Lord of My Heart
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 02:10PM 
If you'd like to read the entire series in the order they were posted, scroll down to the bottom and "read up!"
Lord of my heart, whatever may befall me, rule over my thoughts and feelings, my words and action.
Whatever may befall me, rule over me.
I think that often we, especially those of us who are Americans, really have a hard time with the thought of someone "ruling over" us. Ever since those brave words of the Declaration of Independence were penned, we tend to see ourselves as a people who right it is to " throw off " foreign rule. We pride ourselves on being rugged individualists, pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, and fighting our own battles. Deep down, though, we know that this is not just an American problem, it is a problem of every human heart. It is, as my pastor often says, "the religion we were born with."
The plea of today's phrase, "whatever may befall me, rule over me," is the cry of the one who, by the Spirit's call, through faith in Christ, has been subdued by the Sovereignty of God and the Kingship of Christ.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q and A 26 puts it this way:
Q26: How doth Christ execute the office of a king?Christ our Sovereign King subdues us by calling us to Himself, saving us by grace through faith, taking our stony hearts and replacing them with hearts of flesh, making us willing to serve Him.
A26: Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
Christ our Sovereign King rules us by writing His laws on our hearts, by causing us to grow in grace and truth and in His likeness, through the Word and by the Spirit.
Christ our Sovereign King defends us by protecting us. He is a shelter for us and a strong tower from our enemies. He protects and defends His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her.
Christ our Sovereign King restrains evil and is triumphant over all His and our enemies. He has sat down at the right hand of God, waiting til His enemies are made his footstool.
He is our King and we are His subjects.
"He establishes in the hearts of His people a spiritual rule, even writing Hiw law on our inmost hearts, so that it becomes our delight to do His will. This is the reign of Christ in the hearts of His people."
Stephen R. Key
Unlike the King George III, He is a just and righteous King, and His rule over us is kind. Let us not chafe under His rule, nor try to have our own way. Let us look to the Sovereign Lord of our Hearts to rule over our thoughts and feelings, our words and actions.
Reader Comments (5)
What a King the sheep have, that He takes them from a kingdom of darkness and places them in a kingdom of light. That He builds the sheep into priests, living stones, a holy nation for the praise of the Father's glory! Indeed, heart of my own heart, whatever befall; still be my vision, O Ruler of all!
Hosanna to His Name!
Amen, Kim! Thanks for these Lord of my heart posts. You have really blessed me.
I liked that. thank you. :)
Yes, thanks for doing this.
My pleasure!