Teaching Notes

Did you know the words you take inside begin to build up the type of heart you will have?  Did you know if we speak words of kindness, love and encouragement to the heart it will be built up strong?  If we speak words of hurt, hatred and discouragement, the heart will become callused and hurt?  How do you want to build up a heart today?

What's In Your Heart?

Deuteronomy 4:7-10 (The Message)

7-8 Yes. What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the way God, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us? And what other great nation has rules and regulations as good and fair as this Revelation that I'm setting before you today?

9 Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don't forget anything of what you've seen. Don't let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren.


10 That day when you stood before God, your God, at Horeb, God said to me, "Assemble the people in my presence to listen to my words so that they will learn to fear me in holy fear for as long as they live on the land, and then they will teach these same words to their children."

Notes: The scripture is reminding the people of the wonderful things that God has done for them as a nation. The scripture talks about how God has always been ready to listen to the needs of the  people and not only ready to listen, but ready to answer.

Question: What does it mean, not to let your heart wander off?

Answer: The instruction is to keep alert to the things of God and not to become comfortable in them, thus allowing yourself to think about other things.  If you begin to think about other things other than God and his mercy, you then will allow your heart to follow suit.  Your heart will begin to dwell where your mind dwells.  If your thoughts are on things other than God, you will begin to desire those things you are thinking of.  They will gain your affection.  So the writer is warning, do not let your heart wander off after those things that your mind would try to move it towards.  We must seek daily to keep our minds on God so that our hearts will continue to desire the things of God.

Prayer: Lord help us to keep our minds on you so that we can keep our desires in the right place.  Help us to be watchful so that our hearts do not wander after ungodly things.  Strengthen us, amen.