PREPARING THE HEART FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Last week, we spoke about the importance of clearing the clutter in our lives, hearts and minds to prepare our hearts to walk in gratitude and thankfulness. Today, we will examine two passages for our hearts to be in the right place moving forward.

Matthew 6:9-13 (CSB)  Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Psalm 100:1–5 (CSB) Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord! 2Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his— his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. 5For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.

1. After clearing the “clutter,” make room for the meal

Preparing our hearts requires a prayer checklist

• The ACTS model of prayer flows from the Lord’s Prayer and has been discussed and encouraged going back to early church father, Origen, in the 3rd century to modern times

a. Adoration – Who He is

Vs 9 Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.

• This is a statement of awe of God’s nature
• Before you tell God what you need, remember who He is

b. Confession – Clean hands at the table

Vs 10b Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• This, too, is a statement of awe in that God actually forgives us for our sins when we certainly don’t deserve His forgiveness
• Confession doesn’t keep you from the table. It’s how you get there.

c. Thanksgiving – Appreciating the “spread”

Ps 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.

• This is statement of thanking God for His many blessings in our lives

d. Supplication – Like a child

Vs 11 Give us today our daily bread

• This is a recognition of God’s desire for us to bring our needs directly to Him
• Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

2. Godly heart

Psalm 100:1 (CSB) Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord!

• For our hearts to be fully prepared, we must have our hearts pure before Him. This requires an acceptance of His holiness.
• Then, we must represent the outflow of God’s work within us
• Your heart will praise whatever it treasures most.

Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

3. Grateful thoughts

Psalm 100:5 (CSB) For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.

• A recognition of God’s goodness which we do not deserve, that never fails
• Complaining looks at what’s missing. Gratitude looks at who’s present

4. Giving attitude

Psalm 100:2 (CSB) Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

• Another natural outflow of a prepared heart is serving Him at every opportunity
• Using our gifts for His will in our lives
• Those who have feasted at God’s table can’t help but set a place for someone else

Three Practical Steps

1. Clear a space.

This week, give God the first 10 minutes of your day before your phone gets them. Name one piece of clutter, like worry, a grudge, or a distraction, and lay it down.

2. Pray around the table.

Walk through ACTS once a day: one thing about who God is, one thing to confess, one thing you’re thankful for, and one need you’ll bring to Him like a child.

3. Pass the plate.

Pick one person this week and share God’s goodness with them through a meal, a note, a gift, or your time. Gratitude grows when you give it away.