Elevating Hearts: Finding Divine Presence in Everyday Life

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explore the profound invitation to "lift up your hearts," a phrase deeply rooted in ancient liturgy and scripture. This call to elevate our spirits is not just a ritualistic expression but a transformative practice that aligns our inner being with the divine presence. The imagery of sunflowers, which naturally orient themselves towards the sun, serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual journey. Just as these flowers seek the sun's light and warmth, we are invited to direct our hearts and minds towards God, embracing His presence and glory in our lives.

The story of Vincent van Gogh, a man who did not receive the life story he initially desired, further illustrates this theme. Despite his struggles and failures, van Gogh's life and work became a testament to the beauty and transcendence found in the ordinary. His art, inspired by the divine, reveals the glory of God in creation, urging us to see the sacred in the everyday. Van Gogh's journey reminds us that even when our plans falter, God's purpose can still unfold in unexpected and beautiful ways.

We are encouraged to seek the glory of God in all aspects of life, from the natural world to human interactions. This pursuit is not about achieving perfection but about recognizing and celebrating the divine presence in our midst. By lifting our hearts, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and grace, allowing it to shape our stories in ways we might never have imagined.

Key Takeaways:

1. Lift Up Your Hearts: The call to lift our hearts is an invitation to align our spirits with God's presence, elevating our thoughts and perceptions to a higher plane. This practice helps us transcend the mundane and connect with the divine, fostering a deeper spiritual awareness. [01:39]

2. Sunflowers as Spiritual Metaphors: Like sunflowers that seek the sun, we are encouraged to orient our lives towards God, drawing warmth and energy from His presence. This alignment not only enriches our spiritual lives but also enhances our ability to impact the world positively. [02:33]

3. Vincent van Gogh's Journey: Van Gogh's life, marked by unmet expectations and struggles, illustrates how God's purpose can manifest in unexpected ways. His art, inspired by the divine, challenges us to find beauty and transcendence in the ordinary, reminding us that our stories are part of a greater narrative. [04:50]

4. Finding God's Glory in Creation: We are called to seek and recognize God's glory in the world around us, from the beauty of nature to the expressions of love and kindness in human interactions. This pursuit deepens our connection with God and enriches our spiritual journey. [07:43]

5. Embracing God's Provision: Jesus' teaching about the flowers of the field reassures us of God's care and provision. Even when life doesn't unfold as we expect, we can trust that God will clothe us in His glory, guiding us towards His purpose for our lives. [08:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:55] - The Invitation to Lift Up Your Hearts
- [01:24] - Scriptural Foundations
- [01:54] - Sunflowers and Spiritual Orientation
- [02:33] - The Wisdom of Facing East
- [03:15] - Sunflowers in Myth and Art
- [04:01] - Vincent van Gogh's Story
- [05:06] - Van Gogh's Spiritual Insights
- [06:10] - Seeing the Divine in Creation
- [07:23] - The Glory of God in Everyday Life
- [08:15] - Jesus' Teaching on God's Provision
- [09:22] - Community and Connection
- [10:03] - Invitation to Share Your Story

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Lamentations 3:41 - "Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven."
2. Matthew 6:28-30 - "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the phrase "lift up your hearts" mean in the context of ancient liturgy and scripture? How is it used in the book of Lamentations? [01:24]

2. How do sunflowers serve as a metaphor for our spiritual journey according to the sermon? What is their natural behavior that inspires this metaphor? [02:06]

3. What were some of the struggles and unmet expectations in Vincent van Gogh's life as mentioned in the sermon? How did these experiences influence his art? [04:01]

4. How does Jesus' teaching about the flowers of the field relate to the theme of God's provision and care in the sermon? [08:32]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the practice of "lifting up our hearts" help us align our spirits with God's presence and transcend the mundane aspects of life? [01:39]

2. In what ways can orienting our lives towards God, like sunflowers facing the sun, enrich our spiritual lives and impact the world positively? [02:33]

3. How does Vincent van Gogh's journey illustrate the idea that God's purpose can manifest in unexpected ways, even when our personal plans falter? [04:50]

4. What does it mean to find God's glory in creation and human interactions, and how can this pursuit deepen our connection with God? [07:43]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from God's presence. What practical steps can you take to "lift up your heart" and realign your spirit with God this week? [01:39]

2. Consider the metaphor of sunflowers orienting towards the sun. What are some daily practices you can adopt to ensure your life is oriented towards God? [02:33]

3. Vincent van Gogh found beauty and transcendence in the ordinary. How can you train yourself to see the sacred in everyday life, especially in moments of struggle or disappointment? [04:50]

4. Jesus spoke about the flowers of the field and God's provision. How can this teaching help you trust in God's care during uncertain times in your life? [08:32]

5. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to see God's glory. What specific actions can you take to become more aware of His presence in that area? [07:43]

6. Think of a recent interaction where you failed to recognize the divine presence in another person. How can you approach similar interactions differently in the future to celebrate God's glory in others? [07:59]

7. How can you share your personal story of faith or spiritual growth with others to encourage them to seek God's glory in their own lives? [09:35]

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning Our Spirits with the Divine
The call to "lift up your hearts" is an invitation to elevate our spirits and align our inner being with God's presence. This practice is not merely a ritualistic expression but a transformative journey that helps us transcend the mundane and connect with the divine. By lifting our hearts, we open ourselves to a higher plane of spiritual awareness, allowing God's love and grace to shape our thoughts and perceptions. This alignment fosters a deeper connection with God, enabling us to experience His presence in our daily lives. [01:39]

Psalm 25:1-2 (ESV): "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel disconnected from God? How can you intentionally lift your heart to Him today in that area?


Day 2: Orienting Our Lives Towards God
Sunflowers naturally orient themselves towards the sun, drawing warmth and energy from its light. Similarly, we are encouraged to direct our lives towards God, seeking His presence and glory. This spiritual orientation enriches our lives, enabling us to draw strength and inspiration from God. By aligning ourselves with His presence, we not only enhance our spiritual journey but also increase our capacity to positively impact the world around us. [02:33]

Isaiah 60:19 (ESV): "The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."

Reflection: In what ways can you reorient your daily routine to focus more on God's presence and guidance?


Day 3: Finding Beauty in the Ordinary
Vincent van Gogh's life, marked by unmet expectations and struggles, illustrates how God's purpose can manifest in unexpected ways. Despite his challenges, van Gogh's art became a testament to the beauty and transcendence found in the ordinary. His work, inspired by the divine, challenges us to see the sacred in everyday life. This perspective encourages us to recognize that our stories are part of a greater narrative, where God's purpose unfolds in ways we might not anticipate. [04:50]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Reflection: Think of a recent disappointment or unmet expectation. How might God be using this situation to reveal His beauty and purpose in your life?


Day 4: Recognizing God's Glory in Creation
We are called to seek and recognize God's glory in the world around us, from the beauty of nature to the expressions of love and kindness in human interactions. This pursuit deepens our connection with God and enriches our spiritual journey. By acknowledging His presence in creation, we cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude, allowing us to experience the divine in our everyday lives. [07:43]

Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Reflection: Take a moment to observe your surroundings today. What aspects of creation reveal God's glory to you, and how can you express gratitude for them?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Provision
Jesus' teaching about the flowers of the field reassures us of God's care and provision. Even when life doesn't unfold as we expect, we can trust that God will clothe us in His glory, guiding us towards His purpose for our lives. This trust in God's provision allows us to embrace His love and grace, knowing that He is always working for our good, even in the midst of uncertainty. [08:32]

Matthew 6:28-30 (ESV): "And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust in God's provision? How can you surrender this area to Him today, trusting in His care and guidance?

Quotes


"was but I don't start there I start with words that I love um the Latin phrase is Corda lift up your hearts and it's a phrase that's used in scripture it's the invitation for today it's uh ancient liturgy in the early centuries of the church Augustine wrote about this phrase quite often and when the people would Gather in the morning a priest would say the Lord be with you and the people respond and also with you and then lift up your hearts and then we will lift them up indeed it is right and good for us to do so." [00:38:04]

"sunflowers uh are actually created to face the Sun and when they are young their little heads will actually track the Suns all through the day just always be aware of and seeking to live in the presence of the sun right now as they get a little bit more mature they face the East they face the East so that when the sun comes up they will be ready to see it cers some cour lift up your hearts folks who study this sort of thing say actually when they're facing the East they gain more warmth and more energy and they attract more bees and they pollinate and they reproduce more effectively." [00:127:92]

"Vincent Van go was actually the Son and the grandson of Dutch reformed ministers and he planned to go that Direction with his life he was also going to become a pastor they sought to serve the poor to be the hands and feet of Jesus and so he was going to do that but he actually flunked out he did not pass a seminary examination so he was rejected for that he became a kind of a missionary for a Time apparently to Belgium coal miners that lived a very difficult life uh and he lived on almost nothing gave away all of his possessions but could be kind of a uh difficult person uh kind of ragged and so he was actually fired from that job as well and he did not get the story he wanted." [00:241:28]

"he did not get the story he wanted of course he became a painter and what a good thing it is that he did not get to do what he wanted to do so that the world could be blessed by uh a Transcendent gift of his uh even though it was often very painful to him and uh as you might know he struggled with um emotional health issues he was institutionalized several times with alcoholism he was in a Christian Asylum not long before he died uh his faith is somewhat controversial but folks who have read through a lot of his letters talk about um how deeply it shaped him and shaped his work." [00:290:08]

"Peter leghart who has an article about him in first times and he writes this about uh van go that he found inspiration in scriptures lofty ideas Christ haunted I love that phrase Christ haunted s s some cor lift up your hearts Christ haunted he regarded Jesus as a greatest artti greater artist than any other because his medium was not marble clay or color but living flesh every corner of creation pulses with divinity flowers that look up to the sun he wrote I think sometimes I see something deeper more infinite more eternal than the ocean and the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning." [00:334:24]

"all nature seems to speak I do not understand why everyone does not see and feel it nature or God does it for everyone who has eyes and ears and a heart to understand and then uh he wrote to his brother Theo of his desire to paint men and women with that something of the Eternal which the used to symbolize and for Van go of course often it was that color yellow which we seek to convey by the actual Radiance and vibration of our coloring van go did not reject the supernatural he found it in nature what Terror there is in his paintings is the sublime Terror evoked by The Uncanny beauty of what scripture identifies as the glory of God." [00:390:919]

"look for the glory of God hunger for the glory of God be curious about the glory of God identify see it in a field of sunflowers in the dogs which are out today and I'm waiting for them to come at any moment in the thoughts that occur to your own heart in the beauty of the earth and the rising in the setting of The Sun most of all in the people that you see in the eyes of a little baby in the eyes of a stranger in the voice of a friend the glory of God is all around us sers some core to lift up your heart today." [00:458:80]

"wherever you have messed up wherever you have failed wherever there is sin that would weigh you down do not be weighed down today I charge you this day lift up your heart Jesus put it like this uh I wouldn't worry about the day look at the flowers of the field they neither toil nor spin yet I tell you Solomon in all of his glory was not a raid like one of these if that's how God clothes the grass of the field that is here today and gone tomorrow will he not much more clothe you oh you of little faith he will clothe you in the glory of God." [00:491:639]

"you never know when you don't get the story the position the job the future that you thought you were going to get the contribution that God has yet in store for you lift up your heart." [00:540:680]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?