Our Heart, God's Will

A brief follow up to my last post. Here are a few thoughts from the bible about our heart and God's will:

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

The connection of our heart to the will of the Almighty is eternally connected. Love, joy, peace, hope and faith are all matters of the heart. The Father has designed our hearts to be wellsprings of life that get us through dark days and connect us with His purposes. When we live out of our good hearts we connect with His will ... when we cower in fear and suppress our hearts we keep ourselves distant from His will for us. God's will is truly the best when it is lived out of the heart!