The heart
August 15, 2008“Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”
As I was reading and reflecting on Lamentations 3 yesterday, I was struck by this thought: What does it mean to lift up my heart? It is interesting that the verse doesn’t say to lift up my brain; the brain after all, is the organ that controls all actions, contains all thoughts, and orchestrates behavior. But no, we’re told to give the heart. The organ that gives lifeblood to the body, the organ that controls emotion, attitude, and out of which come the issues of life. Lifting up my heart with my hands means a complete removal of all of my emotions, all my dreams, all my aspirations over to the One who can control them all so much better than I can. In a phrase, it is handing over my will to the One who created it. And it is a determined, premeditated action, one I must choose to make. It involves lifting up my hands.
In another sense, though, it is also taking a more heavenly approach to the world. David Livingstone insisted that his heart be buried in Africa, because that’s where God called it. By lifting my heart out of my physical body and handing it over to God, I’m relinquishing my desire to pursue earthly or worldly goals, and instead submitting to a heavenly mission and purpose. My heart is not my own. My will, my focus, my energy, my compassion, emotions, and strength all belong to a heavenly purpose now. No longer can I claim any of those functions for my own fleshly, selfish desires. All must be submitted to His control, all must be turned over to Him as a vessel to be used, broken, and restored by Him.
Finally, in lifting my heart out of my body and handing it over to God, I desire His complete control in my life. Without a heart, I am emotionless, dead. It means that my desires become God’s desires. It means I no longer am in control of my emotions. It means seeing people as God sees people, desiring for them what God desires for them. It means my love is given away to be used and spent as God sees fit; my heart belongs to Another. And I can’t take it back; I’ve relinquished control.
Some may see this action of lifting up the heart as foolish, naïve, even a waste. But I can think of no one else I’d rather have control my heart, my life, my being and existence. There is joy in serving Jesus, in knowing that my life has a purpose, because really it isn’t my life. It’s merely a vessel, an instrument that God chooses to use to bring Himself glory, the method of showing Himself and His love to others.
Marcie,
This is very thoughtful….causing me to think and meditate upon your words. Hopefully, I can take them to heart.
Yours,
MM2
PS Will wordpress allow you to set up subscriptions? I would love to subscribe to your blog.
I never thought of my heart as “hard” – but recently, I’ve been seeing more and more just how hard it is. God’s molding hands are there nonetheless, and I realize that all I do by hardening my heart is make his shaping all the more painful.
What you’ve written is such a good reminder of what we have the privilege of being a part of when we relinquish our heart from our own blind hands, into his mighty, loving ones.
You should write again…I like reading.
~Grace