…….As in water face reflects face, so a man ‘s heart reveals the man ….(Prov.27:19)

For the past few weeks, we have been looking at  the issue of our heart’s passion, as it relates to our uniqueness as individuals. We` had said that God has divinely placed inside each one of us, deep desires and burdens for certain things that become very heavy in our hearts as the days and years go by. The sad thing is that many people because of various distractions  seem to drop these  burdens, and let the fire and passion burning within them die off! As years pass by, they become frustrated and discouraged, as they ponder over things they should have done but never did, places they could have visited but never visited and lives they could have touched but never did! All because they failed to heed to what God had placed within them.

A few months ago, I read a little children's book on the story of Florence Nightingale- said to be the pioneer of modern Nursing in the world. She lived over one hundred and fifty years ago. She had been born into a very wealthy English family and had all the comforts of life lovingly provided for her by her rich parents. As she began to grow up, she developed a passion for helping people. It was said that she would spend hours in her room nursing her ‘sick dolls’, instead of being a part of her mother’s regular tea parties! She loathed the lavish lifestyle in her household - of the women merely riding horses, playing the piano and hosting parties day after day! She found it extremely boring and a waste of time. On the other hand, she would go from house to house to look for poor sick people she could help and nurse back to life! At that time, nursing was not a respected profession as it is now as no formal education was required then for nurses. Against every form of oppositions from her family members, Florence Nightingale pursued her heart passion of helping sick people and  went  on to work as a nurse despite her privileged background. She later on started the Nightingale  school of Nursing (the first of its kind), wrote bestselling books on nursing and masterminded many critical reforms in medical care all over the world. By the time she died at the age` of ninety, she had had a tremendous impact on her generation and future ones, all because she followed God’s leading for life as stirred up in her heart.Her name still rings bells in the medical world even years after she had passed on. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Why is the heart so important to God? This is because this is the real person. It is the seat of the emotions, will and feelings. Your thoughts originate form your heart and subsequently your actions. Your actions are a direct reflection of your thoughts. The passage above says that a man’s heart reflects the real person. Therefore, the passion of your heart reflects the real you, what you love, what would bring you true fulfillment and joy etc. God placed those things inside you, do not treat them as trivial, pay attention to them. As you submit your heart and desires before God, you are on your way to greatness. Do not look at other people as you pursue your passion. What you have a passion for would definitely not be what someone else would. Sometimes I am amazed when I see  a person doing with so much passion things  I consider a nightmare, such as  marketing products, . It would therefore be out of place for me to try to be at all cost things I find no joy and delight in doing. The same allpies in many other areas of life.

I pray that the Lord will stir up your heart and cause you by His Spirirt to faithfully pursue the dreams, visions and ideas he has placed within you even from the foundation of this world in Jesus mighty name. Amen.