A Happy Heart

 

I woke up this morning all snuggled in the covers, not wanting to get out of bed and face the chill (of the room, of the world in multiple forms). 

Ever been there? Maybe every morning? 

But once again, Father gave me the courage to throw back the covers and take that first step of faith by putting feet on floor. 

As I puttered about, Father reminded me that He loves me; I belong to Him because of what Jesus did for me to pay for my sin; I am His ambassador of the Homeland; therefore, I have an eternal purpose to love others one more day as He has loved me. 

"Put on a happy heart," He whispered within me. 

And then an old Fanny Crosby hymn popped into my head, primarily the second verse, and I found myself humming, lifted above the load of the world, or perhaps better said, moving through the load of the world with His eternal happiness ministering to my heart.  

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence 

with me doth continually dwell.

Redeemed, redeemed

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,

His child, and forever I am.

So, I pray Father's happy heart for each of you today as you care for little ones, as you love your families, as you teach your children, as you visit the sick and shut-in, as you engage the working world, as you disciple that one whom God's given you for this time. 

Know that His will for you in this moment is a happy heart at home with Him (the light of His presence secured by the blood of the Lamb). A happy heart begins by coming into relationship with God through the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf (Mtt. 11:28-30). 

And oh, how that happy heart in Him will spill over to others you serve.

A happy heart . . . now that's something to cultivate and treasure. May we pray "happy hearts in Jesus" for each other today. 

What Gets You Up in the Morning?

            What gets you up in the morning? Maybe it’s the alarm clock, the kids screaming, or the dog licking your face. Perhaps, the aroma of coffee wafting from the kitchen or a poke in the ribs from your spouse stimulates a yawn and a groan.

            I’ve been thinking more about this lately, and I want my motivation for getting out of bed to be greater than someone else’s expectations for my day. I want my “get up and go” to be generated by a love for the Lord.

Indeed, the older I get, the more focused I become on what’s really important: Eternity. I want to finish well. In order to do that, I must keep my gaze on the finish line. The apostle Paul states in Philippians 3:13b-14,  . . . one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

            Paul notes that the Philippian believers are his joy and crown. He was instrumental in introducing many of them to Christ. He knows that someday in heaven, he will receive awards based on his faithful service while on earth.

            In Revelation 4:9-11, the twenty-four elders lay their crowns at the feet of Jesus. Given this, there is every reason to believe that all Christians will present their crowns to Jesus. And it will be with extreme joy and fulfillment that we do so.

The Scriptures reference five crowns that believers may receive in the next life.

1)      Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) presented to all those who kept the faith and longed for Christ’s return.

2)      Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19) given to all who introduced others to Christ, as Paul did; he refers to the Philippian believers as his “crown.”

3)      Crown of Life (James 1:12) awarded to all who endured temptation and trial with love for the Lord.

4)      Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:1-4) presented by the Chief Shepherd to those who tended His flock.

5)      Imperishable Crown (1 Cor. 9:25) presented to all those who subdued the sinful nature and ran the race well.

In keeping with this biblical teaching, two things get me up in the morning and motivate me throughout the day.

Visualizing myself placing crowns at Jesus’s feet. Not to gloat in my earthly achievements but to show my intense love and devotion for Him. I don’t think I’ll showcase my trophies on my mansion shelf for all to see, polishing them as I pass by. No, the supreme joy will come in presenting them to the Lord.

I used to be happy just to know I would be with Him, but the closer I get to the finish line, the more urgency I sense and the more I desire to give back to Him for all He has done for me. Crowns at His feet are a way of giving back when I see Him face to face.

Riding out of heaven with Him. Revelation 19:11-18 tells about a time when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will ride out of heaven on His white horse accompanied by the armies of heaven (all the saints). At that time, our Prince will bring justice, destroying evil on the earth. What a day that will be! If we’re ever tempted to take vengeance, we need only remember that Christ, the One who keeps better records than we do, will make all things right one grand day!

It takes discipline to focus on eternity. No one said it was easy! The here and now too easily consumes my thoughts. But knowing that I can someday praise and exalt my Savior, not only with my words but with a life well-lived, excites me and motivates me to love and share Him with others, guard my tongue, put to death my sin nature, and purposely long for His return.

That’s what gets me up in the morning. How about you?

~~

Eileen Rife, author of Second Chance, speaks to women’s groups, encouraging them to discover who they are in Christ and what part they play in His amazing story. www.eileenrife.com, www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com.