(Make a Heart Investment)
WAYS TO MAKE PROGRESS

Progress: Advance or development toward a better or more complete condition
 An unexpected windfall

A benefactor helps you along

Sheer effort

You make investments that pay off

Financial

Physical
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Relational
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Spiritual/Heart - an investment that impacts all aspects of life
<1 Timothy 4:8> NKJ For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
THE CASE FOR THE HEART

The source of life <Proverbs 4:23> NIV
 Source of ideas and creativity
 Desires and plans for the future

Enables you to handle tough times
<Proverbs 18:14> AMP The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?
 Your inner strength is more important than your outward problem
 Can determine your quality of life <Proverbs 15:15> NLT

Your joy and peace are not limited to the times when everything is good
HOW TO MAKE HEART INVESTMENTS
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Read your bible
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God's food for your heart <Matthew 4:4> ESV

Strengthens your faith
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Provides direction <Psalm 119:130> NKJ
 The cost to you? - 3:45 per day 5 days per week
 Pray (ACTS pattern) <Luke 18:1> NKJ
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A = Adoration
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C = Confession
 T = Thanksgiving
 S = Supplication
 Use your gifts and talents
<1 Peter 4:10> NLT God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
 To serve others and advance God's kingdom

Doing for others is a great heart exercise

Make church a part of your lifestyle <Hebrews 10:24-25> NLT
 A source of encouragement and hope
 A source of learning and knowledge
 A source of strength
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Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 15:15 (NLT)
For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Matthew 4:4 (ESV)
But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Psalm 119:130 (NKJ)
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Luke 18:1 (NKJ)
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Digging Deeper
1. Read Psalms 119. It is the longest chapter in the Bible but really highlights the importance of
God's word and the psalmist's attitude toward the scriptures.
2. Read Matthew 25:14-30 on the importance of investing/utilizing the gifts and talents God has given you.
3. Do a word study of heart in www.Biblegateway.com. It is a huge study so you may want to narrow it down to New Testament or the book of Proverbs or Psalms.
Questions:
1. What are your plans for progress in 2009? What areas did you cover?
2. Why is your heart condition so important?
3. What will you do differently this year to make a heart investment?
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