What holds the key to your heart? {Lysa TerKeurst}

Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? — Luke 18:18 What Holds the Key to Your Heart? by Lysa TerKeurst, from Embraced  When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me.” — Luke 18:22   I long to be a woman who follows hard after Jesus. And I’m not talking about a plastic-Christian life, full of religious checklists and pretense. No, that would be hypocritical at best and deadening at worst. I want the kind of soul-satisfying closeness that can only come from daily keeping pace with Him. A rich and deep level of intimacy that frantic attempts at rule-following will never produce. Rules and regulations were an everyday reality for God’s people in the Old Testament. Lists of dos and don’ts to help sinful people maintain fellowship with a holy God. First the Ten Commandments. Then law after law about sacrifices and ceremonies, food and cleanliness. But in the New Testament, Jesus shows up on the scene and turns everything upside down with His message of grace. A message that declares, “Following rules won’t get you into Heaven. Being good won’t earn you bonus points. Lay down your checklists… your agendas… everything… and follow Me. Believe in Me. Receive Me.” It was a complete shift in thinking. One that left people perplexed, like the rich ruler in Luke 18. We first meet the rich ruler when he approaches Jesus with a question: Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? — Luke 18:18 Jesus, already knowing his checklist-mindset, begins naming several of the Ten Commandments. It’s a list the rich ruler feels he has kept well. But Jesus has more to say: You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me. — Luke 18:22 It would be so easy to gloss over this moment and think Jesus is simply talking about money. We could be tempted to label this a story for “those” people — the ones we think have more money than they know what to do with. But the words in this conversation are for every single one of us. Because the core issue Jesus is getting at is this: What holds the key to your heart? Oh, how I want my answer to be “Jesus.” I want to want Him most. To live completely captured by His love. Enthralled with His teachings. Living proof of His truth. There have been others who have gone before me who desired this as well. Imperfect heroes of faith we read about in the Bible who, despite their shortcomings, pleased God. And it wasn’t perfect actions that carved a path to God’s heart. It was something else. Something less defined that can’t be outlined and dissected. Something that was sometimes messy and offensive. But something that was so precious at the same time it caused God to pause. Abandon. It’s a word used to describe a little girl leaping from the bed’s edge, completely confident her daddy will catch her. It’s the same thing that fueled David’s courageous run toward Goliath with nothing but a sling and five smooth stones. It’s what fueled Joshua. And Moses. And Noah. And Paul. And it’s the one thing Jesus is asking of the rich ruler. Not for a life lived perfectly, but a heart of perfect surrender. So this is my prayer: Everything I have. Everything I own. Everything I hope for. Everything I fear. Everything I love. Everything I dream. It’s all Yours, Jesus. I trust You in complete and utter abandon. Sadly, it’s also the one thing this man felt he could not offer. He stood on the edge of everything uncertain with the arms of all certainty waiting to catch him. And he just couldn’t jump; he lived his life entangled in lesser things. He was not captured by, enthralled with, or living proof of the reality of Jesus. And so he walked away from the only One who could ever truly satisfy his soul. Oh, friends. Let’s not allow this to be the tragedy of our lives. Let’s be found captured by Jesus’ love, enthralled with His teachings, and living proof of His truth. Let’s be found living with abandon. Because the life that follows Jesus with abandon is the life that gets to experience His presence, His provision, His promises, His soul-satisfying abundance. Father God, please forgive me for all of the times I have settled for lesser things. I want to want You most. Today, I am handing You the key to my heart. The key to everything in my life. I love You. I need You. And I want to follow hard after You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Excerpted with permission from Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst, copyright Lysa TerKeurst. Watch the Trailer for Embraced WATCH NOW * * * Your Turn Even if the truest answer to What holds the key to your heart? isn’t Jesus right now, do you want it to be? Do you want to want it to be? Let’s pray that today. Let’s be found captured by Jesus’ love, enthralled with His teachings, and living proof of His truth. Come share your thoughts on our blog. We want to hear from you about putting Jesus first! ~Devotionals Daily COMMENT

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Winner of the 2019 Book of the Year Award -  Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Our bestselling devotional of 2019 is now just $9.99. Save 50% off + get free shipping* with code GRACE Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God Is Holding You Close by Lysa Terkeurst List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 + free shipping with code GRACE until 05/31/20 BUY NOW   Embraced is the beautiful devotional from Lysa TerKeurst, the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the New York Times bestselling author. A real embrace indicates an intimate level of closeness. It’s not a high five or a casual handshake. The best kind of embrace is when someone we know deeply loves us flings their arms wide open and pulls us in close. Our hearts were made for this kind of love and security but for many of us, we know more about the pain of heartbreak and fear than the unconditional love for which we were created. In Embraced, Lysa shares her own struggles, doubts, and heartbreaks while pointing to the Ultimate Embrace: God opening His arms wide on Calvary through Jesus so that He could pull us close for all of eternity. Welcoming us into the safety and hope of His grace and His love. And because we have been fully embraced by Him, we can spend our lives held securely by Him and trust all of His ways. Through these 100 devotions, daily scriptures, and prayer prompts, readers will be equipped to: Begin to find freedom from the struggles that have held them hostage by learning new ways to experience God’s love and more authentic ways to trust Him. Surrender their deepest hurts by processing them in a godly way with Lysa, a friend who understands their pain. Hear the Lord speak intimately to their heart by learning how to seek His direction. Release the tension of wondering, If God is near why does He sometimes feel far away? By spending intentional, guided time with Him each day. With an exquisite cloth cover, highly designed interior, ribbon marker, and stained page edges, Embraced will be a treasured keepsake for you as well as a meaningful gift for those you love. Take a Look Inside   What our readers are saying about Embraced “I love the Devotions, they are helpful, wrote in a way that is easily understood. I love her other books also as I can relate having hone through the same thing, it has been an encouragement to me even tho I don't have a Christian husband so our marriage is lost.” — Mary “I bought 4 of this book Embraced. I got it for my mom my sister my daughter and myself. This book is so inspiring, and uplifting. I'm so glad that I bought the book for the other close women in my life. We were not disappointed. Would highly recommend. Lysa wrote a wonderful book. Thank you” —  Erlinda “Every day I am encouraged and my faith gets stronger. Her writing is so real and it covers so many things we all face. I have given this book as a gift and I will give it again ♥️” — Lori “Love content, so right on! Speaks to many issues I've struggled with over these many years. Love the scriptures used as helps!!! Some of Lysa's comments are priceless. Thanks, Lysa for this joy-filled read.” — Alice Learn more and save... You're Invited to our Summer Women's Online Bible Study GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD  with Jennie Allen Join this six-week study of Philippians starting June 22, and learn to find freedom from the downward spiral of negative thoughts! You'll get FREE access to the six teaching videos, plus Jennie's Anxious Thoughts Guide and Mind Map worksheets. *Sale ends 05/31/20. Free U.S. shipping code through 5/31/20 (excluding Hawaii and Alaska).  Sale pricing exclude ebooks.

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