Last week was a difficult one for me spiritually. At a conference I came face-to-face with my greatest temptation – to be known, valued and deemed important by the people I admire – and I succumbed to that temptation. Again. It was painful and disheartening, and I left the conference not only questioning whether I was capable of living out my calling as a Christian writer, but also unable to hear God. I felt like a dried-out husk, empty, brittle and alone.
That’s why I was particularly surprised when I awoke the next morning and suddenly began to see God everywhere. In the rising sun illuminating the elm leaves in my backyard a brilliant gold. In a boy wrapped in a fleece blanket and cocooned against my side on the couch. In a man and his dog jogging jauntily past me on the path.
At first I thought it was simply that the noise of the conference – the people and the speakers and the worship music – had dissipated, allowing a more contemplative gratitude to slide into place. And that was part of it for sure. But later, after I read our lesson for today, I realized it was something more.
I like to read The Message version of the Bible, particularly for a passage I’ve heard over and over again, like the Beatitudes. When I read today’s lesson – “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God” – in my usual translation (New Living), I didn’t come away with much. I struggled to dig beneath the language that was as familiar and comfortable as my favorite sweater.
But then I opened The Message and read this:
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” (Matthew 5:8)
The Message infused the familiar verse with a new, fresh and more personal meaning. Suddenly I understood what a “pure heart” meant – not simply unblemished and unflawed, but transformed, realigned and made right again.
In the airport between connections and on the flight home from the conference, I’d had a heart-to-heart with God. In that process, he began to untangle the threads of sin that had wrapped themselves so tightly around my heart. God did some hard work in my heart and mind during those hours in transit, work which ultimately helped clear the path back to him.
I didn’t realize it at the time – that’s often the way it is when God is working hard in me – but by the next morning, my heart and mind, my inside world, were put right: realigned with and focused on God. And with my inside world put right, I was finally able to see God in the outside world again.
Questions for Reflection:
Can you think of a time when you had to get your heart and mind put right in order to really see God? What impediments in your life right now might be blocking your ability to see him?
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Hi Michelle,
I can relate to your words here. I didn’t attend Allume, but around the same time He was speaking to you through your experience at the conference, He was speaking to me through my experience of not going. I think His message was along the same lines…other “stuff” was getting between me and God, and when that happens, it blocks my view of Him and His work. I’m thinking about writing about what I learned by not going to Allume. Would you mind if I linked back to your post from the other day? Your post, and others I read, really made me realize that no matter where God leads us, it seems we still deal with many of the same comparisons and insecurities.
In Christ,
Laura
Absolutely, Laura – link away (and thank you!).
Thanks Michelle. Just posted it.
Yes, it is only as our hearts become closer to what they should be that we begin to see God as we should see Him…and visa-versa…our hearts are transformed as we gaze more deeply on His glory!
The busyness of life is one of my greatest obstacles in this area…but God faithfully finds ways to bring my attention back to Him…usually via reminders of my total dependence on Him and totally insufficiency apart from Him!
Thank you for the thought-provoking post, Michelle!
It is marvelous how God works in out hearts in many different ways:)
Linking my entry: Are you carrying a heavy load? From: willyouhearfromme.blogspot.com
Just reading this. Such a heartfelt post, Michelle, and very wise. The name of my ministry is Heartsight Journaling, and so often I ask God to open the “eyes of my heart” to be able truly to see Him (and journaling helps me to do that). Certainly sin, prejudice, preconceived notions, tradition (as in “this is the way I’ve always done it), sin, ennui…..all these things cloud our vision. And yes, when our heart is right, then the eyes of our heart open wide to see Him. I often ask God, too, to help me see below the surface. It’s like what I wrote on your blog the other day……about the Stars, who have needs or who may be feeling more vulnerable than we (or else more vulnerable than we think they possibly could feel). When you get your eyes right, often you can see beyond facades to hearts beneath. Just the other day, I spoke to a friend about someone who is a bit pushy and overbearing. I told my friend, that if you look beneath the surface, you will see someone who is frightened and vulnerable, whose bravada is masking insecurity. I think God has given you eyes to see, Michelle, and I’m so glad you are willing to share your discoveries! Keep doing it!
Love
Lynn
Love this translation of the verse! Thanks for sharing it.
For me personally, I find that God shifts things in my world so that I am put in a place where I have to slow down and then my mind and heart are quiet enough to actually hear Him. Looking back, I can see where the “toughest seasons” of my life were also the richest — where I saw Him and heard Him and grew to know Him more intimately.
So true! When we get our hearts right with God, He becomes more and more visible to us! I also love to look at verses in different translations…it helps me to relate and really “digest” what it says and apply the message to my life.
Blessings, Joan
I, too, like to read another version for fresh insight. God speaks in so many ways but so often through Scripture. There have been — and I suspect there will be more — times that I have had to get my heart and mind changed to see God. God is faithful to bring these times to our attention. I want to be faithful to obey and grow.
It is so wonderful how God takes a translation such as the Message Bible and speaks to us just where we need it. Like a sooth balm poured forth to heal those hurts and guilt and renew us in HIM.
I loved what you shared here. Let me say first, I did not attend the conference. However, I have been processing the heart & mind alignment for several weeks now. Probably from a little different of a perspective. It seems that we tend to approach God either with our intellect (our minds) or our emotions (our hearts). Yet one without the other truly seems devoid & empty almost like it is missing something. I am coming to find that as we align both, we are better able to see God in our everyday lives, see His activity & know Him more deeply. I loved this post! Thank you for sharing this today.
Good Monday morning to you, Michelle! I love how you are continuing to expand on your thoughts of “what you learned at Allume”.
I have written different times, on different blogs comments about my oldest and dearest friend. She is opinionated and pushy and so infuriating sometimes, but I love her with my whole heart. It absolutely amazes me how God has used her in my life to teach me lessons in unconditional love. She and I had a serious falling-out some months ago, and I realized I had spoken to her in a way-out-of-line manner and that I could lose her friendship as a result. I judged her in ways inconsistent with this love of Christ I claim to have. I was shaken to the core. I made my apologies, more than once, and have loved her fiercely ever since. I so often forget that I am not Holy Spirit in her life. God has used her more than anything or anyone else to learn about the deceitful wickedness of my own heart…and I am grateful. As I often tell people, “I am a recovering Pharisee.” It’s so unsettling to have to examine our own hearts before Holy God, but it always results in good fruit upon confession and repentance. Fixing our eyes on Him, always, is the salvation.
Yes—yes–I can relate to this and thank you for your honesty. My husband and I served in a very difficult ministry for the past two years. He recently received a new call. But for those two years– I had to get my heart and mind right with God before each and every day and definitely before Sunday morning. Sometimes I’d fail to do it. And the result was not pretty. Honest heart to heart talks about my feelings, emotions, faith, and trust. It was such good training that I now see that really–this is how each day should be with Him. Striving for awareness of our state of mind/heart in order to bring it to Him. Honest heart to hearts-letting Him in to every emotion and thought we have whether sinful or God-glorifying. Confessing it all, agreeing with scripture where wrong or right. Seeking His help. I need to keep this in my heart. Thank you for the reminder of the importance and goodness in doing this.
Michelle, great post! Thanks for your transparency. It’s hard to admit to ourselves, to God, and to others when we’ve gotten wrapped up in our own press releases! I struggle with it all the time…especially with all the messages we get about stats, SEO, subscriptions, etc. I have to remind myself daily and pray daily that my words simply glorify God and that he use them to bless someone else. Some days I just need to get out of my own way!! 🙂 Love this verse in the Message too – that little version often zings me right between the eyes! Thanks again.
Wow, Michelle, I so relate! I have lived under this desire to be “known, valued and deemed important,” when all along I already was – I just didn’t accept His love. I was too guarded and afraid, so I kept working to earn it. So, thankful that our Daddy loves us enough to set us straight. and as we align our hearts to His, we see Him and it no longer matters what other people think of us – we are loves just as we are. I love the Message version to – to hear His Voice anew.
This is beautiful, Michelle. I love how the message put it; it clarified the verse for me as well.
God shows up sometimes where we least expect him and plays hide-n-seek where we do expect him. (My experience anyway.) But yes, he is working hard in us, wanting us to stay aligned and focused on him. Thanks for continuing your authenticity.
Michelle,
I can’t remember how I found your site but I’m so grateful that I did. There is a tugging of my heartstrings, telling me I need to share more of my faith. That is why I am here and I appreciate your time and effort to set this up for everyone to use. Have a blessed day.
Kathleen
So often in order for my heart to resonate with God, I need to be in the quietness of my home or out for a walk. Around many people and the noise that brings there isn’t the solitude like Jesus sought in order to commune with His Father. I understand what you are saying!!
Thanks for the linkup party today. Michele, have a wonderful day!!
Michelle, I absolutely relate to your words. Thank you for sharing this verse. It has greatly blessed my heart today.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” (Matthew 5:8)
I learn so much from you. My mind has been such a jumble since returning from SC, I can’t seem to string two words together. I think I’ll take a cue from you: sit quietly with it, turn to the Good book, and wait. Just putting that down here calmed my spirit tremendously.
Michelle, that time would be now. I have spent the last month in exhaustion. Deeply discouraged and lonely, feeling useless and left out. And yes, once AGAIN battling the need to be recognized and applauded by others. Sigh. And though I have not lost sight of God, perhaps I have stopped seeing Him in the little things of life.
What’s impeding me, you ask. Physical problems for one. They are quite distracting. However, perhaps I’ve lost sight of Him in all the many changes and challenges that have happened over the past year.
May He once again lead me back to the simple things. May I find Him in the everyday moments of every day.
GOD BLESS!
I’m so thankful that God always calls us back to Him. He allows us to feel like that “dried-out husk, empty, brittle and alone” so that we will crave Him. It’s just not possible to do all He calls us to do without our taking time to sit and just be right with Him. Thank you for this post today! Enjoy a blessed week.
What a way to remind us not to be afraid of those “dried-out husk, empty, brittle, and alone” seasons. It’s just autumn in our hearts, a stripping of stuff that keeps us from seeing Him, that lets us center again. You teach me much.
This is so cool, how God works: I’m referring to your not knowing He was heading you right to the exact words (and wording) that would give your heart such insight into His working! He just did this with me, described not in my linked post, but in the next one, where… “I’m searching for a book—unaware my search has a reason related to the message I’ve heard and the questions that still haunt me. Only God knows that. I just think I want this particular book because I’ve read it quoted on other blogs lately, and think it would make good devotional fare.”
He. is. astounding.
PS I have the same inner struggle you describe, and that’s why I *didn’t go* to Allume!
I love the way the Message breaks it down. What a great revelation!
So many distractions can keep us from experiencing His best for us. Thank you for your beautiful and honest post & for hosting, & God bless!
I love your message translation – I like that – as just me and as a mom for my sons! I feel like I constantly need readjusting:) Glad you had a time of fulfillment, though, with this group of women – glad seeds sprouted from it, too~!