Steps to help heal the orphan heart.

The first step that must be taken to heal the orphan heart, is to RECOGNIZE that we have one.

After recognition, we must make a quality choice to change our heart.

There are many different ways I am sure to make these recognitions, and choices.

I can only share with you the ones I have personally used.

My source of help came from many lists.

These lists I found, over the years, through Bible reading.

It was only when I went seeking to learn about my orphan heart that I began to connect all the dots.

Hebrews 4 says this;

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

What this means is that the word of God can be used to learn the absolute truth.

God sees it all, and like in the old days when cameras had film, once that film was exposed, it could never be used again.

Once my heart has been exposed to the word of God, if I pay attention, the past can never be used on me again.

The most obvious list, would be the Ten Commandments;

The Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 20, and reads like this;

That looks pretty straight forward right?

Some other lists I found were equally as straight forward, and although not very appealing to my senses, I found them to be true, none the less.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This list was found in Galatians 5.

I can only say Ouch.

Now obviously, I (and probably you) am not guilty of all of these things, but I (and probably you) am guilty of at least some of these things.

Honestly, if you are guilty of them, it may, or may not be your fault.

Some of the things on this list are standard fare for the world we live in today.

Much has been unknowingly passed down from generation to generation, because of a lack of knowledge of what God requires.

Honor, respect, responsibility, in many cases, has never been taught.

Our hearts have grown up as orphans, without proper father training.

Here’s the thing; Now it’s been exposed to you, and you can begin to do something about it.

We cannot fix or change what was lacking in our former years, but we CAN fix it now.

It’s been exposed, and unless you let it, it cannot be used against you again.

But how can I make sure of that?

Well, here’s a list that you can literally live with, also found in Galatians 5;

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

I was, and am, so happy to know that there is provision already made for me to live a better life.

Next Wednesday, we’ll talk about how to make this work for us.

Until then, let’s spend a little time considering what needs to be exposed, and dealt with in our hearts, we don’t want to be orphans any more!

Until then …