Preparing My Heart

In less than two days I will be on my way to the Cleveland Clinic to have open heart surgery. As the awaited time draws closer, I can feel the Lord preparing my heart for the road ahead. Because He is always faithful to equip us for the road He has called us to, He gave me a very specific and practical way to focus on Him. It not only helps calm my heart now as I ready for surgery, but I also plan to use it to occupy my mind as I recover.

Early in this journey the Lord gave me Isaiah 26:3: “He will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.” This truth has been the key in walking down this path. It would be so easy to focus on my circumstances, but instead have chosen to focus on the Lord’s attributes allows peace to reign in my heart.

Previously I have used the alphabet to study God’s attributes. One day I would name all the qualities He is that begin with A (Alpha, Awesome, Anchor, Armor, Atonement, Authority, etc.) the next day the letter B and so forth. After trial runs with other surgeries, I became aware that as I pull out of anesthesia and pain medicine, I can only handle focusing on something very simple. So I narrowed my list to one thing for each letter and have spent time storing these traits of God (A-Z) in my heart in preparation of that time:

Almighty

Beautiful

Comforter

Deliverer

Everlasting

Faithful

Giver of Grace

Healer

Indescribable

Just

King of Kings

Lord of Lords

Majestic

Noble

Omega

Provider

Quiets the Storm

Redeemer

Savior

Truth

Unfathomable

Victorious

Worthy

X-ray vision

Yahweh

Zealous for my soul

I have a new season ahead of me – one of pain, recovery and rest. Being one who enjoys so much activity – mentoring, leading Bible study, blogging, tennis, walking and more, I am aware of how difficult this could be. But I walk ahead completely confident of the One who has so faithfully led me this far. He is already teaching me the joy found in the stillness of His presence.

Through these next few months, I will have many doctors, family and friends come and go, but there will be One who will never leave my side. Looking up at the list of all that He is, my heart leaps for joy to be able to share this intimate time with Him alone. I have an awesome Lord to occupy me through this trial. He is the Giver of every breath and the Sustainer of every heart beat.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27

Personifying Palm Trees

Shall we continue our journey through the land of Israel? Will you brave some wilderness terrain and deep valleys with me through these next couple of posts? As always, God will be faithful to uncover riches when we dig for His treasures. Let’s take His hand and journey into the depths of the desert known throughout the Middle East.

We will walk through miles and miles of wilderness. Our throats will grow dry longing for water and if we don’t stop daily to collect our manna, we will die in this place. Signs of life are few and far between. And just when we think we cannot go a step further, God will lead us right up to seventy palm trees. How much more beautiful is such a sight in the middle of plains of desert sand rather than an island in Hawaii. This is precisely where the Lord led the Israelites.

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” Exodus 15:27

Let’s also camp here. I believe God has much to teach us about these palm trees. Have you ever noticed how much He appears to love them? Take a look at how He decorated His temple…

“On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers.” 1 Kings 6:29

“And on the two olive wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with beaten gold.” 1 Kings 6:32

“He engraved cherubim, lions and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and on the panels, in every available space, with wreaths all around.” 1 Kings 7:36

“He paneled the main hall with pine and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm trees and chain designs.” 2 Chronicles 3:5

(If that isn’t enough, you can read Ezekiel 40 and 41 for even more ways palm trees were used as decoration.)

God says, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…” (Psalm 92:12). Can you believe God symbolically represents our righteousness with a palm tree? Our righteousness comes from Christ alone. Philippians 3:9 says, “…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” It is a righteousness that can withstand the fierce elements of the wilderness. When rooted in Him, we too can flourish through high winds and dry seasons.

Interesting enough, one of Israel’s largest exports is the date palm tree. Being a fruit bearing palm tree it reminds me of Philippians 1:11 which says, “…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” Producing a sweet fruit, they begin life in Israel before being exported out to the world.

Jesus began His life in Israel, but God loved the world and could not keep Him there. The sweet message of His gospel is being exported to every tribe and nation.

Whether you are wandering through the desert or in an oasis, the next time you see a palm tree remember the righteousness you have been given through Christ. Jesus spoke in John 15:16 saying, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last…” Like all good things, fruit is enjoyed most when shared with another. Let’s go from this place and share the sweetness we have found from our righteousness in Christ.