Study 2: “The Truth Revealed”
“Search me Oh God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24
In study 1, we discovered our hearts are desperately crying out to be free. This has hindered us from experiencing the full and abundant life that God desires for His children. We become His children when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives (John 1:12) Please refer to the “First Things First” entry on the main web page if you are unsure of your salvation or your position(standing) in the family of God
As we have committed Psalm 139:23-24 to memory, praying for God to search our hearts, is your heart beginning to cry out to you? Perhaps you have found that the floodgates have burst wide open; and you are now fully aware of what your heart’s cry is. You may be wondering “what do I do now?”
As you’ve prayed for God to search your heart, to try you and know your thoughts, to see if there is any wicked way in you, it may seem as if the “heat” has been turned up. Our natural tendency to any adversity or change to what we’ve considered “normal” in our lives is to feel discomfort and uneasiness. God will show us the truth. Remember, He’s been refining us, and wanting to free us from those issues, circumstances, and situations in our lives that have held us captive. He will be faithful to answer. In this study, we will investigate the ways in which we react to our heart’s cry being revealed to us.
Accept, Project, Protect, or Connect?
The names and situational scenarios listed below are not real-life examples or persons! They could “hit close to home” in many of our heart’s cries, and may reveal some things to us through them. Only the Lord knows the heart of each person individually. He sees what we cannot. He sees what we choose to hide from others. He searches out the hidden things in us.
“For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
We deceive ourselves often don’t we? We think “no one knows.” We think that people only see what we present to them. We often forget, or chose to ignore the fact that God does! What is your heart crying out to you? God is fully aware of your heart’s cry. He not only wants you to understand what it is, but to use your heart’s cry to bring glory to His name! In the process, we may be putting up a good front. Yet it is leaving us empty and void of God’s best. Let’s examine what we may be doing with our heart’s cry.
(Again, please remember that these scenarios are fictional only!)
Accept: “I know I am in a wrong relationship with Sam. I was involved in youth group at my church a few years ago where we were taught that God desires us to wait for marriage; to keep ourselves pure for that day. I understood, and even made a vow to stay pure in my thoughts and actions and wait for marriage. Yet here I am; it just happened. One day we decided to move in together. I admit I had felt pressured in doing so. I knew in my heart I shouldn’t, but I did anyway. I didn’t listen to my heart. Marriage is not even a part of our conversation anymore. If I try to bring it up, he gets irritated with me. I can’t help but feel used and unloved. I try not to think about the mistakes and wrong choices I’ve made. It only makes me feel worse. I got myself in to this, and I guess I’ll just stick it out. Life could be worse.”
Satan’s lie/deception: This is just life. You deal with what you’re dealt. Besides didn’t you bring this all upon yourself anyway? You had a choice, and this is what you chose.
God’s Word clearly says: “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Accepting things as they are, when you can clearly see it is not pleasing in God’s sight, in accordance with His commands, or may be harmful and/or unsafe for you IS NOT what God desires for you!
Has Satan done any “stealing, killing, or destroying” in your life? In the scenario above, Satan seeks to: steal her self-worth, kill her confidence in what she has known to be the truth, and destroy her hope of change in her circumstances. DO NOT accept any situation that does not glorify God, or fulfill His plan and purpose for you. He wants to be glorified through your life! Being accepting of negative, harmful, or ungodly situations is denying God the power He possesses and desires to use to restore you to Himself. (Sin separates us from God) He loves you, and wants only the best for you! Call on Him. He is faithful to answer! He can restore!
Project: Teddy was playing quietly at the kitchen table. It was close to dinner time, and his mother was preparing tonight’s meal. Teddy’s dad was in the study reviewing notes for a meeting at work the next day; or so the family thought. In actuality, he was on the internet viewing pornographic sites. This was not the first time he had frequented such pages. It had begun as a pop up on his computer screen that he should have quickly deleted. However, that first click and “quick glance” ensnared him, begged him to continue on, and he submitted. It had now become an addiction; a habit he was desperately trying to hide from everyone.
Hearing footsteps coming down the hall, he quickly turned off his computer screen. His wife leaned in through the doorway, gave him a smile, and said, “Almost done? Dinner is just about ready,” then headed back towards the kitchen. He shut his computer down and left his study, enveloped in guilt and shame over his actions.
As he entered the kitchen, he looked over at Teddy and yelled, “You’re such a lazy kid! Why is the table not set for dinner?!” He then turned to his wife and in an outburst of anger exclaimed, “Pork chops again! Applesauce…green beans! You know I hate that stuff!” He walked out the door, slamming it behind him. He has now added more guilt and shame to his situation, and has once again hurt those he claims to love the most.
Satan’s lie/deception: It’s just your nature to be “hot-headed, argumentative, easily angered; quarrelsome.” People need to just learn to lighten up and know you don’t mean everything you say. They’ll get over it. Oh, and everyone has a bad habit of some sort as well, so why are you feeling so guilty? There are tons of people looking at that stuff.
God’s Word says: “for the wrath (anger) of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:20. Also, “for God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” I Thessalonians 4:7.
We project when we take our inner feelings about ourselves, those feelings of guilt and shame (as in the above scenario) that are present due to sinful areas we have allowed in our lives, and lash out at those around us in negative, harmful ways. Projecting is a way of “placing blame” on another undeserving situation, circumstance, or person (s) in an effort to lessen the guilt you are feeling with what’s going on in your life that you know is not right. Projecting can present itself in a variety of ways. NONE are productive to you or anyone around you.
In the scenario above, heartache and pain was occurring due to sinful habits and angry, emotional outbursts brought about from shame and guilt of an ungodly addiction. A righteous, godly life could not be obtained in this man’s life due to this, which in turn damaged his entire family. Are there any unchecked, negative, detrimental emotions or habits/addictions in your life that your heart is crying out for you to change? God is willing. He is waiting to help you!
Protect: Oh my goodness! God has revealed some really SINFUL situations in my life I didn’t know existed. Well, maybe I sensed something was not quite right all along, but it had become so normal that I just didn’t see the harm in it…till now. I can see that this lifestyle is bringing about some very negative consequences in my life, and to my family. I’ve endured years and years of what I now see as unacceptable behavior and actions. But….if anyone ever found out this is going on in my life:
-I’d be so embarrassed!
-They’d “think less” of me.
-I’d never be able to face anyone again!
Satan’s lie/deception: If you think this is bad right now, wait till they really find out the truth about you and what’s going on in your life! I’d just be quiet and keep the whole thing to myself. You’ve put up this front for so long now, people won’t believe you anyway! You really don’t have a foot to stand on!
God’s Word says: “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 and “…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Satan often deceives us into living a lie. When we “stick it out” or “keep things to ourselves” in unhealthy situations or circumstances, we lose sight of so much. One of those facts is that God has given us fellowship with others who desire to stand with us through life’s trials. There is “strength in numbers!” A true friend is willing and able to stand with you through difficult times!
Has Satan alienated you from friends through fear of being open about situations in your life? Is your heart crying out for the fellowship and support you desire? Reach out! Help, support, love, and understanding is available! God has a perfect plan for your life. Are you willing to let Him show you? One of the ways He does this is through the fellowship, support and love of others.
On a side note, in study 1 I had mentioned receiving the question of “Are you ok?” after posing the question “When you feel at your ‘lowest’ and can’t explain why, what word/emotion comes to mind?” Sometimes when we are asked a pointed question such as this, it may uncover thoughts and emotions of things that may be going on in our own lives. We may not be comfortable in sharing or looking at ourselves in this way, and we may ask a question in return that takes the focus off of us. Are you protecting yourself in such a manner?
Let’s do a re-cap for a moment. We began by searching our hearts, and God has, or is beginning to reveal what are heart’s cries are. We’ve dug a little deeper using some scenarios to examine ourselves, and see where we fall in our heart’s cries (accept, project, or protect). It may seem very difficult, and at times impossible to get a grasp of what is being revealed, but hold on! Help is on the way! God is indeed doing a great work in you, and will be faithful complete it in you! (Call to mind Philippians 1:6) Trust in Him!
All three of the ways we tend to deal with our heart’s cry from above (accept, project, protect) are in stark contrast to how God would want us to live our lives. Once we know and understand our heart’s cry, we can usually figure out which category it has kept us in bondage through. Are you:
- accepting of sinful, hurtful, dangerous situations in your life?
- projecting outbursts of anger, fits of rage, blaming others for one’s own sins?, or
- protecting, covering up sinful habits, actions, or behaviors in ourselves or others out of fear of “being found out?”
None of the attributes stated above are part of God’s character. He desires us to be conformed to His image….in the likeness of Him! If we desire to be like Him, the negative characteristics we possess need to go!
As we have asked God to search us to know our heart’s cry, and have viewed and discovered whether we’ve been accepting, projecting, or protecting our heart’s cry, what are we to do next?
The truth revealed will break the chains of captivity that Satan has kept you in!
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32
Your heart’s cry has kept you captive for far too long! Have you avoided others in fear of them “finding you out?” Has your anger, guilt, and shame over sinful habits or addictions in your life kept you in a constant state of frustration which you know has been wrongfully displaced on others? Has it alienated you from those you once held dear? Are you deceiving yourself into thinking you can live life hiding your heart’s cry to protect yourself and possibly others? Don’t listen to Satan’s lies anymore! The truth can set you free:
-Before God: I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
-Before ourselves: John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.”
-Before others: …..Before others? How? By CONNECTING!
Connect
Whatever God has been revealing to you in your life does not necessarily need to be “proclaimed from the rooftops” for all to hear! (I am not suggesting areas where physical, verbal, or emotional abuses are occurring. Any abuse of this nature should never be allowed to continue or left unexposed.) May I submit to you however, the idea of what we’ll call a “Truth Trustee.”
Truth Trustee
Simply put, a trustee is defined as: “person holding property in trust” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, copyright 1995, by Merriam-Webster Inc.), and truth is defined as: real state of things/agreement with fact or reality (Merriam-Webster once again!).
Therefore, a “Truth Trustee” would be defined as: “a person holding in trust an agreement of fact or reality.” Our definition of a truth trustee will be:
A trusted person in whom you can place your highest confidence to share your heart’s cry with.
As you ask and seek in prayer, God will bring someone into your life with whom you can trust and confide in (a Truth Trustee). You may already have someone in mind, or have a close friend you confide in. If so, praise God! May the suggestions below assist you in seeking out your “Truth Trustee.”
Seek out a Truth Trustee who:
-Is devoted to, and believes firmly in the power of prayer.
-A professing Christian, not given to gossip, who correctly handles the Word of
God.
-Will hold you accountable for your actions.
-You have 100% faith in their confidentiality with your heart’s cry.
So what’s it going to be for you: accept, project, protect, or connect? We are at an impasse till we have the TRUTH REVEALED in our lives aren’t we? It may take us varying degrees of time to become “comfortable” with allowing the truth to make us free because Satan has kept us in bondage for so long in this area. You need not wait any longer! You have the strength to do this right now! The strength does not need to come from you!
God’s Word says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and in 2 Corinthians12:10, “For when I am weak, then am I strong.” (Through God’s strength) Allow God’s Word to work in your life to bring about the strength that you need…through Him!
“and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Are you willing to be free? Will you allow the truth in your heart’s cry to be revealed in your life?
A Personal Heart’sCry
In study 1, I mentioned that the searching for my heart’s cry took quite a long time. I was so deceived in believing that what was going on in my life was “normal.” Satan had long ago placed the idea in my mind that I could do nothing right, and had nothing of value to offer anyone. I therefore had beliefs of worthlessness, inadequacy, and inability always undermining anything that occurred in my life; whether good or bad.
When I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, things began to change. I understood God loved me for who I was. He sent His Son to die for me. As I read Scripture, and sought His will for my life, I realized He had a plan and purpose He wanted to fulfill. His Word revealed that I have great worth in His sight, I can do great things through Him, and any weaknesses I may possess can be made strong through Him working in me. It became a struggle between what I had always thought of myself, and what God was revealing to me in the Truth of His Word.
Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior rescued my soul from an eternity separated from God in heaven. The stronghold that Satan had on my life broke for good the day I asked Christ into my life. I was forever taken from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light; eternally secure and never to be taken away. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 confirms this fact. It says, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” The Holy Spirit resides in us, and assures us of our eternal security! Praise God for His great love for us!
Satan knows that his claim for your soul is forever lost the day you receive Christ. He doesn’t however “let go” that easily. He just changes his strategy. You may no longer be in darkness as he is, or forever separated from God’s presence, but he knows he can render you ineffective in leading others to Christ if he can continue to plague you with the deceptions he has been using on you for years. He seeks to keep you in captivity through your heart’s cry. God seeks to use the heart’s cry you’ve been in bondage to for so long to refine you and glorify Him. This is the area in which we are blinded for far too long! I know I was! It’s a battle we’re in, but we CAN WIN!
I discovered my heart’s cry was…….having a very negative outlook on who I am. It affected every aspect of my life, and kept me captive through very destructive situations and circumstances.
Since I had little value in who I was for so long, it was very easy to believe I was useless, worthless, and inadequate even after I was saved! Satan used this in both the thoughts I dwelt on, and the words I would hear from others. If a kind, thoughtful, or encouraging word was spoken, I would dismiss it as “they’re just being nice to me. They don’t really know me.” Negative, hurtful words were easier to believe and accept because they only reaffirmed what I’d already known and believed about myself for so long. I was deceived. Satan wanted it to remain this way, and render my life ineffective for the Kingdom of God. He knew my weaknesses all too well, and used them to his advantage.
It took years and years of praying “search me oh God” before I realized He had been showing me all along. I had not seen this due to the hold I was allowing Satan to have on my mind, thoughts, and actions. My “normal” life was in actuality not normal at all. Incredible damage had occurred in my marriage through hurtful, angry words which reinforced my beliefs of inadequacy and worthlessness. This went on for years. My husband and I loved each other and the Lord. We wanted our marriage to bring glory to God, but both of us were tearing it apart through our heart’s cries. They differed greatly from each others, but worked destructively on and with each other (remember Satan’s game plan?). God desired to use us and our marriage to bring glory to Him. Satan sought to never allow that to happen!
I had also developed another heart’s cry in the process. It was that of an unforgiving heart. This only added to the problems that already existed. Years of unforgiveness for past wrongs continued unchecked. Each instance added to the pain and heartache we inflicted on each other through an unforgiving heart. Any ministry endeavor the Lord wanted to bless us through and glorify Himself in was thwarted because of our heart’s cries, and our refusal to look at them in truth. The truth of my heart’s cry revealed I was…..
Accepting – of behaviors, actions, and words that only reinforced the negative perceptions of how I saw myself. I accepted it as “normal,” and that “it could be worse!” I also accepted my own negative behaviors, actions and words as “defense” or “payback” for the pain and heartache I was feeling. I minimized my own “wicked ways” in this manner.
Projecting- an unforgiving heart at the injustices and “abuses” that were in my life. This does NOTHING to help matters when we have an unforgiving heart! I knew this was not how God wanted me to live my life, and caused the “low” feeling that I just couldn’t explain.
Protecting- my marriage through what I had considered “normal” for far too long. I also protected my “pride” as well from “what if anyone found out?” “What would they think?”
The struggles were difficult, but God was faithful. He made it very clear what was going on in my life; what was sinful, inappropriate, and not in accordance with a life well pleasing to Him. I would many times say “ok Lord, I see it,” but then revert back to accepting things to continue as usual.
This occurred for YEARS, until one day I was willing to face the truth God had been revealing to me for so long. I could take it no longer. I wanted more than anything to surrender my life to His will, purpose, and plans, but couldn’t with all of this in my life! Changes had to come about, and I allowed “the truth to make me free.” It was not an easy road, but God has blessed our marriage, family, our very lives every step of the way. He healed in ways we can only say “to God be the glory!” We continue to be a “work in progress” in many areas, but praise Him for the work He has done, and what we are assured He will continue to do!
One of the many blessings in discovering my hearts cry was the knowledge that I was in need of a “Truth Trustee.” I am so thankful God abundantly blessed my life with three close friends to confide in! There truly is “a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24).Confiding in them and knowing they were praying gave me the confidence and support to reveal the truth of my heart’s cry before God, myself, and others. I can trust them to hold me accountable in my heart’s cry. I am assured of their continual prayers as well. To my “Truth Trustees”…thank you seems such small words! God Bless You! I am forever grateful for your friendship, love, support, and never ending prayers!
The journey of my heart’s cry was……not quite complete yet! Yours may not be as well. We’ll cover this is our next study as we look at “Flip, Flop: What’s Going On?”
Being truthful before God, myself, family, and my “Truth Trustees” brought many blessings. The truth can SET YOU FREE!
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we once again come before You and thank You for Your presence in our lives. We thank You for guiding us and leading us in the way we should go. May we look to You for all wisdom and understanding as we continue on in these studies. We desire to no longer be in captivity to the cries of our hearts, but to trust in You for that freedom we long for. Give us the strength and courage to know the truth, and to let the truth make us free. Keep us ever in Your watchful care till we meet again. In Your precious name Jesus we pray, Amen.
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible ~ King James Version
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
OurHeart’sCry Personal Journal Entry ~ Study 2
“The Truth Revealed”
Bible Memory Verse and Prayer: Commit to memory John 8:32. Incorporate this verse into your daily prayers. Pray often throughout your day (“pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17), and allow God to reveal His truths to you:
“and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
John 8:32
1) As your heart’s cry is being revealed to you, do you find you are an acceptor, projector, or a protector, (or some of each)? This may not be evident to you directly after reading this study, but continue to allow God to show you as you seek out the truth in what that may be. Allow His strength to work in you through this searching._____________________________________________________________
2) In what ways do you accept, project, or protect? Writing these down assists in “getting it out before
you.”________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) As God continues to reveal truths to you, be open to seeking out a “Truth Trustee” to confide in who will listen, understand, give Godly advice, and commit to pray for you.
Do you have someone in mind, or do you already have a “Truth Trustee” in your life?____________________________________________________________
List below any names that God reveals to you:
____________________
____________________
____________________
As God works in your life, and reveals things to you, praise Him! “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Stand strong and have faith in His Word!
Open forum: If you’d like to share what the Lord is revealing to you, or if you have any prayer requests, please send them to publishingHisname@gmail.com or in the comment section of the main web page. We will post them in our Prayer & Praise section so our OurHeart’sCry Team and others in this study can be in prayer with you! God Bless~
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