A Heart Issue
- Rosetta Mandisa
- Aug 11, 2020
- 3 min read
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As far back as I can remember, I attended church. My mom took us to church nearly every Sunday. I met my best friend (who I am still extremely close to) at church. I remember being baptized at church. I sang in the choir. I served on the usher board. Attended mid-week bible study, Sunday School and participated in various church events. Some might say I was raised in the church. Being at church that much was not something that ever bothered me. My friends were at church so going meant I got to hang out with them. From my young perspective, I had a very nice church family. I learned many traditions, scriptures and proper manners. I understood that there was a God, I understood that Jesus was his son. What I didn’t learn or understand was how to apply God’s word to my daily life. I didn’t even know that was possible. The things I learned and understood about church when I was younger was akin to information I learned at school, it was just something I knew. When I was about twenty-eight years old, I met my friend Denise. She was ten years older than me and understood God’s word in a way I was not familiar with. She and I read the bible together and actually talked about what I understood God’s word to mean and how I could use it in my daily life. Here I sit, nearly twenty years later, still very grateful for Denise’s love and guidance. She is continues to be the first person I call when I need spiritual redirection. During my morning quiet times, I have been working my way through 1 Samuel. A few days ago I read Chapter 24. I won’t tell the whole chapter but here are a few highlights. Saul had been pursing David for sometime because he wanted David dead. Somehow, David always seemed to stay one step ahead. During one particular pursuit, David happened to be hiding out in a cave. It just so happened that Saul ducked into that very same cave to take a break. Saul never saw David, as David stayed very quiet. It was one of David’s men who said to David that he should take Saul out while he had the chance. David couldn’t do it. Instead, he cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s rob. When Saul was done resting, he walked out of the cave. He had no idea what David had done until David ran out of the cave behind him and confessed to his crime.
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David understood that even though Saul wanted him dead, Saul was still God’s anointed servant and should be honored. It was David’s relationship with God that opened his heart to what he had done to Saul and caused him to immediately want to make amends.
I often hear people say, “God knows my heart” and I want to ask them, “but does God have your heart?”
What Denise put me on the path to understand and what I have grown to know is that God wants to have a relationship with me. One that brings us so close that I know His heart doesn’t want to see me hurt and my heart doesn’t want to hurt his. In all of the close relationships that I have with people on this earth, one thing I do know is that my heart never wants to hurt them or see them hurt by someone or something. That’s when you know you care for others.
My relationship with God is a heart thing. While God knows my heart, it is my relationship with God that helps my heart to grow closer to him each day and guides me to do things that are pleasing to him. When I please God, I please myself. When my heart is clear, my mind is clear and I can rest in being the best person I can be for my family, my friends and those I come in contact with daily.
Resting in God’s Word…:)
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