@ Etude

UV 3263/10000 @Etude

We are pressured in every way (hedged in), but not crushed; perplexed (unsure of finding a way out), but not driven to despair;
2 Corinthians 4 v 8

Scripture states that we need to 'study the heart with diligence for out of it are the issues of life." The source of blessing and troubles lie in the human heart, that invisible intersection of the reason and the emotions, the thoughts and the desires. The word “earth” has in it hidden the word , “heart.” The human heart needs to be circumcised and devoted to God and God alone. The outer layer of sin and sinful desire needs to be stripped away. The process is not painless but it is not destructive. Sinful desire can be self –destructive. Hence, the pressures, troubles, trials, suffering, tests, persecution that the children of God face are part of the process of weaning us away from the world.

The Lord is interested in our attitudes. We need to do an @etude (where @ means attitudes and etude in French means study) or the study of where our heart lies, our desires, our emotions, our priorities. We observe our heart most accurately in the spiritual mirror of the Word of God. As the Psalmist writes, “Deep (of our hearts) will call out to the Deep (of the Word,Lord, Holy Spirit). “ There are times in life when we feel our prayers are not answered, we feel God is silent. He has not granted our heart’s desire. We feel depressed yet hopeful. We feel alone, but not abandoned for Christ is with us. We feel defeated but do not give up. We feel weak but not helpless. At these times, the Lord is doing a deep work in our hearts. We should cooperate with the Spirit of God by doing @etude and allow Him to access every part of our hearts, our intentions, our motives, our hopes, our emotions, our frustrations, our sadness and anger.

The Lord like a skilful cardiac surgeon will tweak the weak parts of our hearts and make it stronger that our faith will outlast the tests, we will endure with patience. The book of Proverbs rightly puts it that the strength of a man is tested in a crisis. We need to believe that Christ is closest with us in a crisis and imparting to us the grace and strength we need but we lack in ourselves. We need to do an @etude and discover, diagnose if our heart attitudes are right with God. If not, we need to take steps to correct it forthwith.