The Free Heart

A story is told about a basket of apples sitting on a table in a convent school. There was a sign on the basket that said, “Take only one. God is watching.” On the other end of the table, there was a plate of cookies. On the plate, there was a note in a child’s handwriting that said, “Eat all the cookies you want. God is watching the apples.”

Obviously, the message for us is in this anecdote is not about apples and cookies. It prompted me to consider how we handle our desires for wanting more in life. Do you find yourself wanting more in life? I think we all want more but many times we are afraid of pursuing it. Do you know what it is that keeps you from pursuing more of the life God has for you? Do you feel guilty for wanting more? Or perhaps you are hesitant of pursuing more because you are afraid of others noticing? What is the “more” you really want? Can you name what the “more” is?
The Scriptures are replete with men and women who wanted more.

- Moses wanted more than palace pleasures and picked up a staff
- Abraham wanted more and made love to Sarah when he was a 100
- David wanted more and he picked up some rocks
- Jonathon wanted more and picked a best friend instead of a crown
- Nehemiah wanted more and risked sharing his heart with the king
- John the Baptist wanted more and lost his head
- Peter wanted more and got out of the boat
- A prostitute wanted more and wiped Jesus her tears of his feet with her hair
- Jesus wanted more for you and me and was nailed naked on a tree

The Christian life is about wanting more. The Christian life is about pursuing more. The great men and women of faith all wanted more; and we, just like them, may we end our days still longing for more.

For me, the “more” I have wanted lately is to live life out of a “free heart”. Sometimes, I feel like my heart is a magnet, daily attracting a plethora of anxieties. Bad news or strained relationships add stress to feelings of guilt and disappointment. Pressures to perform and the pull to please others can leave my heart shackled with others expectations. My heart was never designed to carry the load I put it through.

However, when my heart is free I’m not afraid. When my heart is free I am not overwhelmed. When my heart is free, I can find rest even in the midst of chaos. The free heart is not intimidated by life’s hassles and demands. The free heart feels and engages in life. The free heart sees God for who He is. The free heart believes God for what He says. The free heart trusts. The free heart obeys. As the psalmist boldly declares, “I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free”.

Jesus knows the chronic nature of our problem and bids us to “Cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us.” He welcomes the weight of our overburdened hearts with His plea to “Come to me all who are weak and heavy laden, and I will refresh you”.

One of the greatest gifts from God is a “free heart”
The more I want today is a free heart? A heart that is free to surrender to Him. How about you? Does your heart feel free today? If not, what is that is weighing your heart down? Will you join me today in rolling all those burdens onto Him?

And by the way, if you want more cookies, help yourself.