About 2.5 weeks ago, I went to the gym to get some miles in on the treadmill. As I started running, I hit “play” on the video for Session 1 of the 2024 Passion Conference. Tens of thousands of college-aged students lifting up one Name – Jesus. It was a beautiful sound!
In the middle of the singing, Brad Jones and his wife came out on the stage to welcome everyone there. After asking about who had to fly to get there, they talked about people from all over the world being in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
I just kept running.
Somewhere in the midst of the conversation, I heard him mention this verse….””For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him….“ 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV
Still running…..but the Holy Spirit “pinged” me. There were maybe six people in the gym that night – but at that moment, I was alone and I heard one voice speaking directly to me. “How about you, Jackie? What’s the status of your heart? Is it FULLY COMMITTED?”
I would love to tell you my immediate response was “Yes!” I didn’t lie that night and I won’t lie today. The truth is that SOME parts of my heart were. But there were some other parts that I was tucking away because I wanted to control them. Like these….
➡️ Harboring Unforgiveness because what they did to me was wrong and I was right to be offended and angry.
➡️Speaking in ways that did not honor the Lord because…..see arrow #1.
➡️Struggling with a pretty significant bout of depression/anxiety on my own because I didn’t want to be “a bother” to anyone (and I didn’t want to seem unable to “just handle it”).
I got off of that treadmill, sent a message out to my small group, and asked for anyone who felt a “ping” to meet me for prayer the next morning so we could have some accountability. I wasn’t the only one who got “pinged.” There were six of us in the circle on Monday morning. I’m thankful for honesty….for safe places and people to confess your sins and find healing……because I truly DO want my heart to be fully committed to Him. I can’t do it on my own.
Neither can you.
If my heart is fully committed to Him….the fruit I bear in my life will represent THAT level of heart health. If I’ve got areas that are broken and bruised and hurting….the fruit I bear in my life will represent THAT level of heart health, too. A tree doesn’t produce fruit to feed itself…..it produces fruit to feed others. What kind of fruit is my life bearing to feed those around me? At home? At work? At church? In friendships? In traffic? At Walmart? 😊
People from all around the world converged in Atlanta, GA so that I would have the opportunity to hop on a treadmill in Tuscaloosa, AL and hear directly from Him. I don’t think it was coincidental that I was exercising my heart when He spoke to me about the very thing I was trying to keep healthy.
How’s your heart?
Lessons from the Lawn 