The Miracle of a New Heart ( page 45 The Faith Dare)
Today’s Dare: Ask God for a New Heart
Today’s Promise: He gives us a new heart and puts a new spirit within us, this new heart moves us to follow His ways.
I love the start of things. So today I have my book out, my index cards and an open mind. I love trusty index cards. They border miraculous in my estimation, because when something I am trying to get in my brain is on them, I have what I want to remember and rehearse at my fingertips. So, out they come for the dare.
As I wrote on the cards I was smiling. A little smug? familiar verse? Well, yes and no. I am smiling because I know too well how easy it is for my heart, the center of me, to get distracted. I get distracted by alot of things, but my heart gets hardened when I have too much attention on my self. My hurt, my pain, my stuff. When I am over run with self, I begin to get bitter and hard. I can cover it up pretty well, but over time the bitter cracks come out in attitude or action.
I am also smiling because this particular dare is something that I really can not DO myself. The dare is to GO to God and Ask HIM to DO. Those of you with little ones are familiar with, “mommy, I can do it all by myself!” And, those of you who have ever had little ones can probably still picture those times. Often, I go through life like a little one, trying to do it all by myself.
I think that my heart will be pretty if I just paint it pretty. But, pretty hearts and beautifully centered women come from the miracle of a new heart, and that is a gift of God’s grace. Too often we try to DO what only spiritual formation and God does in us. The challenge is to quit “doing” and instead begin “trusting” God to work in you, and core level.
How do hearts get hard and cold? How do they get so stiff?
My heart has gotten hard from being hurt, or from being selfish. Both, though different, harden me. What about you? Where are you at today? Are there some things that you need to ask God to remove from you, giving you a fresh start and a new heart?
Yesterday is so Gone! Today, this moment , is what is important now.
And, what about distracted hearts?
What distracts you? Social networking and my iphone have become a major temptor for me! Without realizing it, I was going to my iphone first thing in the morning, after shutting off the alarm where my iphone charges each night. I would lay in bed and scan my emails and facebook. Why is that a distraction? I mean it’s not like I am logging into porn! Well, because prior to that iphone charging on my alarm clock, I used to shut off the alarm and begin praying before getting out of bed. Immediate connection and focus on Christ. But, without realizing it a new habit was formed. And, with that habit my focus each day started on “me” and “others” and not on Christ.
Each day is a gift. So now, my dare in asking for a new heart is multifaceted:
God I need a new heart, healed from last year’s hurts. And, God, I need a new heart that is undivided and focused on your purposes for me.
The dare I wrote on my card:
Ask God to make you a woman with one focus, one vision and one purpose.
Let the Dare and Day begin!
Share with me and others what God is showing you while doing the DARE.
My heart was touched and broken as I read todays dare. I really thought God and I had been around this block many times before. Then why was I crying the whole time in todays reading??? I must really need some heart work and I am excited for God and me to begin this new journey.
I’ll be jumping in shortly! Can’t wait to join you guys!
Yesterday I got some discouraging news that threatened to splinter my heart into worry, fear, and self-pity. Before I could completely fracture into those pieces, I threw up a bedtime prayer to God and purposed to get up early to begin the Faith dare. This morning as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes I saw the truth of Psalm 86. A prayer and desire for God to give me an undivided heart so that I could fear his name, not my situation. It also spoke to me that I could not praise Him with my whole heart if it was full of self-pity. As I took today’s dare I was able to focus more on what God could do to be strong on my behalf and less on what I can not control. I surrendered my plans to follow His lead.
Looking forward to a new heart – a real heart for God. Thanks for walking us through this journey.
I hear you Ali, on self-pity and how it fragments us! It’s funny how we fail to realize or recognize how things like “that” actually give us sick and tired hearts, the core of us, which affects us spiritually. God has been speaking to me all day about the fragmented pieces too!
Have been on holidays since end of June…..starting day 1 of Dare today–July 15—-
Thanks for you beautiful and honest insight….yes, I have been dealing with a fragmented, hurt heart. Time for a change.
Thanks again.
Good Morning All,
Wow Debbie! I am really lost for words right now as I began reading your book last week. My church, The Rock in San Diego has a woman’s ministry, called Sisters in Christ. I know you are familiar, as you spoke at the woman’s retreat last summer, 2010. I am sorry I was unable to be a part of that but very excited of being a part of this class we are doing on your book. Your words have already touched me deeply and am realizing the true meaning of what faith is and how differently I have looked at faith over the years. I too have had a hard heart to the Lord with my own pain and hurts and just life and I am learning that because I am such a control freak that I have shut the Lord out of my life in more ways than I was aware. So blessed to be a part of this class and thank you, Debbie for this book, as I already feel it is the beginning of the beautiful journey the Lord has planned for me!
Hi Erin!
So glad you are doing The Faith Dare. God meets us when we turn our attention to Him. Can’t wait to hear the outcome of the time you spend powering down from Self, and rebooting with Him. Woo Hoo!
You Go Girl!
Debbie
Hi~ I just wanted to say being new in walking with the Lord I find my self very distracted…My mind especially and I find myself having to just keep throwing this up to the Lord and asking for his help with focus and making changes in my heart. But is there scripture that addresses who God is so i can get to know him more and who he is? How can I center my mind more? Discipline it! I want to always keep the peace and warmth in my heart I had when I accepted jesus into my life- is that possible?
Wooooooo, I think you wrote this just for me. I do have my routine backwards. Thank you.
I am currently re-reading the book, Deeper. Every time I read it, I get encouraged again that God loves me a has wonderful plans for my life. I came to the website to try to find out if there are any Design4Living conferences in Canada. It seems not. Although the Faith Dare originated 3 years ago, and comments are not current, i decided I would embark on this journey anyway. Focusing is very important. I find that I easily become distracted and my time with God becomes a routine instead of a relationship. I’m hoping this will help me to re-focus. Thank you.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the message. Focus is SO important. Infact, focusing is something I personally am working on more and more. Because when I don’t keep my focus….I live under my circumstance and feelings. God bless you as you gain new focus!
Debbie
Thank you Debbie and many blessings!
I’m reading your Faith Dare and started with Day 1 today as you suggested at Bible Cafe for Women (though I’m not doing this with them or their small groups). I have found that these blogs posts really speak to me beyond your book (perhaps because it’s more concise yet I truly love how you have set all of this up in your “Faith Dare” book as well).
This part stood out to me when I reread this today as I ask God for a new heart (I too was a bit smug, thinking I had done this until I laid this at His feet this morning and He revealed the makeover of my heart so needed still after years):
“My heart has gotten hard from being hurt, or from being selfish. Both, though different, harden me. What about you? Where are you at today? Are there some things that you need to ask God to remove from you, giving you a fresh start and a new heart? “
I was not totally aware how true this is until God spoke to me today! Past – hurts and other stuff (circumstances, thorns) have hardened my heart more than I was ready to admit. And until I read your words, I did not realize how very selfish this is. (ouch) I ask and sing often “Cleans my heart, O Lord … ” but today it’s the beginning of a real transformed heart, I pray …
I also found your current sharing very heart rendering! I have added you to my prayer list and ask Our Lord to see us through the trials to the triumphant victory He already has won for you and me.
I will focus on Jesus and center my Faith dare on one vision, one focus, one purpose
according to God’s Word and as He reveals as I so look forward to a new heart and this challenge! Thank you again!
In Christ,
Peggy
Hi Debbie, I’m starting the Faith Dare Challenge today. Your books are changing my life! God Bless you!