A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 

Luke 6:45

7:30am I sat on the rooftop of my new apartment sipping on a warm pumpkin spice latte ala Starbucks. I was meeting with one of my disciples Chelsea and we were discussing life + purpose. As we chatted she asked how I manage to pastor a church with my husband, run a business, intentionally disciple nine women, be a wife, travel and have friends. I sat for a moment and thought about it and there are two ways:

1. Grace – Grace is Holy Spirit empowerment. God gives you exactly enough Grace to do what He has called you to do. Not more and not less – but exactly enough!
2. Daily Heart Checks

This post is specifically on the daily heart checks part. I think sometimes we feel certain ways, say certain things and we don’t even know why. Sometimes when I meet with people I think “I wish they could just open their eyes to the truth.” The hard thing is – often times Christians can be deceived. The worst part is, if you are deceived you probably don’t know that you are. This is why community + heart checks are so important. You need people in your life that will call out the GOLD in you and also help you see your blind spots.

While praying I say something along the lines of “Jesus, thank you that you love me and died for me. Thank you that you rose again and have forgiven me of all my sins. Holy Spirit please speak to me.” Then I will ask three questions and journal the answers:

1. Am I woman of peace?
   Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity.” – Psalm 37:37
   Am I filled with thanks for what God has done in my life?
   Do I feel anxious or fearful about anything? What does God have to say about those things?
   Do I believe the promises of God more than my circumstances?
2. Am I doing anything for selfish ambition?
   Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4
   Am I doing anything to build myself up? People pleasing? Needing credit?
   Another great question is: If this is successful who gets the glory?
   Do I know my value and identity in Christ?
3. What does my relationship with God look like?
   Am I so busy that I am not spending time with God? Am I reading my Bible? Am I praying for what I want or what God wants?

This is the best part – Rapid Repentance – when I notice something off I immediately just ask God for forgiveness. Heal my heart God, Heal my mind. Help me to be so filled with your love that I live in a place of overflow.

Try this tomorrow and tell me how it goes!