Setting

There is an endless provision of sporting events available for observation all the time and everywhere, from big screens to handheld devices. Most of them are just passed by without notice, but there is something that inspires interest enough for events to be watched all the way through, and even followed after the final second. It’s when the competition becomes more than just a list of battling statistics. It’s when stories are told of those providing those statistics and how their great performances are given context. This is the task of those announcing the event, to not just describe the plays as they occur, but to touch the heart with personal anecdotes of key players. When the heart becomes set on the performers’ lives, a transformation occurs from indifferent agnostic to passionate fan. This same heart that couldn’t have cared less about how the game was even played, with an interest in the players also takes on an obsession with the rules that govern the play. Now that same game that would never have even raised an eyebrow is “stood in line for” all night long. The play that would never have altered the heart rate is producing both sweat and high blood pressure.

Our God is continually at work in the world around us. His glory is flooding the whole world with evidence that dwarfs demonstrations of any other works occupying the fixation of the masses. Although He is continually available for observation and appreciation, it isn’t until there is a setting of the heart with the telling of His works that there is any interest in discovering His will and His ways. As great as He is and as greatly as His presence will transform a life, until the heart is positioned to believe and receive of His greatness, His movements will be missed and His blessings passed over. With every gathering to speak and sing of His goodness, there is great opportunity for heart setting, for preparations to be made for Godly revelation and reception. While we have incredible means for this through the Word and Spirit inspired utterance, there is yet a need for the heart to be intentionally situated to ensure that our purpose is not missed. Disengaging from the effects of the surrounding world and drinking with gratification from the presence of the Lord makes way for the fulness of the Master’s movements to be experienced with life transformation.

Notes

Soft heart – compliant with will / Hard heart – resistant to will

Psalms 95:8-11 8 The LORD says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. 9 For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did. 10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ 11 So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

David outlines how the children of Israel could avoid their fathers’ failures – set their hearts by considering His ways and His works

Psalms 78:7-8 7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. 8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

To go from hard to soft - resistant/quarreling to compliant/agreeing:

• Stories
• Will

By considering His works and His ways.

With God’s provision of triumph, protection, and provision is an opportunity for submission to His will in building for His purpose.

1 Chronicles 22:18-19 18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.”

Our set and humbled heart makes way for effect prayer and demonstrated power

Daniel 10:12 12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.