A Heart Directed

“May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 CSB)

Some days are more difficult than others, some less encouraging than others. We never really know sometimes what we will wake up to in the day as it unfolds. We would like to wake up to a sunshiny day every day, feeling great, walking ever onward ever upward, face to the sun. We do have days like that, but we also have days when things can go terribly wrong. Such events are not necessarily of our own doing. They just come, and some of those events can pulverize us. So, what then?

Paul’s solution is a good one. When incidences come that seem to hurt or destroy more than help or develop, “may the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”

God’s love is solid. It is something called “agape.” This kind of love is not the emotional, sentimental type. It is the kind that is action-oriented and focused on the one who is the object of that love. It is love that produces results. When days come with difficulties beyond your control, may the Lord direct your heart to God’s love.

Christ’s endurance demonstrates that “agape.” He could have come down from the cross and mustered 12 legions of angels, just by willing it. But instead, He endured the beating, the crucifixion, the pain, and the humiliation of it all. Whatever problems came, whether on that day or on any day, He set the example of endurance. So, when some difficulties come into our day, may the Lord direct our hearts to Christ’s endurance.

Lord, We place our hearts in Your hands. In each day that we live, please direct our hearts to Your love and to Jesus’ endurance. Amen.