The Discipline of a Balanced Heart

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Week 6: The Disciplines of a Loving Heart, Part 1

Lesson Summary: Jesus gave us two simple instructions to guide us in our journey of spiritual formation. He told us to first Love God with all our heart, and, secondly, to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we focus our energy toward receiving God’s love, then we will fill up with his love and overflow it to everyone around us. The first step in practicing spiritual disciplines is to realize the there are five basic areas in our life that need attention. If we give balanced attention to these areas then we will be on our way to a healthy growth process.

The Two Basic Commandments

Following Jesus is really quite simple. Read the next two passages to see what I mean.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Mark 12:28-31.
What are the two simple commands that Jesus told us to follow?

OK, let’s be honest. Following Jesus is simple, but it’s not easy. Read Mark 8:34-38 to see what Jesus said about following him.

The truth is that following Jesus is not just a weekend recreational pastime. If you are going to follow him, then you need to do it with everything, or nothing.

Look how Jesus’ disciples responded to this truth in Matthew 19:23-26.

Before you throw in the towel and give up, let me let you in on a little secret. The only way that you can obey Jesus’ commands is to…throw in the towel and give up! That’s right. You can’t do it. There is not a person alive who can love God enough to say that they have loved him with their whole heart. There is too much gunk in us to be able to do that.

However, Jesus said that with God it is possible…if we let him.

It’s About Overflow

Look at the chart again. At the center of the chart is a simple clay pot. That represents our heart. In 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul tells us that we are nothing more than jars of clay. We are made of simple stuff. Yet, the great miracle is that we have the potential to house the infinite mystery of God’s glory inside of our jars of clay.

Notice that there are three arrows flowing down through the sections of Mind, Spirit, and Body and into the empty pot. Also notice that the words above each section read, “Receiving God’s Love with my…” You see, the key to Loving God is to realize that we can’t really do it on our own. Our job is not to work really hard at loving God, but it is to yield ourselves to God and simply allow his love to flow into us through our mind, spirit, and body.

Let’s explore this idea through the following passages.

Matthew 12:33-37. What is the source of a person’s outward actions?

Romans 15:13. What is the byproduct of being filled with joy and peace?

Read John 15:1-17.
What is the fruit?

Who produces the fruit?

What does it take for the branch to be able to produce fruit?

Here’s the bottom line. We can’t love others and produce “good fruit” until we are first filled with the love of God. If we try to produce good fruit on our own, in our own strength, it will be sour and empty. However, if we focus on loving God and being filled with his love, then we will have an infinite supply of “good fruit” to overflow to anyone who has need.

Cultivating a Romance

The key to developing a strong relationship with God is to simply commit to the relationship, not the ritual. We are called to love God, not perform for him and hope he loves us. If we want to be filled up with God’s love and be able to overflow his love to everyone around us then we need to make sure that we understand that this whole Christian thing is about cultivating a relationship with God. Nothing more. If you are authentically, passionately in love with God, then you will naturally begin to become like Him.

Over these next three weeks we will be using the language of having a love relationship in order to discuss the Spiritual Disciplines.

You want to develop a relationship with God, right? So, what does it take to cultivate any kind of quality relationship?

First, you need to know about the other person. You need to “study” them, so to speak, and learn about who they are, where they come from, what makes them tick, what ticks them off, and so on. This kind of learning requires time spent with that person and quality communication back and forth. That is what it means to love God with your MIND. You learn about God by spending time listening to him and finding out who he is. We’ll talk about that on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Second, you need to connect at an emotional level with that person. Try to think about the first time you fell in love. There was a strange feeling in your stomach, your palms got sweaty, and your heart beat a little faster when that person walked in the room. These emotions went beyond information. They were beyond reason. They ignited your spirit and connected you with that person in a way that you were not connected to anyone else. We need to experience that kind of connection with God as well. God is not just an abstract concept to be studied. God is a personality. He wants to be the lover of our soul. That is what it means to love God with your SPIRIT. We’ll talk about that on Thursday and Friday.

Third, you need to take action with your love. Healthy couples touch each other. They hold hands, they cuddle, they give each other gifts, and they take care of each other’s physical needs. Married couples share in physical intimacy. God gave us physical bodies and physical resources so that we can express our love to him in very concrete, practical ways. We demonstrate our love to him by giving to him out of our physical resources and by loving others through acts of service and mercy. That is what it means to love God with your BODY. We’ll talk about that next week.

Loving God with Your Mind

What does a couple do when they first start getting to know each other? They go out on dates. They spend hours sitting in the corner booth of the diner exchanging stories about their childhood, past relationships, favorite movies, etc. Then, when they get home, they spend another two hours on the phone! Why? They spend time talking because they desperately want to know who this new fascinating, captivating person is. They want to soak up as much information as they can about the person so that they can know them in a deeper way.
That is how it is with God. We need to soak up as much information about him as we can so that we can know him at deeper and deeper levels.

The question is, “How?” How do we learn about God? The simple answer is: The Bible. If we want to grow in our relationship with God, then we need to become students of the Bible, because this book is the primary means through which God has communicated the truth about himself to us.

The Mind is the First to Go

Before we go further in our discussion about the role of the Bible in our relationship with God, let us first stop and take a moment to discuss the role of the mind itself. They say that the mind is the first to go. I’d like to alter the meaning of this statement a little bit. The mind is, indeed, the first. The mind is the gateway through which our lives are transformed.

Read the following verses. What role does the mind have in the transformation process?
Romans 8:5-7

Romans 12:2

Our mind, our will, our volitional choices, are the “executive function” within us. Our behaviors are dictated by what we believe to be true. If we believe a chair is safe to sit on, then we will sit on it without even thinking. If we do not believe it is safe, we will not sit on it.

Our emotions and our bodies are in, or should be, in submission to our minds. Emotions rise and fall like the tide and, while they are intense, are not always based upon truth. The mind, however, is based upon the careful examination of truth and is able to make decisions based upon thought out reasoning. When the emotions overpower the mind, then anything can happen, sometimes good, sometimes bad. When the mind has become convicted of truth, and is in its executive function, then it can actually calm the emotions down in even the most adverse circumstances.

It is important for us to remember that being a follower of Jesus in not something that is based upon an emotional experience. Just because we feel, or don’t feel, something does not make it true or false. Yes, it is an incredibly emotional experience (we’ll talk about that on Thursday), but it is not based on an emotional experience. It is based on truth that is ascertained with the mind, is translated into conviction, that is then sent as directives to the emotions and the body, bringing them into harmony with the mind and the will of God.

Think of the emotions as a wild stallion and the mind as the horse whisperer – the rider who wants to mount the horse. A wild horse is pure energy, but it is dangerous and unproductive. A rider without a horse is stagnant and unproductive as well. Yet, when a rider can bridle the horse and bring its energy into focus, then both rider and horse can reach levels of power and productivity that where not previously possible. Emotions without the bridle of logic are unpredictable and often destructive. Logic without emotion is stale, dead, and often cruel. Together, under the leadership of the Spirit, they are focused energy that can ignite the Kingdom of God.

Simply put, regardless of our personality, we must begin with our mind and learn the basic truths about God in order to be able to ensure that the God that we are experiencing is the one true God and not an imposter that wants to woo us away with a flashy smile, smooth talk, and hyped up emotions.

The Bible is the Key to Loving God with Your Mind

Tomorrow we will discuss practical ways to learn about God. For the rest of today let’s examine what the Bible says about itself and its role in our relationship with God.

Read the following verses and answer the questions.

What attitude does David have for the Word of God in these two passages? What benefit does he feel the Word has for the person who will follow it?

Psalm 119:9-16

Psalm 119:105-112

Read Romans 15:4. What is the purpose of scripture?

Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17. What does the scripture provide for its student?

Read Hebrews 4:12. What can the Word of God do?

Going on a D.A.T.E. with God

The following is a practical guide to help you get started in spending time with God for the purpose of getting to know who he is at a deeper level. Just like the young couple we discussed yesterday, you must make a DATE with God on a regular basis.

Dedicate time

In a world that is filled with frenetic activity that can easily consume us, the word “intentionality” is the key to our survival. The only way to do the important things in life is to make time. Every person is allotted exactly the same number of hours in every week. How we use those hours is a matter of priorities and a conscious act of the will.

If you have never spent time with God before, then I challenge you to set aside 15 minutes each day, five days a week, for this DATE. Put in on your calendar. Make no exceptions. It’s the most important meeting of your day. Without it there will be no filling, and without filling, there will be no spilling (overflow).

Aquire information (Read Scripture)

You will not be able to read the entire Bible in one sitting, nor should you do so. Don’t be overwhelmed by the size and scope of the book. You know what they say about eating an elephant. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

The way to understand God through the study of Scripture is to simply begin reading. A little bit every day.

When God led his people through the desert in the book of Numbers, he provided daily bread for them called Manna. Jesus said that his word is our daily bread. The scripture is our nutritional power pack for each day. In the same way that you would not eat only once a week, so you should not go without scripture for more than a day.

In Hart Haus we believe this daily study is so vital to our spiritual growth that we are committed to providing a daily study for the house churches. This study will allow you a chance to immerse yourself in scripture and will provide you with a little material to help you move to the next section of the date.

Think about what you’ve learned (Meditate)

The word “meditate” conjures up many varied images in our culture today. It is important to make a clear distinction between Eastern meditation and Christian meditation.

Eastern meditation is the process of slowing down one’s body and clearing one’s mind for the purpose of emptying the mind and being open to anything. Christian meditation is the process of slowing down one’s body and clearing the mind of distractions for the purpose of focusing on the Word of God and listening to the Holy Spirit.

There is a big difference between these two disciplines. While some of the external forms of Eastern meditation (breathing and stretching exercises, for example) may be helpful for the Christian, the basic premise of each discipline is diametrically opposed to one another. Eastern philosophy does not believe in an object God who can be known and, thus, does not believe in the spiritual realities that swirl around us (angels, demons, etc.) Eastern meditation is dangerous in that it creates a vacant room in the mind that invites any and every influence into it. Christian meditation, on the other hand, believes that God is an objective reality that can be known.

Christian meditation blocks out distracting influences, both physical and spiritual, and opens the door to the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s word so that it can be contemplated in peace and serenity.

Here’s a simple starter plan for meditation in your DATE.

• Find a quiet place for your DATE.
• Begin by taking a few deep breaths and stretching your neck and shoulders.
• Ask God to help you focus and pay attention to what he is going to say to you through your reading.
• Keep a notebook handy (or, quite often, there is space in your daily study) to jot down thoughts and ideas that come to you as you read.
• After you have read, take another deep breath and ask God to expose to you any of the following things that may be pertinent to your life as a result of the reading.

o A sin to confess
o A prayer to repeat
o A attitude to avoid
o A command to obey
o An example to follow
o A Prayer to repeat
o An error to avoid
o A truth to believe
o Something to be thankful for

Express yourself (Pray, Journal, Sing, etc.)

So far on this date you have mostly been listening. Everyone knows that a date in which one person does all the talking and the other person does no talking is one that will not likely lead to a flourishing relationship. Now it is your turn to talk. End your DATE by responding to God. This is commonly called prayer. I hesitate to use that word because it can often conjure up some very stuffy and pretentious images in the mind. Yet, prayer is simply talking to God. If God has spoken to you then you will likely have something to say to him. Go ahead and say it. He wants to hear from you. A prayer doesn’t have to look a certain way; it simply has to be real.

Prayer can take on many forms. You may want to speak out loud to God. You may want to speak to him within your own thoughts (he knows your thoughts, remember). You may want to write your prayers in a journal. You might want to take a walk and ponder creation. You might want to draw a picture or write a poem. How you express yourself to God is largely determined by who you are. We will discuss prayer and worship tomorrow and Friday.

Here are some other ways that you can cultivate your mind and get to know God better.

• Bible Memorization (A Form of Meditation)

Memorization itself is an excellent discipline for the old gray matter. Memorizing scripture is a double bonus because it not only stimulates your intellect; it also stores God’s living Word in your heart and gives the Holy Spirit an arsenal of truth to work with. Think of memorized scripture as coals in a fire pit. When they are stoked a flame will pop up. The more coals there are, the more potential for fire there is. When you get into a life situation, the Holy Spirit will go to the fire pit of your mind and stoke whatever coals you have placed there in order to create a fire that can respond to your situation. If you don’t put any coals in your mind, then there won’t be a fire.
For more guidance on memorization visit http://www.harthaus.com/Direction/memorization.htm

• Listening to teaching on tape or radio

• Taking classes

- Through local church
- Online
- Bible College or Seminary

Make a date

Now is as good a time as any to commit to a daily DATE with God. Right now, grab your calendar and figure out when it is going to happen. Before the day is over tell someone about your commitment and ask them to hold you accountable to keeping that DATE.

Loving God with Your Spirit -- part 1

An Authentic Experience

On Tuesday we used the analogy of the emotions being a wild stallion and the mind being the rider with a bridle. If you are an emotion-centered person you may have been somewhat offended by those ideas. If you are a mind-centered person, you were probably feeling pretty smug, thinking, “Yeah, you tell ‘em. I’m tired of all those over-emotional types.”
Today we get to turn the tables a little. While it is true that our knowledge of the truth must precede conviction, we must also remember that knowledge without compassion or emotion is completely useless. The rider without a horse is just a guy standing there with a limp piece of leather in his hand. The stallion is the energy. It is the life and the power behind the work that needs to be done. When brought into harmony with the mind and will of God, the Spirit can do amazingly powerful things.
When we talk about loving God with your SPIRIT, we are talking about experiencing the presence of God in a non-rational – better yet, a supra-rational – way which defies words. We feel God’s presence. We become invigorated by the relationship we have with God. Our step is quickened and our focus is sharpened. When we love God with our Spirit it is as if we get a shot of spiritual adrenaline running through our veins. When our spirit is connected to God, we can move mountains.

Read Psalm 42:7. How does this song writer describe his relationship with God?

God is spirit and it is the spirit within us that truly connects to God, on his turf, and breathes life and energy into us.
An Authentic Expression
The question is, “How do I connect to God with my Spirit? What does it look like?” The answer to this question may solve a great deal of the controversies that exist in the church today. I believe that the way we connect to God with our Spirit is determined by our natural personality type.
Here’s an example. Suppose you were able to go to the Superbowl, but you were not really interested in the game. This allowed you the opportunity to observe the people and be emotionally detached from what was going on down on the field. As you sat down you noticed that the two people on either side of you were obviously routing for the same team.
The guy on your right is decked out in the team colors. As soon as you sat down he reached out his hand to shake yours and started talking. On the opening kickoff he ripped off his shirt and exposed the fact that he had painted his body in the team colors as well. Throughout the entire game he was standing up, screaming, drinking beer, and just allowing himself to get caught up in every play of the game.
The guy on your left was quite a different picture. He was dressed very conservatively. However, his pen did display the team logo. He never really made eye contact with you. When the game started he pulled out a pad of paper and began keeping stats on his favorite players. He seemed a bit annoyed by the painted man next to you, but tried to keep his mind on the game.
Very different men, aren’t they?
Now, imagine that it has come down to the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The team that these men cheer for is down by two points. They are on the 20 yard line. They line up for a field goal. The crowd holds its breath. The ball is snapped. 3…2…1. The kick is away. Time runs out. FIELDGOAL!!! Victory by one point in the final second!
Now, you look to the right. What does the painted man do? Of course, you can predict that, based on his behavior to this point, he goes absolutely ballistic and starts high-fiving and hugging everyone within a five person radius.
Look at the guy on the left. He bends over, clenches his fist, and whispers a strong, but silent, “Yes!”
Which guy loved their team more? Is it fair to say that the painted man was a better fan because he was flamboyant and extremely expressive about his passion? No. The man on the left was equally passionate, but drastically different in his expression of that passion.
So it is with God. The HOW we connect with him is greatly determined by the HOW we are wired in our personality.
Tomorrow we will look at the various, practical ways that people with different personalities can connect with God and experience him authentically.
Today we are going to look at one thing that is universal for all followers of Jesus. When we are on a DATE with God, he wants us to talk to him as well as listen. Like a good husband with his wife, or a good Dad with his children, he simply takes pleasure in hearing our voice and seeing that we trust him enough to pour out our hearts to him.
Learning How to Talk to God -- Prayer
There are many different types of prayers. All of them are necessary for us to have good, honest, and well-balanced communication with God. The following list describes the different kinds of prayer.

 Praise (telling God how wonderful and powerful He is)
 Thanksgiving (Thanking God for all the ways He has helped us)
 Confession (Admitting our sins and failures to God and asking to be forgiven)
 Intercession (Praying for other people who are in need of God’s strength and help)
 Supplication (Asking God to supply our needs)

Read the following verses and identify which type of prayer is being used.

Psalms 38:18

Hebrews 13:15

Luke 11:3

Ephesians 5:20

James 5:16.

Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13.
In which verses does He talk to God about God?

With what kind of attitude does He speak to God?

In which verses does He speak to God about requests He has?

What kind of attitude does He display in the kinds of requests He makes?

How does this model of prayer affect the way you order your prayers?

The Apostle Paul also gave us great examples of prayer. His prayers were prayers of intercession (praying for other people). Read Ephesians 3:14-21 and make a list of things that you could pray for people you know.

Take a moment right now and use these requests to pray for someone you know. Write down the name of the persons(s) for whom you prayed.

Have you been using a prayer list? A list can help you remember things you might otherwise forget to pray about. It can include:
 Your family
 Your non-Christian friends and acquaintances
 Your pastor and church
 Missionaries and Christian workers you know
 Those who oppose you
 Governmental authorities
 Your personal needs

Friday
Loving God with Your Spirit -- part 2
Yesterday we discussed how different people will respond differently when faced with the same situation. These differences come from our prewired personality types.
Sadly, many Christians can fall into the trap of Spiritual Comparison. One scenario may look like this; a person walks into a public worship gathering, we’ll call her Pam. As the music begins Pam notices a woman across the isle that is, very noticeably, getting caught up in the music. This woman begins to shake and to cry, and even to speak in tongues. Pam reflects on the fact that the music did nothing for her and she didn’t feel any closer to God than when she started. Pam begins to question whether she really loves God because she did not respond to the music service in the same way that the other woman did.
Ironically, Pam is a volunteer at the Women’s Resource Center. She doesn’t counsel people, she simply donates her cleaning services to the facility and helps organize the donations that are brought in. After an afternoon of cleaning and organizing, she steps back and feels very fulfilled that she had done a good job. What she doesn’t realize is that her act of service was every bit as much an authentic expression of experiencing God’s presence as the weeping woman in the music service.
Today our whole study is based on one simple verse: Colossians 3:17. According to this verse, in what spheres of life does God desire to penetrate?