“. . .so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. . .”
Ephesians 3:17a

Several years ago, my husband gave me a beautiful red marble paperweight in the shape of a heart. It sits on my desk as a constant reminder of how critical it is to guard my heart. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Those three words, above all else, seem pretty important, especially in light of the meaning of wellspring, meaning, “a source or supply of anything, esp. when considered inexhaustible: such as a wellspring of affection.” Lately, my heart has been a wellspring of emotions—its been all over the place. A daughter in Europe, a son transferring colleges, the economic crunch on our business, empty nest transition, writing and speaking ministry decisions, etc. I have desperately been trying to guard my heart. But, somewhere in my subconscious, the whirling emotions of worry, anxiety and maternal instinct have created a flood of unrest. I’m doing yoga every day—practicing silence and solitude—and still the unrest persists. Have you ever experienced that deep, unsettled, agitating sensation that keeps you on your face before God? I believe there are seasons in our lives when God is stirring things. He is trying to get at something in our lives. Change is on the horizon. And, as we all know, change is never easy. Good but not easy. So, on this 5th Thankful Day of Christmas, I am thankful for a heart that yearns for more of God. Thankful for a heart that hungers for truth and light and peace. Thankful for the hearts of my loved ones and friends who have shown me so much love this year through phone calls, emails, letters and listening. Thankful for a heart that beats with strong emotions. Thankful to feel gratitude. And above all else, I am thankful to the Lord Jesus, who comes into our hearts and dwells.