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My husband likes to say that people tell me their whole life story. That may not be completely true but it is true that if you take the time to carefully listen, people will more likely reveal themselves. You just might get a glimpse of who a person is, as opposed to who they feel they need to be. See, one of the benefits of knowing Jesus is that if we allow Him to rule us, transform us and conform us we will have a heart like His, and when we do, people become aware of His presence, friends. They will feel free to be who they are without pretense. When others sense the One True Living God through His Holy Spirit, there can be a sense of reality and hope together. There comes an incomprehensible sense of grace that is not so easily articulated.
We want to be around people who are grace-filled, don’t we?
God gave me a lesson many years ago about who was to be in charge of who had access to me.
I worked in one particular gym facility, and I was a fairly new Believer.
There were certain people I never spoke to or with,
but they knew who I was and I was to soon learn they had opinions about me.
God was about to teach me an important lesson about the difference
between a mediocre Christian life and a Miracle-filled one.
It came in one of many conversations.
One of the lessons God wanted to teach me and He made it clear early on,
was that anytime, anywhere I needed to be willing and available to serve Him.
At a moments notice.
When I was or was not planning it, as His Spirit led.
Boundaries come hard for me. But God still reminded me that He is trustworthy.
He continues to teach me to tune into Him and to listen with His heart.
I remember when I began to let God lead me to the anyone, anytime, anywhere concept.
I was talking training methods to a gym member, and he looked me in the eye and said (dead serious),
“I found out today you are human (!). I have always seen you as someone on a pedestal!
You are so distant and come in and out of the gym, always so busy.”
I was ashamed.
Even as a new Christian I could see that I had been proud and vain.
I wanted to choose who I spoke with and didn’t as well as who I shared truth with and who I didn’t.
God corrected me and showed me that to walk with Him meant letting go
of all of my preconceived ideas of who, when and where
I should speak.
I am a planner, as many of you know from reading my posts.
I have had a few head to heads and hard lessons learning this aspect of my walk.
But God wants to use us where we are, so I availed myself because I understood this was His will.
Of course I did tell Him my objections, which usually got me back to the “Because I’m God” clarification.
I learned His ways are not my ways and my ways usually require as little inconvenience as possible.
But when we walk with Him, it becomes great joy to be inconvenienced
for the furtherance of His Kingdom,
and the building up of His Body this side of Heaven.
That is the point.
It is not always easy to listen.
To hear with your heart, mind and ears is hard.
To listen and take the time to really hear what another
person has to say takes time and effort.
It costs.
Time, attention and convenience, often.
Consider the fact that at the drop of a hat you have a Savior willing to
listen to your every heartache, complaint, emotion.
It cost Him to be that available to you, dear one.
How then should we respond to a hurting world?
A distraught stranger?
A discouraged friend?
A disgruntled family member?
Availing myself to His Heart has allowed me to see miracles, friend.
Having a heart like His is a Faith Life Preserver
and precursor to seeing His Kingdom.
Enthusiastically, Dawn 
6 responses to “A Heart Like His {31 Days of Faith Life Preservers- Day 16}”
Hi Dawn! It is good to be back in the blogosphere! I have an hour or two this morning – then off the grid again this week. Was up waaayyyy late into the morning hours last night to post – got scolded by hubby this morning. Though – he thought I was working. BALANCE – that is what I am striving for!Your Life Preserver posts are very encouraging! What a wonderful posting idea and party link-up. I would love to be able to write like this everyday. The ocean sounds make me think of our Woman's Retreat coming up the first weekend in November. I'm hoping to be able to escape for an extra day before the meetings start – it's at the Flander's Hotel (gorgeous VIctorian hotel) on the Ocean CIty boardwalk in Jersey where I'll be hearing the ocean up close and personal for three days. Journal by my side – ears open – Lord get my act together!!As to the journal – yes – let's do it! I have the plan of HOW to make it work, just need the participants. Well, there's you and me . . . any other writers out there you think would be game? We should make ours more on the writing – a Circle Devotional Journal incorporating both words, images, and mixed media art as the contributor is able. Perhaps, leaving it free to each contributor to create their own devotional spread as the Lord leads that month. What do you think? Email me back and we'll discuss the details.Joy!Kathy
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Hi Link-up neighbor…wonderful words here…I am learning to be fully present where ever I am…I want to bring a grace-filled space with me. thanks and blessings to you~
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Hi Dawn, I have nominated you for some blog awards. Please come by my blog to check it out if you so wish :-). Lovely post Dawn. It is true it takes effort to truly listen to someone but when you do they reveal their true selves because they see Jesus present through us. A lesson for us all. Blessings.
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Great words here.
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Dawn: There is a former business man in my town who is now heading a faith-based nonprofit ministry here. This past Sunday our church had a Missions Emphasis Sunday where we had tables set up by the ministries of our community that the church supports. I was there to man the table for the mininstry I work in. I saw this person and immediately had to ask one of our church members, also with a nonprofit to pray with me about my reaction to this former businessman. I was able to communicate with him and others from that ministry. But, God had to teach two of us that He is in control.
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Awesome words, you have such a beautiful heart!
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