Aligning Our Hearts: Embracing God's Truth
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of "Heart Logic" as part of our ongoing series, "Unhindered." This series is designed to help us release the burdens and traumas that hinder our spiritual growth and to allow God to reshape our hearts. We explored how our hearts are often shaped by past pain and trauma, leading to faulty heart logic that distorts our perception of God, ourselves, others, and life itself. This faulty logic causes us to live by "little T truths" and adopt "little S strategies," resulting in undesired outcomes like insecurity, diminished trust, and shallow faith.
We discussed the importance of aligning our hearts with God's truth, which involves answering four fundamental questions: Is God good? Am I good? Are other people good? Is life good? The answers to these questions either cement the foundation of our faith or compete against it. Healthy heart logic says "yes" to all these questions, but many of us struggle to do so because of past traumas and disappointments.
We also examined the concept of "double vision," which allows us to see both our circumstances and God's promises simultaneously. This helps us to live by faith, even when our experiences seem to contradict God's truth. We acknowledged that while there are exceptions to the goodness we see in God, ourselves, others, and life, these exceptions should not change our foundational belief in God's goodness.
Finally, we were reminded of God's promises and presence, especially through the words of Isaiah 43, which assure us that God is with us in our struggles and will not abandon us. We concluded with a prayer asking God to help us unhinder our faith and align our hearts with His truth.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Impact of Past Trauma on Heart Logic: Our hearts are often shaped by past pain and trauma, leading to faulty heart logic that distorts our perception of God, ourselves, others, and life. This faulty logic causes us to live by "little T truths" and adopt "little S strategies," resulting in undesired outcomes like insecurity and shallow faith. Recognizing and addressing these sore spots is crucial for spiritual growth. [04:26]
2. The Four Fundamental Questions: Answering the questions "Is God good?", "Am I good?", "Are other people good?", and "Is life good?" with a confident "yes" is essential for a strong foundation of faith. These questions either cement our faith or compete against it. Healthy heart logic aligns with God's truth, but many struggle due to past traumas and disappointments. [08:22]
3. Double Vision: Developing spiritual double vision allows us to see both our circumstances and God's promises simultaneously. This helps us live by faith, even when our experiences seem to contradict God's truth. Ignoring either our experiences or God's truth leads to either hopelessness or denial. [28:31]
4. The Role of Exceptions: While there are exceptions to the goodness we see in God, ourselves, others, and life, these exceptions should not change our foundational belief in God's goodness. Acknowledging exceptions without letting them alter our core beliefs helps us maintain a healthy heart logic. [21:34]
5. God's Promises and Presence: Isaiah 43 reminds us that God is with us in our struggles and will not abandon us. His presence and promises provide the security we need to navigate life's challenges. Trusting in God's goodness, even amid difficulties, helps us live a life of faith and hope. [39:20]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:50] - Introduction to "Unhindered" Series
[03:01] - The Concept of Heart Logic
[04:26] - Impact of Past Trauma
[05:49] - Faulty Heart Logic and Little T Truths
[06:59] - Healthy Heart Logic and Big T Truths
[08:22] - Four Fundamental Questions
[09:55] - Answering the Questions
[11:25] - Struggles with Heart Logic
[12:55] - Heart Logic vs. Head Logic
[14:23] - Influence of Experiences
[15:47] - Personal Struggles with Heart Logic
[17:11] - Dealing with Exceptions
[19:07] - God's Unchanging Goodness
[20:22] - Exceptions in Life
[21:34] - Affirmative Starting Place
[22:16] - Impact of Starting with No
[24:21] - Relying on Intuition and Experience
[25:43] - Faith and Sight
[27:10] - Living by Faith
[28:31] - Developing Double Vision
[29:56] - Jesus' Hard Truths
[31:30] - Acknowledging Both Experience and Truth
[34:27] - Building Bedrock Security
[35:52] - Naked Trust and God's Promises
[37:36] - Survey on U.S. Mental Health
[38:26] - Comparison to Israel
[39:20] - Isaiah 43: God's Promises
[40:15] - God's Presence in Our Struggles
[41:25] - Radical Recalibration
[42:12] - Turning Hearts Back to God
[42:49] - Prayer for Unhindered Faith
[43:53] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 43:1-2, 5: "But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze... Do not be afraid, for I am with you.'"
2. Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
3. 1 John 4:7-10: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 43:1-2, 5, what promises does God make to His people in times of trouble?
2. How does Jeremiah 17:9 describe the human heart, and what implications does this have for our understanding of "heart logic"?
3. In 1 John 4:7-10, how is God's love demonstrated to us, and what does this passage say about the nature of God?
4. What are the four fundamental questions discussed in the sermon that shape our heart logic? [08:22]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How can the promises in Isaiah 43:1-2, 5 provide comfort and assurance when facing personal traumas and challenges? [39:20]
2. What does it mean to have a "deceitful" heart according to Jeremiah 17:9, and how does this affect our perception of truth and reality? [12:55]
3. How does understanding that "God is love" from 1 John 4:7-10 help us answer the question, "Is God good?" [19:07]
4. Why is it important to answer the four fundamental questions ("Is God good?", "Am I good?", "Are other people good?", "Is life good?") with a confident "yes" for a strong foundation of faith? [09:55]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a past trauma or disappointment that has shaped your heart logic. How has it affected your perception of God, yourself, others, and life? What steps can you take to begin aligning your heart with God's truth? [04:26]
2. When you face difficult circumstances, how can you develop "double vision" to see both your situation and God's promises simultaneously? Share a recent experience where this perspective could have helped. [28:31]
3. Think about a time when you struggled to believe in the goodness of God, yourself, others, or life. What exceptions were you focusing on, and how can you shift your starting place to a confident "yes"? [21:34]
4. How can the promises in Isaiah 43:1-2, 5 help you navigate a current struggle or fear? What specific promise from this passage can you hold onto this week? [39:20]
5. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's love and goodness as described in 1 John 4:7-10 during times of doubt or hardship? [19:07]
6. How can you support someone in your life who is struggling with their heart logic due to past traumas? What practical steps can you take to help them see God's truth and promises? [31:30]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to trust God's goodness more fully. What action can you take this week to demonstrate that trust? [35:52]
Devotional
Day 1: The Impact of Past Trauma on Heart Logic
Our hearts are often shaped by past pain and trauma, leading to faulty heart logic that distorts our perception of God, ourselves, others, and life. This faulty logic causes us to live by "little T truths" and adopt "little S strategies," resulting in undesired outcomes like insecurity and shallow faith. Recognizing and addressing these sore spots is crucial for spiritual growth. When we allow past traumas to dictate our heart logic, we end up with a skewed view of reality that hinders our spiritual journey. It is essential to confront these past pains and invite God into those areas for healing and transformation. [04:26]
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"
Reflection: Think of a past trauma or pain that still affects your perception of God, yourself, or others. How can you invite God into that area for healing today?
Day 2: The Four Fundamental Questions
Answering the questions "Is God good?", "Am I good?", "Are other people good?", and "Is life good?" with a confident "yes" is essential for a strong foundation of faith. These questions either cement our faith or compete against it. Healthy heart logic aligns with God's truth, but many struggle due to past traumas and disappointments. When we answer these questions affirmatively, we build a robust faith that can withstand life's challenges. However, past experiences often make it difficult to see the goodness in God, ourselves, others, and life. It is crucial to realign our hearts with God's truth to overcome these struggles. [08:22]
Psalm 34:8 (ESV): "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"
Reflection: Reflect on your answers to the four fundamental questions. Which one do you struggle with the most, and how can you seek God's truth to change your perspective?
Day 3: Double Vision
Developing spiritual double vision allows us to see both our circumstances and God's promises simultaneously. This helps us live by faith, even when our experiences seem to contradict God's truth. Ignoring either our experiences or God's truth leads to either hopelessness or denial. By embracing both, we can navigate life's challenges with a balanced perspective. Double vision enables us to hold onto God's promises while acknowledging the reality of our circumstances, leading to a more resilient and hopeful faith. [28:31]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you practice double vision by acknowledging the reality of your situation while holding onto God's promises?
Day 4: The Role of Exceptions
While there are exceptions to the goodness we see in God, ourselves, others, and life, these exceptions should not change our foundational belief in God's goodness. Acknowledging exceptions without letting them alter our core beliefs helps us maintain a healthy heart logic. It is important to recognize that exceptions are part of life, but they do not define the overall truth of God's goodness. By keeping our focus on God's unchanging nature, we can navigate through exceptions without losing our faith. [21:34]
James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Reflection: Identify an exception in your life that challenges your belief in God's goodness. How can you reaffirm your faith in God's unchanging nature despite this exception?
Day 5: God's Promises and Presence
Isaiah 43 reminds us that God is with us in our struggles and will not abandon us. His presence and promises provide the security we need to navigate life's challenges. Trusting in God's goodness, even amid difficulties, helps us live a life of faith and hope. When we hold onto God's promises and remember His constant presence, we can face any challenge with confidence and peace. God's unwavering commitment to us is a source of strength and encouragement in our spiritual journey. [39:20]
Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent struggle you have faced. How did you experience God's presence and promises during that time? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness in future challenges?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "In life, our heart gets shaped by something. Now, as Christians, we would all love to say that only God can shape our hearts. He's the only one that has control. He can shape our hearts. And the truth is God is in the heart shaping business. And aren't we glad for that? But we have to be honest as well. And we have to say that even though we would love for only God to have shaped our hearts, we have all been through pain. We have all been through pain and trials and tribulations and trouble and suffering in this life that has caused the world to also shape our hearts." (33 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we get the idea of giving those things over to God and we start to see those sore spots differently and live from a place of healing, then we have healthy heart logic. And that means, of course, that we're seeing the world the correct way. We're not seeing it through the lens of our pain and we're not using it as a filter. And so with that healthy heart logic, we start to live by not little t but big t truth, real truth." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The answers we give to these four basic questions either cement the foundation of our faith or they compete against it. That's true of these four questions. And let me show you why. Doctors Walker and Byers teach us that we answer the heart logic questions, and when we do that, all of us answer them. We really only have three options. You only have three options when you answer these questions, and here are the three options. First, we can just say yes. Unequivocally, yes. We see goodness the way God does, and that means our heart is aligned with him and aligned with his truth." (38 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, the deepest truths of life are the eternal things that we cannot readily see. We're called to live by faith. We're called to live by the unseen, the truth that stands as real and true and trustworthy, listen, even when our experience doesn't match it." (19 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "To be healthy and primed for faith, your heart's starting place needs to be, yes, God is good all the time, and I'm good even though I'm flawed, and there is goodness in humanity, and life is good even though it's difficult. Now, friends, with that affirmative starting place, we can embrace the exceptions as exceptions." (22 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When our hearts have a sore spot in them, the answers to one or more of the heart logic questions will likely be no. And here's the thing we need to hear again. Dr. Charity Byers says it like this. With any no, we lose capacity to experience and see things the way God intends, and that compromises a deep piece of security God intends for us to have. Our faith is hindered by our heart logic." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Focusing on experience without acknowledging God's truth leaves us helpless and hopeless. Listen, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I just want to say to you that that big problem that you've been struggling with, that life trauma that you had to deal with, that there is no answer in this life for that. You're just, you're not able to bring that experience into contact with God's truth. I just want to say to you today there are no answers, there is no real hope apart from God. I mean, that's the only place where you'll find hope and help." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Security is found in God, not in ourselves. Security is found in God, not in our performance, not in other people, not in our circumstances, right? Security simply means you rest assured in every situation, right? Your instincts tell you that you're gonna be okay no matter what. They tell you God's got you and you're gonna be safe." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, you have his presence. And he offers his promises as a gift given to you by a good God. Now, you would think we would get that. You would think we would get it, living in the blessed nation that we live in, right? But I am surprised how much we don't. U.S. News and World Report has done this large multi-nation survey. About 180 nations of the world have surveyed. And the U.S., you probably won't be surprised when I give you these, U.S. ranks number one. Number one in economic power. We rank number one in military power. We have the best university. Number one, number one. We do that, right? We're number one. But the same survey also says that the United States ranks number three in most depressed people." (51 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So the words that Isaiah spoke to the people of God back then are so applicable for us today. In fact, I'm going to read them to you from Isaiah 43. And I want you, just give me that inch, give me that minute or two, right? Lean into faith for a second. Let this settle deeply in your heart as I'm reading this passage. But now, this is what the Lord says. He who created you, he who formed you, do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid, for I am with you." (53 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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