A couple of weeks ago, in the bulletin article dealing with this year’s theme—“2010 VISION: Seeing Our Lives Through God’s Eyes,” I mentioned that each month of the year would have a focus and that that focus would include a question, a goal and a challenge.  These items will be listed in the bulletin each month under the heading “2010 VISION.”  In this way, I hope to keep us thinking about this theme all year long and to be able to focus on different parts of our lives.  This theme is one that is designed to encourage and bring about spiritual growth, but its effectiveness is dependent on you.  You must give serious thought and consideration to your own life.  And you must make an effort to move closer to God.  If we all do these things, we will no doubt grow throughout this year.

This month’s focus will be: “Seeing Our HEARTS Through God’s Eyes.”  Before we can make any change to our actions, attitudes or lives, we must first make a change in our hearts.  The Bible teaches us that, as we think in our hearts, so are we (Proverbs 23:7).  The heart, which represents our mind, will and inner being is what dictates how we think, act and live.  In order for our lives to be what God would have them to, our hearts must first be right.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, in reference to the anointing of David as king, the Lord tells Samuel that He does not look at the outward appearance but at the heart.  That man, David, is called by the Lord, “a man after My own heart.” (Acts 13:22).  What if God were to look into our hearts?  What would He see?  Are we striving to be people after God’s own heart?  This month’s focus will encourage us to look into God’s heart and into our own and to strive to make our hearts like God’s.  May God help us to become what He would have us to be.