But What of the Heart?

Last night I treated myself to a lecture at one of the local Universities about the different reactions of three women to receiving what they believed to be 'sanctification'. Two of them had the same reaction, being drawn closer to ministering to the disenfranchised, and one went the legalistic ballistic supremacy route.

The place of the Holy Spirit working in our lives continues to be the most controversial aspect of faith. Our very huge God, who knows the number of hairs on our heads and says there are plans to prosper us and not to harm us ,speaks to us and in our hearts ,which are so finite without the Spirit ,we bumble along translating into action.

That translation continues the challenge of incarnational living. Let me give you an example.

Years ago I began doing work with a boy who had epilepsy. I was just coming off of a vocational situation which had ended dramatically. I was feeling lots of self condemnation and inadequacy.

As the beginning days of my new situation and duties began I heard a phrase over and over again: first do no harm.

'Lord, ' I cried out in self recrimination. ' I've told you a thousand times how sorry I am for the controversy I brought to that situation . The phrase continued. 'First Do No Harm'.

The epileptic boy was being placed on the ketogenic diet and I was doing my best to weigh and measure the oils and fats when , I can't remember how , but I discovered there was a movie about the development and the use of the diet which can, under certain circumstances, heal epilepsy. It's title?

'First Do No Harm. '

My assumption that the Spirit would  condemn  me in the same way my own wounded heart would condemn me couldn't have been more wrong.

Know that God loves us more than we love ourselves.
Love,
Deborah