Episode 63 - Hebrews 4:12 & 13 --- Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee

Hebrews 3: 12 & 13 Amplified ~

Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart (which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart) that turns away from the living God. But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’ (and there is an opportunity), so that none of you will be hardened (into settled rebellion) by the deceitfulness of sin (it’s cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication).

 

If you and I will take care - really, be careful and take the time to TAKE CARE - that in none of us is a wicked, unbelieving heart, but instead will encourage one another as long as there is an opportunity (and lemme tell ya, there is always an opportunity!) then the promise is that we won’t be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 

 

Now right where it says to take care that we don’t have a wicked, unbelieving heart… that’s important. What does wicked mean? Hey it can mean all those things we think of when we hear that word wicked (but not the play). It can also be things that seem small in our own eyes but to the Lord are downright wicked. Wicked covers a lot of ground. And unbelieving? I really do feel like I am in the freedom in Jesus business. Sharing that and throwing the truth the hope of that around like confetti all day every day, that is truly my jam. And so I see those words, an unbelieving heart, and I just wince inside. It comes at us so often, it takes root so easily, this unbelieving heart… but whatever we are not believing God for, right there, that’s where we are missing out. We lose out on His promises and His peace and even His grace when we are overcome with an unbelieving heart.

 

 Always keep your heart soft toward the Holy Spirit. It’s not tricky - it just can be as simple as praying and asking that the Spirit of the Living God that indwells you will keep your heart soft and tender and pliable and not let it harden. Then pray like that again tomorrow and so on. He is so faithful. He loves to answer that prayer! 

 

An un-hardened heart trusts the Lord and relies on Him - rather than refusing to rely on Him, it chooses to rely on Him. Over and over and over again. Simple? Yes. Hard? Also yes.

 

 A hardened heart will turn away from the Living God. the living God. Turns to what? Well, to something dead. That’s the only other option available to us if I am totally honest with you.

 

This verse tells us the truth that sin is deceitful - we need to stop forgetting that! Sin  Is  Deceitful. Sin Is Clever. Sin has a unique delusive glamour. It’s literally so glamorous that it is delusional and leaves it’s victim, it’s prey, delusional. And it even says that sin is sophisticated. It is cultured and wise to the ways of the world and elegant and refined and will come at us like a lady or a gentleman, not a ruffian.

 

The promise that all those things I just mentioned - they will not WILL NOT happen to you or to me. Just by encouraging one another continually. 

 

Happy joyful optimistic people are encouraging people who love others well by means of that encouragement. Plain and simple. Wanna be happier? Try this. Wanna be done with that hardened heart? Try this. It works. It works wonders. 

 

Okay, let me just read the book review I wrote Jennifer Dukes Lee’s new book Growing Slow and it does have a Bible study available with it that would be great for a small group - here it is:

 

If you’ve been to my website and taken a little look-see under the “FAVORITES” tab, then you already know Jennifer Dukes Lee has made my very short, “short list”. And that is kind of a big deal, since I am an avid reader and a complete book-a-holic. I am usually reading dozens of books at any one time, with a current nightstand stack totaling - ahem - 33 books. To have an author make the cut and land among my favorites, well, that’s one special author. And Jennifer’s newest book, “Growing Slow”, is one special book.

 

Let me start by saying that if you are part of the go-girl-go, hustle & don’t you dare let off the gas culture, this book could very well be the ideal book for you right now in this exact place. You may have a deep need for this book’s content in a myriad of ways that you are not the slightest bit aware of. I speak truth, my friend. Often our greatest needs are the ones we don’t know are there, lurking just under the surface and holding the most potential for harm. If you are a go-get-’em type of gal, give this book a chance. It may change your life. (I am not really exaggerating… this is a life-change type of book.)

 

But if you are more of a slow-down and enjoy the moment type of woman, well then the book “Growing Slow” will be like a supportive friend. You know the one - she is always there, fully in your corner, ready to reaffirm what you already know but may sort of wonder about from time to time. Everybody needs a friend like that. Or a book like that.

 

I could share a whole slew of quotes and inundate you with Jennifer’s words, and there wouldn’t be a single thing in the world wrong with that. But I feel a need to share something personal with you; the why behind my passion for this book.

 

I’ve got some health problems. One in particular that looms far larger than the others combined. Several years ago, I got a rough diagnosis of two problems with the electrical aspect of my heart, and a couple of other issues that make treatment life-threatening. My diagnosis: heart failure that is “tricky & difficult to treat” with a focus on “QOL” (quality of life). Not what a Type-A, always working and doing and excited about the next phase of life lady expected to hear.

 

And so, my good and loving God has been speaking to my heart (my spiritual heart as well as my physical heart) about slowing down. Taking it day by day. Enjoying each moment. Letting the little things in life become the big things. And to stop worrying about & working toward G-R-O-W-T-H.

 

Along comes this book, “Growing Slow”, by one of my all-time favorite writers, Jennifer Dukes Lee, at that life intersection where I am fighting this forced slow down in my life while also attempting to submit all-the-things to the Lord...and, so, yeah. This book means quite a lot to me right now. More than I can express in mere words.

 

My heart is so grateful to be in this place right now. So thankful for this book right now.

 

And if your heart could use some of this same stuff today, get a copy of “Growing Slow”. It’s going on my nightstand & on my website under “FAVORITES”, right where it belongs.

Have a wonderful day - go do some encouraging which will also be some heart softening which will of course bless you in really remarkable ways!

 

You are welcome to find me on Instagram @janlburt

Praying Through the Storm online prayer retreat group

The Power of God's Will - 40 Days of God's Promises Devotional on Amazon

 

See ya back here next week for episode 64 of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show podcast!