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God’s place in my heart
God’s place in my heart
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”
— 1 John 5:21 (NLT)
What does it mean for something to take God’s place in my heart?
Jesus gave us some insight in Matthew 22:37 (CSB) when He restated the command from Deuteronomy 6:5:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
God wants our hearts to be filled with Him — His presence, His peace, His love, His joy – in other words, filled with Him.
But the truth is, our hearts can be filled with many other things.
They can be full of bitterness, anger, jealousy, greed, or pride.
Or full of ourselves — our own desires, ambitions, and distractions.
Or, by His grace, our hearts can be full of God — full of His love, peace, and joy.
In some Bible translations, 1 John 5:21 says, “Keep yourselves from idols.”
We may think, I don’t have idols — I don’t bow down to statues!
But if an idol is anything that takes God’s place in our hearts, then the definition suddenly becomes much broader.
An idol can be anything that occupies the space in our hearts meant for God.
It could be something that looks good — even wonderful things like relationships, hobbies, work, or ministry. Or maybe something more subtle, like our phones, entertainment, or even comfort habits.
How do we know when something has taken God’s place in our hearts?
Ask yourself:
Do I go to this thing for what God wants to provide for me?When I’m stressed or weary, where do I turn first for comfort or peace?
Do I pour another cup of coffee, reach for chocolate, scroll my phone, or distract myself with something else — before I pray?
These things aren’t necessarily bad on their own. But when they become what we turn to instead of God, they quietly begin to take His place. That’s when they become idols.
Wondering if something’s an idol?
Try setting it aside for a few days.
If that feels nearly impossible — if it stirs restlessness or anxiety — it may have too much of your heart.
What’s the next step?
When you feel that pull toward something else for comfort or escape — pause.
Take a breath. Talk to God instead. Tell Him what’s weighing on you. Ask Him to fill that space with His peace.
The word repent simply means to turn around.
Turn from what’s been stealing your attention and turn back to Him.
Make room for God again.
Take a few quiet minutes in the morning, a moment at lunch, or a peaceful time before bed to simply be with Him.
Give Him His rightful place — the center of your heart.
Dead or Alive?
Dead or Alive?
I’m sitting beside a quiet creek on this crisp October morning, watching the leaves drift down from the trees and land softly on the water’s surface. The breeze stirs them, and they begin to float downstream—carried by the current, with no effort of their own.
Every so often, I notice a flicker beneath the clear water—a fish darting upstream or a little crawdad moving against the flow. While the dead leaves are swept along effortlessly, these living creatures push and fight against the current. Why? They have life. They have direction.
It makes me think: in our own lives, are we alive and moving with purpose? Or have we grown weary and started drifting—just floating along with whatever current our lives provide? It’s easy to be carried away by popular thought, pressures, or the chaos of daily life.
But Jesus brings life.
If you’ve been feeling pushed around by fear, anxiety, or the chaos around or inside you, it might be time to ask Him to breathe life back into you—to awaken your desire to stand firm and swim against the current.
Romans 12:2 (Phillips Translation) says:
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within.”
There are strong currents that want to shape us, pull us, and push us downstream. But God gives new life—He gives us the strength and desire to resist and move in His direction.
So how do we start?
First, realize if you’ve been drifting. Acknowledge that you’ve been letting other forces carry you away. Then turn around—that’s what repentance means. It’s choosing to go a different way.
Ephesians 6:13 tells us to stand with all kinds of fighting gear on. That means reawakening the muscles of faith that may have grown weak. Pray. Seek God’s help. Gather with other believers. Read and meditate on His Words. Ask for His grace and strength to take small steps forward.
As you do, you’ll find that the more you push against the current, the stronger you become. Because you’re no longer drifting—you’re alive.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
— Psalm 46:1
Read that passage slowly. Let each word sink in.
GOD —
the mighty, powerful, just, loving, and kind Creator — is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is our REFUGE —
our safe place. The place we run to when life hits hard. He’s where we hide when the storm rages, and the One who holds us steady when everything feels uncertain.
God is our refuge and STRENGTH —
the mighty One who gives us power when we’ve reached the end of ourselves. He’s the One who lifts us up so we can run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. He is our strength — a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength, a VERY…
In Hebrew, this word acts like an exclamation point — an intensifier. Strong’s describes it with words like diligently, especially, exceedingly, greatly, louder and louder. God isn’t just present — He is very present — fully engaged, completely aware, and actively working on our behalf.
God is our refuge and strength, a very PRESENT…
He’s not far away. Not apathetic. Not too busy. He’s right here — near to the brokenhearted, walking beside us in every trial.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP…
The Hebrew word for “help” means assistance, support, or aid. In Scripture, it’s almost always used of God helping His people. But sometimes it’s used to show when His people turned elsewhere for help — to human alliances or other sources — instead of to Him. God saw that as a betrayal of trust.
So when trouble comes, where do we turn first?
To our insight? Our ideas? The internet? AI? Other people?
These can all be resources, but they are not the Source. God is our true help — and He may use these things, but the strength and wisdom come from Him alone.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in TROUBLE.
This Hebrew word carries the meanings of adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, and tribulation.
When you face adversity, affliction, or distress — God wants you to come to Him first.
Yes, we live in an age overflowing with information and resources. That can be a blessing, but it can also be a distraction. God uses many tools to bring help, but He alone is the Source of life and strength.
So today, pause and ask yourself:
What are you facing that you need to go to God about?
He is near. He is strong. He is your refuge and your help — right now, in whatever you’re walking through.
What Do I Do When I Can’t Stop Crying?
What do I do when can’t I stop crying after I’ve prayed?
Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who plant with tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return to harvest.”
I’ve often wondered—why do they weep? Why would someone cry as they plant?
It’s because there has been a real loss. Real regrets. This psalm was written after the exile, when God’s people returned to a broken Jerusalem. Their beloved city was in ruins. The temple—the place where they had once met with God—lay in rubble. The grief was deep, and the pain was real.
Sometimes loss comes into our lives the same way. Maybe it’s because of our own choices, or maybe it’s because of someone else’s actions. Either way, the tears are real. And when the grief feels overwhelming, we ask: What do I do next?
The psalmist gives us the answer: we plant. Even through the tears, we plant.
We plant seeds of surrender: Lord, I am Yours. Even when I don’t understand, I choose to belong to You.
We plant seeds of faith: Lord, You love me. You see me. You tenderly care for me. Show me the promise from Your Word that I can hold onto today.
And we plant seeds of love: Lord, open my eyes to someone who needs encouragement, prayer, or kindness. Use me to help draw them closer to You.
Then go and give encouragement, pray for someone, give a gift, bake something for someone – just give.
Planting in tears is not easy. But Scripture assures us that those very seeds—watered by our grief—will one day bring forth a harvest of joy.
So today, wherever you are, whatever you’re feeling—plant. Even if the tears fall as you do, keep planting. For God promises that joy is coming.
Here’s something to consider as you go about your day:
Are you feeling sad? What are you feeling sad about?
Ask God what seeds you can sow as you walk through this season.
Why Isn’t Anything Happening?
Why isn’t anything happening?
“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
—Psalm 126:5–6
Have you ever prayed, obeyed, planted the right “seeds,” and then asked: Why isn’t anything happening?
Waiting for growth is one of the hardest parts of faith. Impatience makes us want to dig up the seed to check on it, or quit watering and tending it because “nothing is working.” But true patience is different. Patience means letting go of control and trusting that growth is happening beneath the surface—even when we can’t see it.
When you plant a seed in the ground, you don’t control how fast it sprouts. You water, you give it sunlight, and then you wait. Apple trees can take up to seven years before they bear fruit. Blueberries can take four. Growth takes time. But, as we plant seeds, we follow the instructions on the seed packet and then will wait. This is trust and faith in the supplier of the seeds. In the same way, we can trust God, the creator of all with our seeds. We listen and follow His instructions.
Our spiritual life works the same way. We plant seeds of faith, obedience, love, and generosity—and then we wait, trusting God to bring the harvest. Hebrews 6:12 reminds us to imitate those who “through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
In The Princess Bride, the old man says, “If you rush a miracle, you get rotten miracles.” The same is true of the work God is doing in us. Rushing ruins the fruit. But waiting in faith brings a harvest of joy.
So keep planting, even through tears. Keep watering with prayer and feeding your spirit with God’s Word. And trust Him. The harvest will come—in His time.
Prayer: Lord, help me trust You in the waiting. Teach me patience. Remind me that growth is happening even when I can’t see it. I place the seeds I’ve planted in Your hands, believing You will bring the harvest in Your perfect time.