lead your heart

William Law said,
"There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as prayer for him."

"lead your heart" is a line from that movie...what was it???
oh yeah, Fireproof?
right? kinda cheesy...but loved the main point.
that our marriages are worth fighting for.

anyways...i also loved that line...
"lead your heart"
it's not a new concept.
did you know it's in the Bible?
Jesus tells us to forgive.
70 times 7.
is that possible?
it doesn't feel like it.
but if you do it.
just out of obedience...your heart will follow.
seriously.
i've tried it.
and it works.

and it works in other areas, too.
if you lead your heart in the way you know is right...it will follow.

there are stages with my kids where i might not "like" them.
they are tough.
going through a "phase".
and, well, unlikeable.
but if i pray for them even more than normal
{and i mean really pray for them...not "hey God, make them behave!" out of frustration prayers}
my heart follows.
and typically He shows me some stuff that i never would have seen.
that helps me know where and why that child is acting the way they are.
and i gradually begin to like them again.

{it's not immediate...any of it...forgiveness...love...it's work and hard
and worth it!}

i'm praying for joshua a lot these days.