Joyful Woman DSCN2809

Study 15: The King of our hearts

Postcard from Jesus‘The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely… she comforts, encourages and does him only good as long as there is life within her’.

Proverbs 31:29-30. “‘Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well (with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness) but you excel them all….. a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised’.

In this study we are going to look at how the ‘Joyful Woman’ sees the number one King of her heart, God Himself. We need to know Who we are ‘comforting, encouraging and doing only good’ to. If we had a true revelation of how much He really ‘trusts us, relies on us, believes’ and loves us, we would have no problem obeying His every request and satisfying His every need.

The King of our hearts compliments us on our excellence as He is excellent Himself. Our King is a leader and is known for His wisdom, good ideas, and top position all over the world, and yet He loves to spend time with us in our living room, or cardboard box or wherever we live. His attitude does not change wherever He is as He is Love.

God has the prominent position in heaven where He sits among the four living creatures who never stop saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come. At the same time ‘The twenty-four elders fall prostrate before Him who sits on the throne, and they worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They throw their crowns before the throne and cry out: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being’ Revelation 4:7-11.

So we have been both created, (Psalm 139:13) and kept alive by our King to be excellent in all we do. Acts 17:24-28. As we are moved at everything these verses tell us, we need to choose to worship Him and give Him the place in our hearts that He is due. We then make ourselves available to Heaven's Throne Roomhear His voice and He will give us His revelation of His love for us.

As we look at God’s love for us our character is being strengthened as we choose to excel in all we do with Him, offering all as worship to Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember when Jesus taught us to pray ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’ Matthew 6:10 and as everything is excellent in Heaven, God’s will is for it to be that way on earth, that is the ‘Joyful Woman’s’ standard

As we look to Jesus we get to know God better, John 1:18; John 14:9. Jesus did everything with excellence, which we are also well able to achieve as this does not take intelligence, education, background or privilege but simply to walk in His Spirit just like Jesus, as He said ‘I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. The one who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him’ John 8:28,29. This should be the heart’s desire of each one of us – just to please Him and be excellent in everything we put our hand to, ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ Matthew 5:48.

Holy SpiritHe gave us His Holy Spirit so we could have the power to live this life like Jesus, in total victory. He also shows us amazing grace and mercy even to all those that want nothing to do with Him, Psalm 145:9,17; that shows truly unconditional love. ‘He is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing’ Zephaniah 3:17. God does not keep quiet about His love in Proverbs 31. He knows how to make us feel like a million dollars when the world tells us the opposite. He has written us a very long love letter, the Bible. We do not have to charm Him, seduce Him, compete with others for His attention, or pretend to be something we are not. We do not have to convince God to love us we just have to learn to receive this love. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Romans 5:5. The King of hearts will continue to love us, even if we do not respond to this amazing love.

Our King in heaven trusts us. That is why He sent His Holy Spirit so we can cry ‘Abba Father’. He knows that even though we come from dust, we will speak up for Him. We will love the unlovely, follow the promptings of His Holy Spirit, deal with sin, accepting the blood, and choosing to walk in obedience. He believes He can get His work done in the world, in and through us, so that He can come again soon. He trusts us that we will still choose to follow Him even through painful times. He trusts us to clean our spiritual house just as diligently as the ‘Joyful Woman’ cleaned her physical house.

He wants everything that goes on in our bodies, His Temple, to be pleasing to our King so He can have free rein in our lives. Jesus said ‘I tell you the truth unless a grain of wheat falls to Time is running outthe ground and dies it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves Me’. John 12:24-26. As God has first place in all things, including our relationships, time, work, money excluding nothing. Moment by moment we have to choose to please our King rather than ourselves or people. This means choosing time alone with Him, His Word and obeying the leading of His Spirit, regularly praying “Search me O God and know my heart, test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:23,24.

As discussed in an earlier study (Joyful Woman 11) ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’. It is so important that God has good reason to praise us as we recognise that when we start our walk with Him we only have a small amount of wisdom, but it will grow as we walk closer and closer with Him and it will continue forever.

The King of our heart is to be our bridegroom one day soon. He has gone before us to prepare a mansion for us and then at the right time He will come and take us to Himself, John 14:1-3. We will then have a fantastic banquet to which all who have the right garments (those who are born again) are invited, Matthew 22:1-14.

We need to recognise that the time is short and we must put the time left to good use with a sense of urgency and expectancy. Jesus is coming to take us away and we shall be by His side. Whatever time of night or day that may be, we need to be prepared, walking in holiness and obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 25:1-13.

Every ‘Joyful Woman’ on earth will earn her final reward, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; Ephesians 6:7,8. The King will meet her at the entrance to the celestial city gates. ‘Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates’ Proverbs 31:31. He Himself will be her exceeding great reward, Genesis 15:1 and Genesis 26:24.

She will not be with Him at the gates and among the elders of the heavenly land because of her works, but because the bride price was paid and she has been married to her heavenly Bridegroom. As we see the ‘King of our Hearts’ satisfied with us and enjoying us this is the best reward we could wish for and focus our lives on. This is a great thought to rejoice and praise about!

 

The Character of God

Spirit: John 4:21-24.

Light (no darkness): 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 2:5.

Faithful: Exodus 34:5-6; Psalm 36:5; Psalm 89:2; Psalm 145:13.

Forgiving: Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:17,18; 1 John 2:1.

Love: Psalm 5:7; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:5-8; 1 John 4:8-16

Sinless: 1 John 3:5.

God is Life: (Immortal) 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 5.

Speaks truth: 1 John 5:9  

Strong: Numbers 14:17,18; Psalm 145:14.

Slow to anger: Numbers 14:17,18.

Compassionate: Exodus 34:7; Psalm 145:8,9.

Just: Exodus 34:7; Psalm 145:20.

Jealous: Exodus 34:14.

Gracious: Psalm 145:8.

Righteous: Psalm 36:10; Psalm 145:17.

Infinite, Limitless, Greatness: 1 Chronicles 29:11; Job 11:7-10; Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 40:12-31.

Everlasting, Eternal: Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:8

Creator: Psalm 36:9; Acts 17:24.

Awesome: Hebrews 12:29.

Power: Psalm 104.

Laughs: Psalm 2:4; Psalm 37:12-13.

 

 

Home Challenges for Joyful Woman No:15

Read the notes about the “King of our Hearts”.

1. Can you see God as having a close relationship with you like a father or husband? Isaiah 54:4-8

 

2. What do you feel about the point that God trusts you?

 

3. Do you work as hard keeping your spiritual house clean as you do keeping your physical house clean?

 

4. Look at the list of the character of God. Pick two characteristics that you find easy to accept and two you find harder and look up the verses that highlight that point. What is this saying to you?

 

Proverbs 31:28-30. ‘Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.’

5. Write a short sentence describing how you feel about yourself after you have done this study.

 

6. Give a short explanation of what the Bible means when it says “we are made in the image of God.” Genesis 1:27

 

7. How do you feel about Biblical submission? 1 Peter 2:13-16; 1 Peter 3:1; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 5:22-24

 

8. Do you find Biblical submission in relationships easy? Why or why not? Is there any relationship where it is harder, and any relationship where it is easier to submit?

 

9. What difference to your relationships has it made walking by faith in Jesus Christ?

 

10. What sort of gifts and abilities do you have, as seen in Proverbs 31?

 

11. How are you going to develop your unique abilities?

 

12. a). How much time do you spend getting yourself ready to go out everyday?

 

   b). How much time do you spend in prayer everyday? Is there a balance?

 

13. Do you rely on charm and good looks for your beauty or are you working on your inner beauty of a calm and gentle spirit? 1 Peter 3:3,4; Proverbs 11:22 If so how? Try and encourage someone this week, sharing with them where you see their gifts and talents lie.

 

14. Make a short sentence describing Biblical submission.

 

Memory Verse:- “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30.