ON THE TABLET OF YOUR HEART - PART 2

TUESDAY 31 JANUARY 2023

Steadfast love and faithfulness can not forsake you if you submit yourself to the Holy Spirit, take them to heart, and function in grace. When you stay in touch with the Spirit in an intimate manner, you'll gain dominion especially in the practical manifestations of both. More below!

Reference: Proverbs 3:3-4 English Standard Version (ESV) "Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Why hang them on your neck? In a factual or literal sense, when you hang something on your neck, it will control your expressions and your direction. For instance, if you decide to turn left or right, the neck will remind you that something like your maxim or axiom is hanging on it. Steadfast love and faithfulness are controlling truths with directory effects that determine the conduct of a Christian.

Now what is steadfast love? Its an unwavering and reliable love, which is the God-kind of love. The Hebrew term is "Hesed Adonai." As the fruit of the Spirit, the attributes of this love are priceless and they're noted in Lamentations 3:22-23, which reads, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness"(ESV). Now what do we do with this love? We love because He first loved us (1 John 1:19 NIV). How do we apply it to our lives? John 14:23 (NKJV): "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word..."

Faithfulness? It is also the fruit of the Spirit, defined as the quality of being faithful, dependable and committed. It gives you the advantage of sustaining your faith in trial. The Hebrew word is "Emet" and Lamentations 3:23 describes God's faithfulness as monumental in nature. It actually reads, "Great is His faithfulness..." (NLT). Beloved, God communicates to us through His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. And we respond to Him in faithfulness especially during the seasons of trials and challenges, when we tend to exercise our faith in Him and increase our patience, such that we gain or accumulate funds of experience with God. Galatians 5:22-23 reads, "The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won't find any law opposed to fruit like this" (The Voice). The Holy Spirit doesn't only afford us the gracious and glorious presence of God, He empowers us to activate faithfulness as a fruit in our lives, such that we remain faithful to God and man.

Beloved, binding these combined forces around your neck and writing them on the tablet of your heart are figurative expressions implying that the Holy Spirit would manifest them in your life in no ordinary or temporary way, but it would happen if you take advantage of the privilege you have, as in, engaging His presence and governing influence in your life continually. When you walk in step with the Spirit, the two spiritual forces would take up their residence on your neck as a temple, well fit and suited for their abode, and in the tablet of your heart as their in depth established dwelling place. Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 20:6; Psalm 26:3; Psalm 40:11; Psalm 57:10; Psalm 92:1-2.

Guided Prayer: Thank you Lord, because you will never withhold your goodness from me; your steadfast love and faithfulness will forever uphold me, as I practise and walk in them, in Jesus' Name, Amen!