Preparing A Heart

Published by Ruth on October 23, 2012.

My dear husband, Troy, used to stand at the pulpit and teach the Word of God weekly. I’d marvel at his weekly study routine: the books, the note-taking, the quietly looking out the window with earphones on. I remember asking him one time: “Is it hard to prepare a sermon?”

He paused, and replied with this:

“I have to prepare a heart before I can prepare a sermon. That’s where the true challenge lies.”

I will never forget that. I admire and respect Troy so much, and through the decade of full-time pastoral ministry, always saw him approach ministry with authenticity over professionalism.

But that is not why his response that day continues to stir my mind today. Instead, it is the deeply applicable truth it has upon all areas of my life, that keeps me coming back to it.

  • I have to prepare my heart before I can serve my husband.
  • I have to prepare my heart before I can write a blog post.
  • I have to prepare my heart before I can train my children.
  • I have to prepare my heart before I can present my home for hospitably.

I have to prepare a heart before I can prepare to live out the words I want my life to speak about Christ. You must be influenced before you can influence. 

In other words, I am penning a message each week–each day–with my life, that testifies to my love for Christ. A well-crafted outward appearance, home, or nest of children is simply not a substitute for the real truth of a surrendered heart. In fact, a prepared heart in worship and truth is the ONLY means by which we can prepare any outward product we hope to share as witness to others.

And how do we prepare a heart? There’s no other way but to let the Word of God transform us from the inside out. The more we are exposed to God’s Word, the more we find ourselves exposed.

Is what you’re proclaiming to others an overflow of a transformed heart? Let’s turn our gaze from the busy tasks of producing and delivering…to the challenging work of preparing a heart–our hearts. God’s faithful to do this work; let’s be faithful to respond to it in humility and faith.

{The lovely photograph for this post is by my friend, Tish Goff.}

 

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15 Responses to “Preparing A Heart”

  1. 1
    Susan says:
    October 23, 2012 at 7:15 am

    Wow! I SO needed to hear this today… Thank you!

    Reply
  2. 2
    Julie says:
    October 23, 2012 at 8:23 am

    So true! Thank you!!

    Reply
  3. 3
    MamaMandy says:
    October 23, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    So true…my heart needs retrained daily in different areas. Thanks be to the God who is there with me through it all! Pray that I can lean on Him while I live this life for His glory & the salvation of the lost. Thanks for the well-put reminder!

    Reply
  4. 4
    Heather says:
    October 23, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    Thank you for passing these valuable truths. I will be reading this post again for sure – thank you. A heart prepared & bathed in the Lord is oh so beautiful.

    Reply
  5. 5
    Kim says:
    October 23, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    I loved this!! This is so true, such a great reminder!

    Reply
  6. 6
    Bari Jo says:
    October 26, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Ruth, I just love to ‘sit at your feet’ as I read your blog posts! You always minister to my heart in countless ways. Thank you for this sweet reminder today!!! I needed it.

    Reply
    • 6.1
      Ruth says:
      October 28, 2012 at 8:16 pm

      I’m sorry I’m just now replying, Bari. I’m so humbled that you let my words be a part of your encouragement. That is such a privilege! Hugs to you!

      Reply
  7. 7
    Christian @ Modobject at Home says:
    October 30, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    How, oh how, did I miss this post until today?! Such practical wisdom… and don’t you think He wants us to seek Him in this way? I think so…

    Reply
  8. 8
    Breanna S says:
    November 2, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    I loved your post today. I had never thought of preparing my heart. I do believe I need to focus on preparing my heart for my husband (we are working through some issues) Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply

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