Chains, locks, and shackles

I got an earful this week at church.  I heard that God's plan for us (me included) is to live rich, rewarding, fulfilling, satisfying lives.  I would guess that most of us would agree with that.  Where we may differ from reality, however, is in our thoughts of how to accomplish that. Some of the more common ways we may think we need to do that are:

• by being more "religious"
• by learning scripture and being able to recite it
• by becoming super active at our churches
• by sharing our beliefs with anyone and everyone
• etc

In and of themselves, none of the above are wrong at all. In fact, they are all commendable.  What is not, however, is if the mind-set which drives those actions is that we are showing God and all others just how good we are, and/or that we are doing them with the specific intent of ultimately reaching Heaven.  There may not be a whole lot of "heart-set" involved there.

God's plan for us to live rich, rewarding, fulfilling, and satisfying lives is predicated on the actions of our hearts. 

• Do we have a heart for the downtrodden? 
• Do we have a heart for the hurting? 
• Do we have a heart for those less fortunate? 
• Do we have a heart for the lost?
• Do we have a heart for those in need?

I like to think that, yes, I do have a heart for all of the above and more.  After all, it strokes my ego to think so.  But that is words, and we all know that actions speak much louder than words.  If I am going to be real about it, I will have to say that I have more words than actions.  How about you?

So what is it that stops us from using our hearts to its fullest?  It might be fear.  It could be that we are too selfish.  It could be that we are too "busy".  It could be that we feel our own burdens are overwhelming.  Maybe we are lazy.  It could be that we have never really learned the degree to which our hearts can be let loose.

Each of those things that stop us represent chains, locks, and shackles on our hearts.  And you know what?  We weren't born with them.  God did not put them there.  We have all put whatever chains, locks and shackles our hearts are carrying on ourselves.....and we can all learn to take them off.    To do so will release your heart, and mine, to allow our hearts to work for God's glory.

In doing so, we will realize the fruits of God's plan for us...a rich, rewarding, fulfilling, and satisfying life....even if in our own lives we (and surely we will) periods of hurt, misfortune, discomfort, and pain. 

We don't need a locksmith to rid ourselves of the chains, locks, and shackles.  Just a bit of prayer and trust in the God that so lovingly provides for us.