Prepare Your Heart
What if the heart of teaching/preaching begins with the heart of the teacher/preacher?
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Ezra 7:10
Before teaching, Ezra took three preliminary courses of action. Before Ezra presented the Word of God to others he prepared his own heart to pursue and practice that which he would then put forward.
Before he sought to share the Word with others, Ezra set his own heart to seek the Lord. This Hebrew concept of setting, establishing, or directing one’s heart in and toward God is commonly commanded in the Old Testament (Proverbs 21:29; 1 Samuel 7:3; 2 Chronicles 19:3). God holds accountable those who do not “set their hearts” and shows us the disastrous legacy left by spiritual leaders whose hearts are not set in faithfulness to Him (Psalm 78:8; 2 Chronicles 12:14, 20:33). Though we are required to participate, this preparation of the heart is not something that we can do in our own power (Jeremiah 10:23). We must plead with God in prayer to establish our hearts in Him and direct our hearts toward Him (1 Chronicles 29:18; Psalm 119:133). Solomon, whose heart was pulled in a thousand directions, learned from experience how crucial it was to “keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
Ezra prepared his heart before he prepared his lessons.
Before he sought to share the Word with others, Ezra set his own heart to seek the Lord. This Hebrew concept of setting, establishing, or directing one’s heart in and toward God is commonly commanded in the Old Testament (Proverbs 21:29; 1 Samuel 7:3; 2 Chronicles 19:3). God holds accountable those who do not “set their hearts” and shows us the disastrous legacy left by spiritual leaders whose hearts are not set in faithfulness to Him (Psalm 78:8; 2 Chronicles 12:14, 20:33). Though we are required to participate, this preparation of the heart is not something that we can do in our own power (Jeremiah 10:23). We must plead with God in prayer to establish our hearts in Him and direct our hearts toward Him (1 Chronicles 29:18; Psalm 119:133). Solomon, whose heart was pulled in a thousand directions, learned from experience how crucial it was to “keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
Ezra prepared his heart before he prepared his lessons.
Have you neglected the preparation of your heart in your preparation for teaching or preaching? How does prayer permeate your teaching preparations? How will you improve this practice as you prepare for your next preaching or teaching assignment?
