Bette's Box of Blessings - A Pure, Open Heart

In today’s world of social media and 24/7 news, we have more things competing for our attention than ever before.  We have the urgent pulling us away from the important.  We have molehills turning into mountains.  We have one crisis after another that demands our attention…even though we may not have any influence over the outcome.

It seems that every decision we make requires discernment.  The Oxford Dictionary defines discernment as the ability to judge well.  Merriam-Webster says it’s the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.  I like to think of it as being similar to wisdom.  That’s why I choose Colossians 1:9 as this month’s theme verse:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

Paul’s words to the Colossians is just how I pray for you!  I pray that God will fill you with the knowledge of His will, through spiritual wisdom and understanding.  So, this month’s Box of Blessings is focused on prayer as a path to discernment.  Let’s take a look at the blessings in this month’s Box…

From global tragedies to interpersonal conflict, it can feel like the only choice you have is to hunker down and try to survive.  In All That’s Good, Hannah Anderson invites you to embrace discernment as part of God’s work of redemption.  By learning to see the world as He sees it – in all its brokenness and beauty – you’ll learn to navigate it with confidence and hope.  “Discernment does not change the challenges we face; it changes our ability to face them.”  That is exactly why Solomon requested from God the ability to know between good and evil.  He asked for discernment.

More than once I’ve heard people say, “what God really wants is your heart!”  There was a time when I heard that I would think, “I know what’s in my heart…God can’t want that!”

Then one morning during my quiet time, God brought me to Psalm 51:10 (which I’ve selected as our theme verse for this month’s Box of Blessings):

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

As I started to consistently pray this prayer, I found much more confidence and joy in other verses.  Such as Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  And of course, the words of Jesus Himself from His sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God”.  (Matthew 5:8)

This month’s Box of Blessings is aimed at helping you not only have a pure heart, but also an open heart.  You’ll see this as we look through the contents of this month’s Box of Blessings:

Okay, so we start by praying for a pure heart.  Have you ever wondered what a pure heart would look like and how we can develop one?  You’re going to love this!  I was very captivated by the lyrics of the song, Breathing Room on the CD titled, Wild Heart:

I think the beautiful journal, When Jesus Speaks to an Anxious Heart, really encourages us to listen closely for His still, small voice.  Jesus is speaking to our hearts. As we envelop our souls in the assuring words of the Savior, He longs for us to hear His special message… if only we will open our hearts.

Also, the devotional titled Unafraid, offers us more than 120 devotional readings and inspiring prayers for a heart filled with peace and calm that only God can provide.

When we open our hearts to our Savior as He speaks to us, we will come away feeling perfectly loved and blessed!  What a perfect gift either of these books would be with the spatula set that declares how we are blessed beyond measure!

I think it would be perfect in the matching gift bag that proclaims the truth that Paul declared in his first letter to the people of Corinth when he wrote, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love – but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

There are six high quality Christian greeting cards in this box and I want to leave you with a quote from a very sweet thank you card that someone would be thrilled to receive.

Life seems kind of busy for so many folks these days…

When someone takes the time to care, we’re pleasantly amazed.

Just wanted you to know that what you did was very kind…

You made my day, reminding me, God’s love’s not hard to find.

Open your heart and listen for the still small voice of God.  Breathe in every word that He has spoken, and He will fill your heart with the peace and calm that only He can provide.