Living from the Heart

•   finishing well

•   living from the heart

•   establishing values

1.  Finishing Well

"It's not how you start, it's how you finish."   

"A good start doesn't guarantee a great finish.  

Matthew 25:21 [NKJV], 'Well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.' [rest]

2 Timothy 4:6-8 [TPT], And now the time is fast approaching for my release from this life and I am ready to be offered as a sacrifice. 7 I have fought an excellent fight.  I have finished my full course [race] and I've kept my heart full of faith. 8 There's a crown of righteousness waiting in heaven for me, and I know that my Lord will reward me on his day of righteous judgment.  And this crown is not only waiting for me, but for all who love and long for his unveiling. 

   The trajectory of our lives is made up of a number of short seasons where we have the opportunity to "finish well" or not.   

• What season of life are you in?

• Does it look like you're going to finish it well?

2.  Living from the Heart

Ezekiel 11:19 [AMP], And I will give them one heart [a new heart], and put a new spirit within them, I will take from them the heart of stone, and will give them a heart of flesh [that is responsive to My touch]...

Colossians 3:1-3 [NLT], Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 

Proverbs 4:23 [TPT], So above all, guard ["to set a watchman over"] the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are.  Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

How well are we living from our hearts?

3.  Establishing Values

Matthew 11:7 [NLT], As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds.  "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see?  Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?

When we establish values, they will...

• protect us from the lies of the enemy

• anchor us in the storms of this life

• guide us when we don't know which way to go

• keep us from compromise

• give us the strength to endure

• keep our priorities in order

•   Our values are determined by what we believe to be true and deem as important in our lives.

• serving

• gratitude

• love

• presence

Let's take a moment to ask God to help us identify what we should value in this season.