One of the most important lessons that God has been teaching me over the past few years is the lesson of honor. There are many different aspects to the lesson, but one of the most challenging parts has been learning how to honor my own heart as I also honor others. After sitting in the counseling space with many people over the past two decades, tapping into mercy usually comes fairly quickly for me. However, because of some of my own tendency in the past to avoid conflict, due to the fact that I didn’t like people to be upset or disappointed in me, I realized that it seemed easier to sacrifice myself in order to please others. I am so grateful that God has been helping me grow out of that unhealthy pattern, even though at times, I still have to be very intentional in partnering with him when I anticipate a difficult situation arising. I never considered before this lesson the concept that mercy can be applied in ungodly ways, such as what I just described. I grew up learning that sacrificing for others is a good thing and although there is truth in that principle, it must be applied in a godly manner. Jesus is our ultimate example of laying down our lives for others. And while he willingly gave of himself in such selfless ways, at the same time he never walked in dishonor.
So when God began to invite me in December 2023 to write down the desires of my heart, it didn’t take very long. I wrote about 5 things in my journal and basically God called me out on that short list and challenged me to write 100 desires down. Well first of all, I let Father know pretty quickly that there was no way I had that many desires to write down. What I did not realize was how many times I had shut down the desires of my heart out of dishonor. God was inviting me to open back up and surrender to him the deep forgotten desires of my heart.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12, NASB)
God was very serious about this invitation. Several times he confirmed his request by other sources. Finally, on New Year’s Eve, I felt the urgency of the Spirit, as I heard Father remind me to sit down and complete the list before the beginning of the new year. It truly was like opening a treasure chest. Through disappointments and dishonor, the enemy had successfully encouraged me to sacrifice my own heart and in doing so had actually delayed the fulfillment of so many promises of God. So many times when we are right at the threshold of advancing into the fulfillment of promises, we fall for the enemy’s resistance. I was reminded of these lessons during an encounter recently when I saw my heart on a potter’s wheel and I knew that God was caring for my heart as I yielded my desires to him. As I surrendered, I saw our hearts meld into one heart.
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)
2024 was an incredible year, full of God surprising me with answered promises and he has shown me that 2025 holds more delight as I yield my heart to him.
Steps in Pursuit
- I encourage you to make your own list of heart’s desires. God wants us to take an active role in delighting ourselves in him and acknowledging the desires of our heart.
- Spend some time forgiving yourself if, like me, you have sacrificed yourself in dishonor. Prayerfully ask God to teach you how to walk in honor.
- As you share your heart with God, ask him to reveal more of his heart to you in quiet meditation.
We don’t realize the blocks we create when we shut down our own hearts. Honoring our hearts allows us to move forward with God in greater oneness and delight!
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
