" is no fair.

We need to suit up with the FULL armor of God (Eph. 6:11) and endure hardness as a good soldier (2 Tim. 2:3). So that we can withstand evil having done all to stand! (Eph. 6:13).

Jesus Is With Us When the Storm Clouds Gather

Matthew 14:22-33
Mark 6:45-52
John 6:15-21

(v22)And straightway Jesus constrained (compelled) his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitude away.

Why did Jesus compel His disciples to go in the ship before Him? Why didn't He go with them or go on before them first?

I believe He was teaching them that they should never get ahead of Him. We can't get ahead in life trying to go before the Lord. Jesus has to either be in the same ship with us or He has to have already gone before us in the way.

(v24)But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Jesus sent His disciples over to the other side. Now all of a sudden the waves begin to start up & the winds begin to blow. There was a storm beginning to form. Surely the Son of God knew there would be a storm to come upon them on their journey to the other side.
Jesus sent them without Him to allow them to know that no matter what may happen in their life and no matter where they are at, He would always be there for them.

(v25)And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Why did Jesus let them stay in the midst of the storm through the second and third watches of the night?

The fourth watch of the night is considered 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. The disciples had took off in the ship right before the second watch of the night (I am assuming). They had been trying to get to the other side for approximately seven hours give or take.
Jesus wanted them to have faith. No doubt the disciples were scared. They probably thought their life would end that very night.
The Lord might of wanted them to see that it doesn't matter if things look bad, that He will show up right on time.
Jesus wanted them to see that although they worked all night they couldn't save themselves.
Sometimes God will not show up in a situation until all of our options are depleted. He will not show up until the time is right for us to see He is the One who has came through for us. He wants our dilemmas and situations to bring Him glory! But He also wants to show us who He truly is.

Jesus came walking on the water and spoke to them and said...."Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid (v27).

(v28)Peter wasn't exactly sure that it was Jesus calling out to him. He believed in his heart this was Jesus but he wanted to be sure. Peter asked the Lord that if it truly was him to bid him to come to him on the water. (v29) And Jesus told him to come.

These scriptures remind me of when Jesus comes into our lives and we feel He is speaking to us but we sometimes are not sure it is Him or if we are in ourselves. So we ask the Lord if it is truly you show a sign or confirm that this thing is of You.
Once the Lord told Peter to come, there must of been some unction and excitement in Peter's spirit. If there hadn't of been something there he would of never attempted to leave the boat. Probably a little nervous Peter put one foot out and then the other. The hardest part would have been letting go of the boat! To let go or not to let go was the question Peter asked himself. Boldly he let go and began walking toward Jesus.
Just like our walk with God, we know when we get a word from the Lord. If He has called us to do something. The Lord said in Matthew 10 that His sheep know His voice and no other will they follow. Peter was definitely one of the Lord's sheep.

(v30)but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus and d o not pay attention to the other things we hear people saying about us, we will not sink. But as soon as we begin to listen to what others think we should do and what others say we cannot do, we get doubt in our hearts. We begin to even question on whether or not we've heard from the Lord, and we begin to "sink".

(v31).....O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Whatever the Lord has called us to do, we do not have to worry about how we will accomplish it. For He has prepared the way before the foundation of the world. And He has placed inside of us, while we were yet in our mothers wombs, the tools and necessities we would need in our life. The Lord will never call us to do anything that we are not equipped to do.
By Peter stepping out of the boat the other disciples got to see Jesus' saving power at work right before their very eyes.
Even though we make mistakes and sometimes mess up, God can still use those situations to bring Him glory!

Making It To The Promised Land

Numbers 20:11

When Moses disobeyed God in smiting the rock twice, I believe he was irritated and under a lot of pressure. He might of been at a point where he was through with the murmuring and complaining of the people. God told him (Moses), to take the rod and gather the assembly together. Then He told Moses to speak unto the rock before them and the rock would bring forth water.

But instead he became irritated and impatient and smote the rock twice and the Lord was not sanctified in the children of Israel's eyes. The Lord told Moses and Aaron, that they would not be allowed to bring the congregation into the promised land.

Deuteronomy 34:4
Moses got to see the promised land with his own eyes but could not cross over into it.

It would be terrible to make it all of the way to the promised land to see it and to be just inches away from entering into what God had promised. But because of disobedience and not trusting God we couldn't enter.

I wonder at times, just how often do we feel that something good is about to happen, but then we wonder what happened or what went wrong. We really felt that God was about to move or we were just at the thresh hold of our breakthrough. But we don't see the promise come to pass. I believe it is a mixture of things. Doubt and unbelief, fear, or maybe disobedience to what God has told us to do. I would like to say that Satan cannot stop a move of God, he can try to hinder it but cannot stop it. (However, we can stop a move of God by disobedience, doubt, fear, unbelief, and etc. We are the only person who can stop the blessings of God in our life.)

We need to be sure to speak spiritual and positive things pertaining to ALL things in our lives. Do not allow vain or idle words to come from our mouths. We need to give God glory in all things, even when we are fed up and frustrated. Do not allow anything to hinder what God has promised. If God says to do something a certain way, then we should do it. It will be profitable for us but it ultimately brings glory to God!!

The Mustard Seed

The Lord kept bringing that verse to my mind about if I only "had faith as a grain of mustard see". Usually when the Lord places a verse or subject on my heart and it stays with me for a while I know that there is something there the Lord is really wanting to show me. So I decided to do a study on the mustard seed. I found out some really fascinating things about the mustard seed. Most people think that the mustard seed of the Bible is yellow but during that time it was black.

Below is my notes on the mustard seed with my own thoughts inserted between parentheses ().

The plant itself can grow from two to eight feet tall, with racemes of small yellow flowers. These flowers are usually up to 1/3" across, with four petals each. The leaves are covered in small hairs; they can wilt on hot days, but recover at night. (Through the trying of our faith we may wilt some but we will recover.)

Since the 1950's black mustard has become less popular as compared to India mustard because some cultivars of India mustard have seeds that can be mechanically harvested in a more efficient manner.

Black mustard is thought to be the seed mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 13:31,32

Black Mustard (Brassica nigra) - Black mustard is a many-branched, aromatic, weedy annual plant, growing up to 4 meters in height. (Our faith produces fruit (Rom. 5:1-5) and is a sweet pleasing aroma (Heb. 11:6) to God. Our faith grows more and more everyday that we serve God.) It has showy, smallish yellow flowers. Its seeds grow in long, slender pods. (Our faith is increased with others (Heb. 10:25)). Each pod contains 10-12 brown or black seeds.

History: Ancient Sanskrit writings, dating back about 5,000 years, mention mustard seeds. The New Testament compares the mustard seed to our faith when we first start using it. When we keep using our faith, then it grows like a mustard seed. "and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches." Ancient Greeks held the mustard plant in very high esteem for its medicinal values. The ancient physician Hippocrates used mustard seeds to heal many ailments. (Our faith can heal many ailments!! James 5:15, Matthew 9:29).

Rich in: Mustard seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids; essential oils; the minerals selenium, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc; vitamins A, B-complex, and C; dietary fiber, protein, and phytonutrients. (Mustard seed faith is an essential nutrient that our spiritual man needs & cannot live without.)

Internal Use: Both mustard seeds and mustard leaves are edible. ( Our mustard seed faith produces edible substance. (Our faith will be our sight or end in sight)). Black mustard contains diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, and stimulant properties. Mustard seeds help reduce the severity of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine attacks, and some symptoms of menopause. They are helpful in preventing heart attack in those suffering from arteriosclerosis and diabetic heart disease and help lower high blood pressure. Mustard seeds contain substances that protect cells against cancer and inhibit growth of exciting cancer cells. (Mustard seed faith can help heal cancer!). Tea, prepared of bruised mustard seeds and boiling water and left to cool, is used as a gargle in case of throat aches and tumors and as a mouthwash in case of mouth tumors. Black mustard seed has been used also for snakebite and epilepsy. (Mustard seed faith can save you from the snakebites of Satan!!).

To prepare a sure emetic, add mustard flour to a glass of tepid water and gulp it down. To get relief from hiccough, add a teaspoonful of mustard flour to a teacupful of boiling water and drink it. If necessary, repeat the procedure in ten minutes. To clear the voice, mix black mustard seed powder with honey and take every morning. (Mustard seed faith will help us to talk positively and clear our throat from negativity).

Also a mustard seed powder mixture can be used to clear away black and blue spots of bruises. (Mustard seed faith will cure the black and blue spots of what the enemy has thrown at us).

I know this may seem like just a big list of nothing but when I done my study on mustard seed faith and I read the above article...I just began reading and it was like the Lord was right there showing me these spiritual meanings behind the natural use of the mustard seed. I now know that if we just have a little faith that God can use it. I guess that is why in the Bible Jesus said if you have faith like a grain of a mustard seed, so many times. That is really all it takes and who knew that such a small thing could be used to cure illnesses and do all that amazing stuff.

We may start out small in the Lord but when he gets finished with us we will "....be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Psalm 1:3

What Did Moses See In The Clift of The Rock?

When I would open my Bible and begin to read about the life and journey that Moses made, I would always draw myself to one particular passage in the Scriptures. In Exodus 33:18 it says,

"Moses asked the Lord to show him, His glory."

And also if you read on it goes on to say in the same chapter in verses 19 through 23,

"And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass; while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."

Here we have Moses speaking with God, asking the Lord to show Moses, His glory. The Lord told Moses that no man could look upon His face and live. He did tell Moses that He would allow him to see His back parts.

The Lord gave Moses instructions on what to do. The Lord said, "there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock."

I believe the place by God was on Mt. Horeb (Ex 33:6 said they were "...by the mount Ho-reb.") The children of Israel were commanded, to take off all their ornaments, by God and verse six says by Mt. Horeb. Then afterward Moses began to speak to the Lord in the tabernacle.

Then the Lord told Moses, He would put him in the clift (cleft) of the rock as His glory passed by, and God would cover him with His hand as He passed by.

***clift - neqarah (nek-aw-raw') from 5365; a fissure: -cleft, clift. naqar (naw-kar); to bore (penetrate, quarry): -dig, pickout, pierce, put (thrust) out.)***

I believe the Lord told Moses to go to a place upon Mt. Horeb and this certain place had a cave or some type of crevice for Moses to get in.

Then the Lord said as He went by He would take away His hand and allow Moses to see His back parts: but His face would not be seen.

***Back - achowr (aw-khore') or achor (aw-khore'); the hinder part; hence (adv) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West: -after (-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-) hind (-er part), time to come, without.***

***Parts - yad (yawd); a prim word; a hand (the open one [indicating power, means direction, etc]...mine, ministry, near, x of, x order, ordinance, x with (him, me, you), parts, pain, power.***

I do believe that the back parts that the Lord showed Moses and the glory Moses seen was that of Jesus Christ. The Lord showed Moses of a time of ministry that was to come or what would happen "hereafter". The hereafter I am referring to is of Moses' time.

1 Kings 19:8-12

Elijah had traveled to Mt. Horeb (Sinai) the mount of God.

verse 9 "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

Elijah goes on to be full of pity and explain to God what was wrong. He had the woe as me mentality because they wanted him dead (Jezebel wanted Elijah dead).

verse 11 "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake;"

verse 12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."

We here have Elijah on Mt. Horeb (Sinai) the mountain of God. Verse 9 says he came to a cave. I believe this cave is the cleft of the rock on Mt. Horeb that Moses was also in when the Lord showed Moses His glory. Verse 12 said there was a still small voice that Elijah heard. It doesn't say what the voice told Elijah but after he heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle.
(After Moses was in the presence of God he had to place a veil over his face because of the brightness of God's glory.)
I believe just as Moses had seen the glory of God, something had happened to Elijah here as well. I believe he got a future glimpse or vision of things to come.

Matthew 17:1-3
".....and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."

Mark 9:2-4
".....and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus."

I believe this was the moment that Moses and Elijah had experienced when they were in that cave on Mt. Horeb.

It said Jesus' raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow. This would be the reason why when Moses and Elijah had been in the presence of God, Himself, they had to cover their face because they beamed with radiance. You are not going to get into the presence of God and not glow!!! And in Exodus 33:19 it said God would proclaim the name of the Lord. I believe Moses and Elijah became aware of the name of Jesus. If not His name at least of His person. They beheld the glory of God.

John 1:14
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

I just thought I would share what I came across while studying. I welcome comments or discussions on this.