Tools for the Heart (pt3)

Active Willingness: If you are like most people, you’ve discovered that it’s not enough to simply desire the divine life, nor is it enough to simply change your thinking about yourself and about the divine life. Your heart cannot grow effectively bigger, your spirituality cannot grow deeper, unless you choose to act out the divine life. There must be active willingness. Action brings life to our desires and thoughts. And in an ever-strengthening cycle, it reinforces them. Without a corresponding change of behavior, our desires and thoughts remain inside us and ultimately fizzle out. So this, too, is a profound tool for the soul and heart.

Here’s how Jesus put it: “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who listens and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6:47-49, NLT)

Acting in harmony with the divine life, choosing to walk through life within the Energy and Spirit of God, manifesting the qualities of a godly life, help build the strong foundation that stands firm. It’s one thing to say what we think is important. It’s another thing to live it out. The truth is, we are most strong and fulfilled when we’re living in alignment with our beliefs and values.

So what are some behaviors you can practice acting out that will strengthen and build your desire and thoughts of the divine life? What are actions you can take to deepen your compassion and help you live a more centered, peaceful life? Fortunately, you don’t have to guess. There have been spiritual practices used as regular disciplines to engage the spirit, heart and body more deeply for centuries by people serious about shaping the divine life within their lives.